One of the most common questions that I get from patients in my practice is whether I am able to treat their children. The answer is: Yes – Osteopathic manual practitioners can absolutely treat infants and children!
There are many reasons why a parent would bring their child into the clinic for an Osteopathic manual treatment. Here are some of the most common reasons and examples:
- Torticollis (neck muscle imbalance)
- Latching issues with breastfeeding
- Colic and reflux issues
- Poor immunity (ie frequent ear infections)
- Imbalanced nervous system (mood concerns or hypersensitivity to sounds, noises, etc)
- Growing pains, even at the onset of puberty
- Repetitive strain injuries (ie from playing sports and video gaming)
- Recovery from an accident or a significant fall (even if asymptomatic, to release strains that could cause compensatory changes)
- Physical developmental milestone check-in
What is important to note here is that osteopaths do not treat symptoms or diagnose any conditions.
Osteopaths treat tissues under tension so that they become stronger and more resistant to disease. The belief is that freeing the nerve, artery, vein and lymphatic systems from restriction allows the body to self-heal and self-regulate! These treatments are gentle – the pressure applied is nothing more than, say, the pressure applied to check the ripeness of a tomato, making osteopathy a perfect fit for babies and children.
What to Expect in an Initial Visit:
During an initial visit, expect to spend the first 10-20 minutes on a general intake for the child’s medical history. The medical history includes the birth story to determine the physical impact on the child. For example, was the child delivered via C-section or vaginal birth? If it is the latter, were there any interventions to assist delivery of the child such as forceps, suction or vacuum? It is important to have the parents or primary caregivers present, not only create comfort for the infant or child but to get the whole picture. The more information we have, the more efficient we can be!
After completing the general intake, a gentle assessment and treatment begins with the primary focus of comfort for the baby or child. For infants, this includes mom sitting at the head of the table while the practitioner assesses and treats at the foot of the table. Finally, it is helpful for mom, dad or caregiver to bring favourite toys to help keep baby happy and comfortable with familiar objects.
Other Considerations for Infant/Child bookings:
It is recommended to have your child come in for a visit when they are at their best (ie well rested, hydrated, fed and without active infections). If the appointment is for your infant, please feed them within the hour of the treatment because a full baby is a happy baby! Regardless of age, your child should at least have had a snack before treatment to ensure they do not become irritated with hunger. For infants, I like to schedule appointments within a few days before vaccination and a week after vaccination as the baby can be quite fussy and irritable after.
Otherwise, find a time that works best for the family and we will work together from there to keep the child happy.
If there are any other questions, please do not hesitate to give the clinic a call, email the clinic (info@sproutwellness.ca) or book in a for a free 15-minute consultation!
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