CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY/ BABIES AND CHILDREN
Cranial Osteopathy is the name given to a very gentle and subtle hands-on way of treating, particularly for babies and children. A refined and sensitive touch is used to feel and treat imbalances within the body.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT LIKE?
Despite its name, Cranial Osteopathy is a very gentle, whole-body approach. It doesn’t just focus on the head (cranium), although this can form an important part of treatment — particularly for babies.
Treatment may also involve the spine, pelvis or other areas of the body, depending on what your baby or child needs.
The techniques used are incredibly gentle. There is no forceful manipulation, no “clicking” of joints and no sudden movements. Instead, treatment involves soft, carefully placed hands, using light contact to support the body in settling and rebalancing itself.
IS IT SUITABLE FOR ME?
Osteopaths treat people rather than conditions, which means every treatment is tailored to the individual.
Because cranial osteopathy is so gentle, it is particularly well suited to babies, older patients, and anyone who feels sensitive to more physical approaches.
Parents often bring babies for support with feeding difficulties, digestive discomfort, unsettled sleep and/or if there were complications during delivery. Babies are often treated while lying comfortably on a parent’s lap, feeding, or simply being cuddled - it is not unusual for little ones to relax deeply during treatment. Everything is adapted to your child, and we always work at their pace.
Adults living with long-term or chronic conditions, or those who have experienced physical or emotional trauma, often appreciate this gentler approach too.
The aim is always to support the body calmly and respectfully, working at a pace that feels safe and comfortable.
'We have renamed Kelly 'the baby whisperer' - we took our baby boy on 4 occasions, from c7 weeks old to 18 weeks old to help him settle.....Kelly is warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable. She was so good with our baby (he fell asleep towards the end of all visits) and he now seems much better. I don’t hesitate to recommend Cricklade Osteopaths and will definitely book again in the future if we need it!'
IT LOOKS LIKE NOTHING IS HAPPENING!
This is a comment often made by those observing a Cranial treatment. Hands are placed and often rest for a while on a patient's body with very little movement. It can appear nothing is happening. A useful analogy is of a person reading a book. To the observer, nothing much is happening but the person reading is absorbing and processing a wealth of information.
That is much the same as an Osteopath during Cranial treatment. The body tells a story and it parts with information that the Osteopath processes and responds to. Slow and subtle movements can influence and promote change within the body, encouraging ease and relaxation rather than forcing tissues or joints to move.
Training in Cranial Osteopathy is at a Postgraduate level and can take many years to complete for Osteopaths who choose to incorporate this into clinical practice.
Kelly Haines is a Fellow and Member of Faculty of the Sutherland Cranial College of Osteopathy.