FAQ’s

Osteopathy doesn’t aim to treat medical conditions like colic or reflux directly. However, many parents in the Cheltenham and Gloucester area bring their babies to us because they’re experiencing signs of digestive or feeding discomfort. Our gentle, hands-on approach aims to support the baby’s comfort and wellbeing — and parents often tell us their little one seems more settled afterwards.

Yes, when performed by a qualified osteopath with training in paediatrics, cranial osteopathy is very gentle and suitable for babies, even from just a few days old. Parents often describe it as calming and many babies sleep through treatment.

We’ll begin by taking a thorough case history to understand what symptoms your baby is experiencing, and explore what might be contributing to those — including their pregnancy, birth, and life so far. We aim to build a clear picture of what’s going on and why, so we can tailor treatment specifically to your baby.

The session will also include gentle, hands-on treatment — unless there’s a reason not to, which is very rare. This involves carefully feeling for areas of tension or strain in the body, and using light touch to support the body’s natural ability to relax and settle. Babies are often held, fed or comforted during treatment — and we work flexibly around them to keep things calm and reassuring.

It depends on your baby and the reasons you’re bringing them to see us. For straightforward cases, for example, after an uncomplicated birth, we usually suggest 2-3 sessions to begin with. For babies who’ve had a more complex start, such as a forceps delivery or a more difficult birth, we may recommend a slightly longer course of care.

In most cases, three to four sessions is typical, though we’ll always tailor this to your baby’s needs, how they’re responding and any other factors that may be involved. We’ll talk it through with you at each stage so you can make an informed choice.

All osteopaths are qualified to treat babies and children, but this is a specialist area and every member of our team has completed further training in paediatric and cranial osteopathy. Some hold formal post-graduate qualifications, while others have gained extensive experience through courses and ongoing professional development.

We’ve been caring for babies and children across Churchdown, Cheltenham and Gloucester for over 40 years. Several of our osteopaths also teach or mentor in paediatric osteopathy — and we continue to learn, collaborate and support one another in complex cases.

We often see babies who are finding feeding difficult, whether that’s latch issues, fussiness at the breast or bottle, or general signs of tension or discomfort. Osteopathy doesn’t aim to treat a specific feeding problem, but can gently explore and release areas of strain that may be affecting comfort or coordination.

We work closely with an experienced Lactation Consultant and can offer joined-up support where needed, whether that's assessment, feeding advice, or onward referral for issues like tongue-tie.

Yes, we see children of all ages, not just newborns. Osteopathy can be helpful at many points through childhood, whether your child has had a bump or fall, seems a bit out of sorts, or is recovering from illness or strain.

And don’t worry if you’re thinking, “There’s no way they’ll sit still!” - we hear that all the time. We’re very used to working flexibly with toddlers and young children. Most are happy being treated while sitting on a parent’s lap, playing with a toy, looking at a book, or even watching something on a screen. Every child is different, and we’ll always find a way to work around them that feels calm, supportive and respectful of where they’re at.