top of page
Writer's pictureTessa Saraeva

What can osteopathy help my baby with?

Updated: Aug 8, 2022

We often get asked what an osteopath does for a baby… often enough to put our heads down and write a blog about it.


Birth is a rather intense process- as all parents will know. But let’s think of it as simply as possible: a relatively large object passes through a relatively narrow passage…the object gets a bit squished and the passage gets a bit stretched.


Osteopaths working with babies are passionate about the forces acting on the baby during the birth process and the resulting strain patterns that babies bodies have after birth. Just as you or I can strain a muscle in our adult lives, babies can carry strains in their body from the birth process, regardless of whether or not an intervention such as forceps or ventouse delivery was used. Fortunately, the so-called "baby osteopaths" at TLC are here to help.


There is plenty for osteopaths to consider when we work with your baby. Our treatments are built on research and clinical knowledge about birth strains, motor development, digestion, sleep issues etc we know that you are not nerds like us and so we will keep this blog on the topic that you started reading it for: What can osteopathy help my baby with?



Osteopathic treatment for infants and children can help with:

  • Feed and latch issues

  • Head favouring

  • Flat spots on the head

  • Forceps and ventouse delivery

  • Sleep issues

  • Digestive upset including constipation, spilling, wind

  • Hip issues

  • Shoulder issues

  • Unsettled signs and symptoms

  • Movement issues

  • Child migraines





What can you expect during a baby osteopathic appointment?

The osteopath will often:

  • Ask you about the birth, feeding, sleeping and baby’s general behaviour

  • Assess the baby’s facial feature symmetry, skull symmetry

  • Assess baby’s limb movement, spinal movement

  • Look for tension in baby’s soft tissues

  • Assess baby’s suck, lip and tongue motion

  • Sometimes assess - but often is quietly observing - baby’s developmental markers

  • Provide home-based exercises and/or recommendations for parents and caregivers


If it so happens that you are a nerd and want to read more about childbirth, infant development and osteopathy, Google Scholar is a great start. And we are always happy to take questions.


Written by - Tessa Saraeva

TLC Osteopaths 15 Tanekaha place Pukete Book online Contact 022 470 9473 0800 852 273 (TLCARE)



Comentarios


bottom of page