Cranial osteopathy (known as OCF, osteopathy in the cranial field) can be invaluable for treating a wide range of health conditions, the gentler, non-manipulative techniques, known as cranial osteopathy are especially suitable for treating young children and newborn infants.

The birth process can be incredibly demanding on both mother and baby, creating stresses and strains throughout the baby’s head (cranium), spine and pelvis. These strains can irritate surrounding nerves and compromise blood supply, resulting in pain, headaches and digestive disturbances.

Some benefits of cranial osteopathy for babies may include the following.

• Improving latching or suckling problems
• Relaxation of the soft tissues of the body
• Treating torticollis and asymmetric shaping or flattening of the baby’s head (plagiocephaly)
• Reducing symptoms of gastrointestinal reflux and colic
• Improving ear infections by helping drainage of the ear.
• Removing the stress of difficult and traumatic births
• Improving breathing skills, especially in case of asthma
• Improving irritability, difficulty with settling and sleep issues.
• Reducing excessive crying
• Improving sleep

Dr Pip Osteopath will focus on a whole-body approach to determine the cause of the problem, recognising the important link between the structure of the body and the way it functions. By using a palpatory evaluation, diagnosis and a range of hands-on techniques, our osteopaths identify and treat dysfunction in your child’s body, positively affecting their nervous, circulatory and lymphatic systems.

Osteopathy treatment on children may help with:

• Delayed crawling or walking.
• Hip pain.
• “Growing Pains”.
• Concerns about spinal curves.
• Concerns about Foot Position: toe walking and in-toeing.
• Asymmetries of limb movement.
• Headaches.
• Abdominal pain.
• Speech & hearing problems.