Craniosacral for Babies and Children

Why do Babies need Therapy?

A newborn baby has just been through one the most most intense experiences that we encounter as human beings – being born.  Even if the birth went without any complications, baby encounters great intensity and the process itself can be quite overwhelming. Often imprints from the birth experience do not get resolved by themselves and are held in the little baby’s body and nervous system.  As a result, adjustment to life outside of the womb might be affected.  He or she might be disoriented and have a hard time settling into his or her new environment.

A baby’s autonomic nervous system (ANS) can be strongly affected by the birth experience. It might be in a fight or flight state, which is part of our survival mechanism. The fight or flight state can lead to many symptoms, including fussiness, restlessness, inconsolable crying, not sleeping, trouble with nursing, digestive problems etc.

A stressed ANS can also express as the opposite:  baby may sleep a lot, be very quiet and slow.  They may not make contact well, have attachment issues and seem withdrawn.

Generally the more complications arise during the birth, the more the baby’s nervous system is affected, but  even a smooth birth can leave effects on the ANS.  Craniosacral Therapy can help baby’s nervous system to release the survival energy and find a place of more balance and settledness.

There can also be physical issues, resulting from birth, that do not get resolved by themselves.

Sometimes the baby’s head or body do not completely unfold after being compressed in the birth canal.  Bones in the head might be pushed over one another or spaces between bones get compressed, leading to pressure on important nerves and blood vessels.  This can lead to symptoms, like colic, respiratory problems, difficulty with nursing or sleep, fussiness etc. Craniosacral Therapy can help baby’s body on a structural level, so that patterns of compression can be resolved.

More and more research shows how important bonding and attachment to his or her caregiver are for the infant during the first months of life.  Any physical symptoms or nervous system stress can interrupt the bonding process, leading to further  complications.

As the child grows older, any physical issues from birth can turn into  painful or limiting patterns in the body.  Nervous system dis-regulation can affect how he or she responds to stress and bonding and attachment issues can have impact on later relationships.

It is far easier to resolve these issues with a young baby,  than later as an older child or an adult when patterns become more solidified.

How Craniosacral Therapy can help

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle and yet very effective way to support a baby in releasing the impact from the birth process.

CST works with subtle rhythms in the body that are part of who we are as human beings. All of our tissues and fluids move with those rhythms. The free expression of those rhythms is essential for health and wherever they are not expressing, there is usually holding or constriction in the body. Constriction can result from physical impact (like physical challenges during birth), emotional impact or shock to the nervous system.  If any of those impacts were too much to process in the moment they occurred, they get held in the tissues and nervous system and often lead to a variety of symptoms.

A craniosacral practitioner uses very gentle touch on the body to determine where those rhythms are expressing freely and where there are restrictions.  He or she then supports the baby’s system to release restrictions and find it’s free expression again.

The reorganization that results happens on very deep levels, including the ANS.  Often the ANS will discharge imprints and come into a regulated state and physical patterns will unravel. ( Read more under modalities: Craniosacral Therapy).

When should a baby receive Craniosacral Therapy?

As soon after birth as possible is optimal, but any issues present can still be worked with in older babies and children.

What does a  Craniosacral Therapy session for a baby look like?

Craniosacral Therapy is very gentle and involves light contact of my hands with baby’s body to listen to the subtle internal rhythms. I might hold the bottom of the spine, the neck, belly, their head or other places.

Creating safety for your baby first before we start working is very important.  If your baby does not feel safe, he or she will be in a survival state and we won’t be able to help the nervous system shift out of that state.

Therefore, I will usually start a session with you holding your baby and talking for a bit, so he or she can get used to me.  Then I will start lightly touching him or her while on your lap.  Then we might progress to me holding your baby or working on a massage table, but only if your baby is comfortable with that.

I can work with him or her while your baby is nursing or while you are holding him/her or while he/she is asleep, as well.

Craniosacral Therapy tends to be very soothing and often a baby will fall asleep during a session.

I allow an hour as a time-frame and we might not work that entire hour. Often, I will work in intervals while your baby is cooperative and we might take some brakes and allow for diaper changes etc.

How many sessions will it take?

That will depend on the baby’s system and what symptoms are presenting.  Sometimes great change is achieved in one session, but often it takes several sessions over some time.

Craniosacral Therapy with Children (older than infants)

Craniosacral Therapy can be done with children of all ages.  Children are generally very sensitive and responsive to this type of work.

Some of the issues that Craniosacral Therapy can address in your child:

• structural issues, imbalances in his/her posture or movements
• behavioral issues
• emotional problems
• any stress left over from his/her birth
• learning disabilities and developmental delay
• support him/her during difficult phases of development
• help with recovery from a surgery or prepare for a surgery
• sleep issues
• help with autism and other disabilities

What does a session look like for a child?

The first aspect of a session is always safety.  I might start out playing for a bit with your child or talking about things that matter to him or her to establish relationship with him or her.

Then, depending on the age of your child we find what works best for them.  For  younger children, like toddlers and pre-school aged children, I usually have them sit on the massage table while mom or whoever is with them reads some books to them or plays with some toys.  We might change locations if necessary, like move to the floor.  We might also take breaks, so your child can move around for a bit.

Some older children might be okay with lying on the massage table while listening to music or while being read to.

We make it work for your child, because their comfort and cooperation is key during the session.

I will lightly put my hands on your child’s body, on the bottom of their spine, their neck, head or abdomen or other places.  Then I listen through my light touch to the internal subtle rhythms in their body ( read more under: modalities – Craniosacral Therapy).

How many sessions will it take?

That will depend on the child’s system and what symptoms are presenting.  Sometimes great change is achieved in one session, but often it takes several sessions over some time.