Osteopathy for Babies and Children

Osteopathy for
Babies and Children

Osteopathy for babies

From the birthing experience to the first few weeks and months of life when they experience rapid growth, your baby can suffer from soft tissue tension, muscle tightness and cramping.

We use gentle osteopathy techniques to remove these tensions and restore balance and alignment in your baby’s body.

How does osteopathy for babies work?

Babies’ skeletons are softer than an older child’s or adult’s, so we use gentle techniques like cranial osteopathy when treating babies. We’ll examine your baby’s head for asymmetry, misalignment of cranial bones (causing ridges between the bones), and muscular tension at the base of the skull and in the rest of the body.

We may work on the rest of the body too, using gentle techniques on the spine, abdomen, pelvis, limbs and even around the mouth to help your baby find its centre of equilibrium and a state of balanced tissue tension in all parts of the body.

How do I know if my baby needs cranial osteopathy?

It can be challenging to know when your baby is experiencing pain or discomfort, but if your baby is showing signs of the following symptoms, then osteopathy might be able to help:

Inconsolable crying and difficulty settling
Trauma from a difficult birth
Breastfeeding challenges
Digestive issues

How old does my baby need to be before they can have osteopathy?

There’s no minimum age for a baby to have osteopathy and they can be seen immediately after birth. We always recommend bringing your baby for treatment as soon as you feel well enough after the birth, particularly if the birth was long, sudden or involved intervention such as forceps or a C Section. An initial baby session will often include a treatment for Mum to help her unlock any physical or emotional stress experienced as a result of the birthing process. If you have an unsettled baby, an osteopathic treatment may be worth consideration.

From birth to those early stages of development through childhood and into their teenage years, your child can experience an imbalance in their body at any stage. Gentle osteopathic techniques can help to realign and rebalance them, reducing pain and improving their wellbeing.

Geoffrey Montague-Smith D.O Principal Osteopath

Osteopathy for children

Growth spurts and the uneven development of bones, muscle and soft tissue can lead to imbalances in your child’s body, which can cause them to experience pain and discomfort.

Osteopathic techniques are suitable for children of any age, whether your child is a toddler, a teenager, or anywhere in between. We’ll adapt our treatment and advice in line with their age, stage of development and individual needs, utilising gentle, safe and effective methods to treat their symptoms.

In what ways could a child benefit from osteopathy?

Just like adults, children can be affected by general joint and muscle issues as a result of growth and physical or emotional stress. Issues can be caused by a physical injury, pain as the result of poor posture, hormonal changes or exam stress.

What do osteopaths do for children?

How we decide to treat your child will depend on how old they are and their particular needs. As with all of our patients, we assess each child individually and will adapt our advice and treatment accordingly. We’ll typically use gentle, hands-on techniques that focus on relieving tension and improving mobility to help restore their balance and improve their wellbeing.

When should I bring my child in for osteopathy?

There is no minimum age for osteopathy – even babies can benefit from osteopathic treatments. It’s beneficial to bring your child in as soon as you have any particular concern, as we will be able to target the root of the problem more effectively and help to release tensions and restore balance.

Find out more about cranial osteopathy, and get in touch with us today to arrange a consultation.

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