The "Arched Back" Baby: Why They Stiffen Up (And Why It Ruins Sleep)
It is one of the most helpless feelings a parent can experience.
You are trying to soothe your crying baby. You rock them, you shush them, you try to feed them. But instead of melting into your arms, they pull away. They throw their head back, their spine goes rigid like a board, and they scream in pain.
We call this "The Banana Baby"—when they arch so hard they look like a banana.
Your pediatrician might have told you it is "just colic" or "reflux" or that they are just "strong." But at Maximized Chiropractic, we know that a baby who constantly stiffens up isn't trying to work out their abs. They are trying to tell you they are physically uncomfortable.
Here is the science behind the arch, and why it is wrecking your sleep.
Why does my baby arch their back while crying?
When a baby arches their back or throws their head back aggressively, it is rarely a behavioral tantrum (especially in newborns). It is a neurological reflex.
It is often a sign of Dural Tension.
The Dura Mater is the protective covering that surrounds their spinal cord and brain. It attaches to the top of the neck (the Atlas) and the bottom of the tailbone (the Sacrum).
Think of this like a rubber band running down your baby’s back.
If the spine is aligned and relaxed: The rubber band is loose and flexible. The baby loves to be curled up and cuddled (the fetal position).
If there is misalignment (Subluxation): Specifically from birth trauma, C-section pulling, or vacuum extraction—that rubber band gets pulled tight.
When that "rubber band" is tight, being curled up or lying flat on a firm crib mattress puts massive tension on their spinal cord. So, they arch backward to try to relieve the pressure or because their nervous system is locked in a high-stress "extension" pattern.
The "Gas Pedal" Connection
Remember the Gas Pedal (Sympathetic) vs. Brake Pedal (Parasympathetic) concept?
When someone is stuck in "Fight or Flight," they naturally engage the large muscles of their back. We prepare to fight. We stiffen up.
If your baby feels stiff as a board most of the day, their nervous system is stuck on the Gas Pedal. They are carrying massive amounts of Tone.
Why This Destroys Sleep
If you are trying to sleep train a baby with Dural Tension, you are fighting a losing battle.
Physical Pain: For a baby with dural tension, lying flat stretches that tight rubber band. It physically hurts. This is why they fall asleep in the car seat or on your chest (where they are slightly inclined or curled) but scream the second they touch the crib.
Inability to Settle: To fall asleep, the body must relax its muscle tone. If your baby is neurologically "locked" in extension, they physically cannot relax their muscles enough to drift off.
How to get your baby to stop arching their back.
You cannot force a stiff baby to relax. You have to remove the tension causing the stiffness.
At Maximized Chiropractic, we focus on releasing that Dural Tension:
The Scan: We use INSiGHT Scans to measure the Tone of the muscles along the spine and the health of their nervous system. We can see exactly how tight that rubber band is.
The Adjustment: We check the Sacrum (tailbone) and the Upper Cervical (neck) where the Dura attaches. Using gentle adjustments (no cracking, just light sustained pressure), we release the tension on the cord.
The Result: The "rubber band" goes slack. The baby stops arching. They become "squishy" and moldable in your arms again. And—most importantly—they can finally lie flat comfortably and sleep.
Does your baby do "The Arch"?
If this sounds like your little one, it is not something they just have to "grow out of." It is a sign of tension that needs to be addressed.
Download our Free "Silent Nights Toolkit" to see if your baby has other signs of "Hardware" tension (like tight fists or head tilting).
Or, if you are ready to help them relax today, text us to schedule your scan with our team!
