Working with Babies
Infant Craniosacral Therapy and Bodywork
Craniosacral Therapy is a safe and gentle therapy that uses very light touch to ease areas of tightness or restriction in the connective tissue of the body. The treatment restores mobility and creates more space in places in the body where there are stuck places. This promotes optimal shape, movement and function of the head, spine and body.
Bodywork and massage is an excellent way for you to help your baby. Experienced therapists will teach you how to work with your baby with your hands, your touch.
What is Craniosacral Therapy and Bodywork?
Craniosacral Therapy is a safe and gentle therapy that uses very light touch to ease areas of tightness or restriction in the connective tissue of the body. The treatment restores mobility and creates more space in places in the body where there are stuck places. This promotes optimal shape, movement and function of the head, spine and body.
The craniosacral therapist uses his/her hands to locate and release areas of tension in the body. The treatment is baby-led, nothing is ever forced, and most release techniques use five grams of pressure (the weight of a nickel). It doesn’t hurt or tickle, but allows for release and relaxation for improved health.
Bodywork and massage is an excellent way for you to help your baby. Experienced therapists will teach you how to work with your baby with your hands, your touch.
What is Craniosacral Therapy and Bodywork?
Craniosacral Therapy is a safe and gentle therapy that uses very light touch to ease areas of tightness or restriction in the connective tissue of the body. The treatment restores mobility and creates more space in places in the body where there are stuck places. This promotes optimal shape, movement and function of the head, spine and body.
The craniosacral therapist uses his/her hands to locate and release areas of tension in the body. The treatment is baby-led, nothing is ever forced, and most release techniques use five grams of pressure (the weight of a nickel). It doesn’t hurt or tickle, but allows for release and relaxation for improved health.
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When is Craniosacral Therapy and Bodywork a Good Idea?
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"I brought you a baby with failure to thrive who was probably headed toward a feeding tube. She had dropped to the 3rd percentile in weight and was a tense little person whom I didn't seem able to soothe. You helped her open up. She has fat rolls now and she giggles. She can turn her head both directions and isn't drawn up into a little ball. She can nurse well enough to grow and she trusts me. I think what you do is incredible and fascinating and really, really valuable. Thank you for everything!" ~ Bethany Rose, Stanton
Pediatric Functional Bowen™ Bodywork for Babies
Kate is trained in a form of bodywork for babies called Pediatric Functional Bowen™. Created by Judy Terwilliger of Know Mor Integrative Functional Health, this is a form of very gentle release that uses a light strumming or rolling movement on the musculature derived from the traditional Bowen Therapy Method developed by Tom Bowen, an Australian Osteopath. Traditional Bowen Therapy is suitable for anyone at any age. Both applications promote “less is best” and support the theory that “the body improves its own regulatory processes best”. Pediatric Functional Bowen™ Therapy is a specifically focused muscle balancing application for the areas of body involved in structure‐function imbalances. Unlike Traditional Bowen for babies, Pediatric Functional Bowen™ Therapy directly addresses the specific muscle/muscle group structures assessed to be hindering physical and or physiological function. It specifically promotes functional mobility of the musculature while it gently promotes balance and symmetry of the body. Breastfeeding difficulties and or feeding dysfunctions are prime examples of what it can successfully address.
What does a session look like?
What does a session look like?
- We begin with the birth story and structural assessment. Babies can be predisposed to feeling stuck in their bodies with limited movement in their musculature from different in utero and birth experiences. Any of these experiences can influence the need for bodywork:
- Complicated or high stress pregnancy
- Prolonged or complicated labor
- Precipitous (too fast) labor
- Early engagement of fetal position prior to labor onset
- Cesarean section
- Pitocin or hormonal labor stimulation
- Epidural administration
- Head traction or external extraction with delivery
- Low amniotic fluid levels/space constraints
- Structural assessment is visual and the practitioner will gently move the baby's arms and legs.
- Light strumming of the muscles begins with the back and hamstrings, then moves to the next and mid body. Specific muscles of the face and mouth are targeted for possible tongue restriction. These muscles are often very tight and the baby may cry when they are moved. The light work can also tickle.
- The work is done slowly, giving the baby lots of breaks. It is combined with craniosacral therapy and support for the mother/family.
- Heated pillows are used to help the muscles soften, and home massages, stretches and movements are taught
Read About a Case Study Here
Baby Massage Instruction
Baby massage is offered as a class to teach parents how to massage their babies. Baby massage and communication with your newborn. For precrawling babies only.
- How your baby self-regulates
- Nonverbal cues from your baby
- Techniques to calm a fussy baby
- Handouts on soothing and sleep