Have you ever felt disheartened because your child seemed to be making incredible progress—then all of a sudden, it felt like everything stalled? Maybe some old behaviors snuck back in, sleep became disrupted again, or emotional regulation felt like a struggle once more.
Before you worry that something’s gone wrong, take a deep breath. ❤️ What you’re witnessing may actually be a healthy and expected part of your child’s healing journey.
At Foundation of Stone, we want you to know that plateaus—and even small regressions—aren’t signs that care isn’t working. In fact, they’re often a clear sign that your child’s nervous system is doing the deep work it needs to reach the next level of healing.
Healing Is Not a Straight Line
True healing, especially when we’re talking about the nervous system, is not linear. It’s more like a spiral—progressing upward but looping through old patterns on the way.
In our office, we frequently explain this as the body working through layers of stress and dysfunction. As each layer is cleared, another one that was previously buried might rise to the surface. This can feel like a pause or even a step back, but it’s often exactly what the nervous system needs to reorganize and build resilience.
You Are Not Alone
Every family we work with experiences moments of pause, challenge, or recalibration. These moments are part of what neurologically-focused chiropractic care is designed to help with—supporting the nervous system through life’s stressors and growth moments, not avoiding them.
Let’s walk through a few of the most common reasons a child might hit a plateau—and how those moments can actually be a positive sign.
1. Growth Spurts & Developmental Milestones
When kids hit major growth periods—like teething, crawling, walking, or learning new emotional or social skills—their energy is being funneled into rapid development.
These times may come with:
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Moodiness or emotional intensity
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Disrupted sleep
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Temporary loss of previously mastered skills
This isn’t regression—it’s integration. Their nervous system is busy wiring and strengthening new connections, which may temporarily shift focus away from other areas. When these shifts settle, you’ll often see a surge in progress.
2. Immune Stress = Nervous System Work
When your child gets sick—whether it’s a cold, fever, or bug—it might feel like a setback. But from a neurological perspective, it’s actually an opportunity for deeper healing.
Fever, for example, activates parts of the brain responsible for immune coordination and releases important growth and repair proteins. Often, we see children make huge developmental leaps after an illness—though there may be a short dip first.
This is the body recalibrating and building greater adaptability.
3. Environmental Stressors
We live in a world full of stressors that our nervous systems have to filter daily—chemicals in foods, poor air quality, mold exposure, and even overstimulation from screens and noise.
When a child’s nervous system is already working hard to heal, these additional stressors can tip the scale. It might look like:
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Trouble focusing
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Meltdowns or anxiety
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Trouble sleeping or staying regulated
This is why we talk with families often about creating low-toxin environments and giving the body space and support to detox naturally.
4. Emotional Stress & Life Transitions
A move, starting school, a new sibling, or even changes in routine can trigger the fight-or-flight stress response in children—especially those whose nervous systems are already under pressure.
That stress can overwhelm their ability to stay calm, connected, and emotionally flexible. But with regular adjustments and support, we can help their body shift back into rest, digest, and regulate mode.
We often say: life doesn’t have to be perfect for healing to happen—it just needs the right support.
5. Therapy or Medication Overload
Many of our families come to us juggling multiple therapies or medications. While these can be helpful, it’s essential to make sure the nervous system is being prioritized. Without that, it’s like pouring water into a leaky bucket—some of that progress may not stick.
When the nervous system starts healing, older symptoms may resurface as the brain begins “cleaning house.” This isn’t failure—it’s reorganization.
That’s why our approach always begins with the foundation: the nervous system. Once that’s stabilized, everything else works better—therapy, focus, mood, sleep, digestion, and more.
What to Remember During a Plateau
At Foundation of Stone Pediatric & Perinatal Family Chiropractic, we help families just like yours walk through the ups and downs of the healing journey with hope and confidence.
When things feel stalled or off, here’s what we remind our families:
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Growth is happening beneath the surface
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Temporary steps backward are part of deeper forward momentum
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Your consistency with care is making a difference, even if it’s not always visible day-to-day
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These shifts are often the precursor to a major breakthrough
Trust the Process — You’re Doing Better Than You Think
That three-week sleep disruption? The meltdowns that popped up out of nowhere? The increased clinginess or moodiness?
It may all be your child’s nervous system doing what it was designed to do—rewire, reorganize, and build resilience.
Healing doesn’t always look pretty in the moment. Just like a messy closet gets worse before it gets better, the nervous system needs space and time to sort, release, and rebuild. We’re here to walk with you through all of it.
Ready for More Support?
If your child is experiencing a plateau, or you want help understanding where they are in their healing journey, we’re here to help. Schedule a check-in at Foundation of Stone Pediatric & Perinatal Family Chiropractic, and let’s talk about how we can best support your child’s nervous system right now.
Not local to Knoxville? Visit the PX Docs Directory to find a neurologically-focused pediatric chiropractor near you.