Understanding the “Rest + Regulate” Nerve: How the Vagus Nerve Impacts Your Child’s Health
Is your child always on edge, emotionally reactive, or constantly sick? It may not be “just a phase” — it might be vagus nerve dysfunction. This crucial nerve controls rest, digestion, immunity, and emotional balance. When it’s not working properly, kids feel stuck in stress mode. Learn how neurologically-focused chiropractic care helps restore balance and support your child’s full potential.
If your child struggles with meltdowns, digestive issues, frequent illnesses, or sensory overwhelm, it might be time to look beyond symptoms — and focus on the nervous system.
Today we’re diving into the vagus nerve — a powerhouse for regulation and the key to your child’s rest, digestion, and overall health.
The vagus nerve is the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system — also called the “rest and regulate” system.
It carries over 75% of the nerve fibers responsible for telling the body to calm down, digest food, lower the heart rate, support the immune system, and regulate emotions.
It stretches from the brainstem, through the neck, and into the chest and abdomen — making stops at major organs like the lungs, heart, and gut.
The vagus nerve can be affected from birth — especially in cases of:
C-section or vacuum delivery
In-utero constraint
Tongue or lip tie
Early reflux or colic
Developmental delays or sensory issues
All of these stressors can cause subluxation or tension at the upper neck and brainstem — exactly where the vagus nerve exits the skull. That tension blocks healthy function.
If the vagus nerve isn’t working properly, a child’s body can’t regulate.They might experience:
Poor sleep
Constipation
Emotional outbursts
Frequent illness
Trouble transitioning between tasks
Poor stress recovery
This is the child who never seems to calm down — no matter what you try.
At Innate Family Chiropractic, we use Neurological INSiGHT Scans to assess how your child’s nervous system is functioning — including signs of vagus nerve stress.
From there, we create a care plan designed to gently release pressure on the nervous system and restore healthy vagal tone.
Over time, we see major improvements in regulation, mood, focus, sleep, and more. So if you’re exhausted from trying to manage your child’s symptoms with little success, it may be time to look deeper — and support the system that controls it all.