Mozart vs. Metallica: What’s Playing in Your Baby’s Brain?
We all know the feeling of walking into a spa. The lights are dim, the scent of lavender is in the air, and soft, calming classical music is playing in the background. Your shoulders drop, your breathing slows, and you instantly relax.
This is exactly how a healthy infant’s nervous system is designed to operate. When a baby is in a state of ease and growth, the "soundtrack" playing in their brain should be gentle, organized, and soothing—like a Mozart symphony.
But for many parents we see in our practice, their baby isn't living in a spa. They are living in a mosh pit.
If your child is struggling with colic, sleep regression, or constant fussiness, it’s not because they are "bad" babies. It’s because the station has been changed. Instead of Mozart, their brain is blasting Heavy Metal at max volume.
To understand why this happens, we have to look at the two main types of "music" (signals) that travel up the spine and into the brain.
The Mozart Signal (Proprioception): This is the signal of movement, alignment, and calm. When the spine moves perfectly, it sends a constant stream of "all is well" signals to the brain. This energy "charges" the brain’s battery and keeps the nervous system relaxed.
The Heavy Metal Signal (Nociception): This is the signal of stress, noise, and danger. It is loud, chaotic, and agitating.
Who Changed the Station?
The "DJ" that controls this playlist is the spine.
When a child experiences Dyskinesia (misalignment or fixation), often from birth trauma like C-sections or vacuum extraction, the spine stops moving smoothly.
When the movement stops, the Mozart (Proprioception) stops. The brain, starving for input, turns up the volume on the only other signal available: the Heavy Metal (Nociception).
This is called Dysafferentation. It means "bad input." Your baby’s brain is literally receiving a chaotic, noisy, stress-filled signal 24 hours a day.
Living in a Mosh Pit (Dysautonomia)
Imagine trying to fall asleep or digest a big meal while standing next to the speakers at a Metallica concert. You couldn’t do it. Your heart would race, your muscles would tense up, and you’d be on high alert.
This is what we call Dysautonomia—a nervous system stuck in "Fight or Flight". Your baby isn’t being difficult; they are reacting to the music.
You can actually see them reacting to the noise with specific physical signs:
The "Banana Back": Does your baby arch their back when frustrated or sleeping? That is them physically trying to pull away from the tension in their spine.
Tight Fists: A relaxed baby has open hands. Sleeping with tight fists is a sign that their brain is ready for a fight, even while asleep.
The Head Tilt: If they constantly look to one side, it’s often a sign of fixation in the upper neck—the exact spot where the Vagus Nerve (the calming nerve) is supposed to be working.
Tune their Radio, Change your Child
Parents often try to fix the problem by changing the environment—swaddling tighter, using white noise machines, or changing formulas. While these tools are helpful, they only dampen the noise from the outside. They don’t turn off the Heavy Metal playing on the inside.
As Neurological Chiropractors, we don't press a "sleep button." We simply adjust the spine to restore proper motion.
We stop the Dyskinesia (the fixation).
This turns down the Nociception (Heavy Metal).
It turns the Proprioception (Mozart) back on.
Once the music changes, the brain can finally take a breath. The fists open, the back relaxes, and the "General" calls off the troops.
Is your baby stuck listening to Heavy Metal? If you see the "Banana Back," the tight fists, or the inability to settle, let’s check the playlist. Schedule a scan today so we can help your child find their rhythm again!
