The treatment of infants and children involves a combination of functional and cranial technique. Both are very gentle forms of treatment which can effectively treat the entire body in a safe way. Paediatric treatment does not involve any high velocity thrust techniques which are commonly used on adult patients.

Yes, osteopathic treatment is safe for babies as it is a very gentle form of treatment that works with the body to create positive change.

Most babies would benefit from osteopathic treatment. Some babies only need one treatment as they have very little strain however others may need more. Factors including uterine positioning, the birth process, and post natal health can dictate the number and frequency of treatments needed

For most cases, I like to do the initial treatment at around 7-10 days old. This is to give the baby and mother time to settle after the birth. Should a parent want to, we can treat from as young as 2-3 days old. This can be beneficial particularly for those having feeding/latching issues.

The number of treatments needed does vary depending on the case. For most babies 1-3 treatments is enough. For particularly unsettled babies, persistant torticollis (head preferences) and severe reflux or colic cases, more treatment is often needed sometimes with conjunction of prescribed medications.

No, we can treat babies whether they are awake or asleep. I prefer not to treat while they are upset so should a baby not like laying on their back, we can adapt to treating either being held by myself or the parent. We can also treat while baby is being fed. I also have toys for entertainment.

Babies typically react in one of three ways post-treatment. Some will seem like their normal wee self, some can become unsettled post treatment. This typically will last between 24-48 hours. Others become sleepy and have been known to sleep for several hours following treatment. Both reactions are as a result of their body processing the treatment. Parents are always welcome to contact me should you be concerned at all.

I graduated in 2009 from Unitec New Zealand with a Masters of Osteopathy (Hons) and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Biology). Since graduating, I have focused on paediatric health and osteopathy completing courses with several osteopaths throughout New Zealand as well as a London based osteopath to continue expanding my knowledge and experience in the paediatric field. In 2018, I completed a Graduate Diploma in Child Health from Ara New Zealand.