PAEDIATRICS

Gentle osteopathic care for babies and children

Paediatric Osteopathy is a specialised area of osteopathy focused on babies and children. It considers how a child’s body moves and adapts throughout growth and development, taking into account their individual history, movement patterns and physical needs.

I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Paediatric Osteopathy, allowing me to provide gentle and specialised osteopathic care for babies and children of all ages.

My approach is centred around understanding each child as an individual. Treatment is always adapted to the child’s age, stage of development and specific needs, using gentle osteopathic techniques in a calm and reassuring environment.

What to expect at your child’s first appointment

The first appointment begins with a detailed consultation to understand your child’s health history, development and any concerns you may have. For babies, this may include information about pregnancy, birth and early development.

A gentle assessment will then be carried out, observing your child’s movement, posture, muscle tone and age-appropriate milestones.

After the assessment, I will explain my findings and discuss whether osteopathic care is appropriate. If treatment is recommended, techniques will always be gentle and adapted to your child’s needs.

Advice and recommendations may also be provided to support your child’s comfort and development. If another healthcare professional’s input is needed, an appropriate referral will be suggested.

Is paediatric osteopathy safe?

Paediatric osteopathic care is adapted specifically for babies and children, using gentle techniques appropriate for their age and stage of development.

Your child’s safety and comfort are always the priority, and every treatment approach will be discussed with you before it takes place.

Are paediatric osteopaths and cranial osteopaths the same?

No, they refer to different things. Paediatric Osteopathy is the area of osteopathy focused on providing care for babies and children. Cranial Osteopathy is a gentle osteopathic approach that may be used as part of a wider osteopathic treatment plan, depending on the individual needs of the child.

Cranial techniques are not a separate type of osteopathy, but one of the approaches that an osteopath may integrate into their practice when appropriate.