The Vagus Nerve & Your Child’s Immune System
As the seasons shift into fall, parents start thinking about ways to keep their kids healthy… especially with school, daycare, and sports starting back up. While most people think of immune health in terms of vitamins, sleep, and hydration, there’s another key player that often gets overlooked: the nervous system, specifically, the vagus nerve.
What is the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body. It begins in the brainstem and travels all the way down into the chest and abdomen. Along the way, it sends and receives messages to the heart, lungs, digestive system, and immune organs. You can think of it as a communication superhighway between your child’s brain and body.
For kids, this nerve helps regulate some of the most important daily functions:
Digestion and nutrient absorption
Heart rate and breathing rhythm
The body’s ability to calm down after stress
The way the immune system responds to germs
Why the vagus nerve matters for kids’ immunity
Children’s nervous systems are still developing, which means they’re extra sensitive to stress, both physical and emotional. When the vagus nerve is healthy and functioning well, it helps the immune system stay in balance. It tells the body when to respond strongly to germs and when to calm down inflammation once the “job” is done.
But if the vagus nerve isn’t firing efficiently, kids may experience:
More frequent colds, coughs, and runny noses
Longer recovery times when they do get sick
More inflammation-related issues, like tummy aches, ear infections, or allergies
This explains why some kids seem to “catch everything” while others bounce back more quickly. Their immune strength isn’t just about exposure, it’s about how well their nervous system is coordinating the immune response.
The role of stress in kids’ health
We often think of stress as something adults deal with, but kids feel it too, just in different ways. Starting a new school year, changes in routine, carrying heavy backpacks, sports schedules, or even missing naps can all put stress on a child’s body.
When a child is stressed, their body spends more time in “fight or flight” mode. This makes it harder for the vagus nerve to do its job. Instead of helping the body calm down and recover, the nervous system stays on “high alert,” which lowers immune resilience.
How chiropractic care helps kids
Here’s where chiropractic care makes a big difference. Because the spine and nervous system are so closely connected, gentle adjustments can improve how efficiently the vagus nerve and entire nervous system are working.
For children, this can look like:
A stronger, more resilient immune system
Quicker recovery from colds or infections
Less inflammation, which often shows up as fewer ear infections, fewer tummy troubles, or better digestion
A calmer, more adaptable response to stress
We often hear from parents in our office that their kids “just don’t get sick as often” or “bounce back quicker” once they start chiropractic care. That’s not a coincidence, it’s the vagus nerve and nervous system functioning at a higher level.
Fun and simple ways to support the vagus nerve at home
In addition to chiropractic adjustments, there are easy ways families can encourage healthy vagus nerve activity at home:
Singing and humming – Kids naturally do this! Singing in the car or humming while they play is actually stimulating the vagus nerve.
Gargling after brushing teeth – A simple habit that strengthens vagal tone.
Deep belly breathing – Teaching kids to take slow breaths (especially with long exhales) is a great bedtime calming tool.
Cold water splashes – Having your child splash cool water on their face after playing outside or before meals helps activate the vagus nerve.
Laughter and play – Joy and connection are powerful nervous system regulators. Family playtime isn’t just fun, it’s healthy!
Setting your child up for a healthy fall
Your child’s immune system doesn’t work in isolation. It’s deeply connected to their nervous system. By supporting the vagus nerve, you’re helping their body stay strong, recover faster, and better handle the daily stressors of childhood.
As kids settle into school routines and the season of sniffles approaches, now is the perfect time to focus on nervous system health. Gentle chiropractic care is a natural, effective way to help their vagus nerve function at its best and in turn, help their immune system stay resilient all year long.
