How Osteopathy Can Help Your Baby Thrive

Hi there! I'm Anna, part of the CBRMamas network and a paediatric osteopath based in Canberra. I'm a manual therapist who has a special interest in musculoskeletal issues in babies and children. In this blog, I want to talk about why parents bring their little ones to see an osteopath.

There are three main reasons parents bring their babies to us. The first is intrauterine moulding, which happens when a baby stays in the same position in the womb for long periods of time. When they're born, these babies often can't lie straight and will curve to one side or the other like a banana. They might have a preference for turning their head to one side and may have some asymmetry in their head or face. This is a really common issue, especially for twins.

The second reason is birth injuries and strains. Being born can be a rough ride, and it's no surprise that some babies end up with sore, stiff necks, shoulders, and jaws. Some babies have bruising, muscle strains, or stiffness. While their little bodies are beautifully designed to handle the birthing process, some gentle manual therapy afterwards can make them much more comfortable.

The third most common issue we see in babies is feeding problems. We work closely with lactation consultants and GPs to offer a team approach to these issues. Referrers often send us babies who are feeding well at one breast but not the other. This is usually because the baby is more comfortable turning their head one way than the other. Poor tongue movement and tongue ties are another issue we see, and it's often linked to tightness in the chest, throat, jaw, cheeks and lips, and neck. We help loosen up these areas to help the baby feed more easily.

Baby osteopathy treatments are very gentle. You might see us doing some stretches and joint mobilizations, using massage techniques, or other osteopathic techniques. We don't do any "cracking" or anything rough. Our goal is to make the appointments engaging and enjoyable for the baby and their family. We teach families simple exercises, stretches, and massage techniques that they can use at home too.

If you live outside of Canberra, we offer telehealth consults for paediatric appointments. How would that work? With the parent’s help we can do a physical assessment, give positioning and exercise advice, and teach you some simple massage and joint range of movement techniques that we think will really help your baby. It’s a great option for families that have a long drive into town, or for other reasons would find it hard to attend an in-person appointment.

I hope this has been helpful! Feel free to reach out to me or a member of my team if you have any concerns about your baby's musculoskeletal health.

Our number is (02) 6249 7541 and you can also book in online at www.northcanberraosteopathy.com.au

We’re located at North Canberra Osteopathy, at the Hackett Shops in Canberra.