Has anyone used a cranial osteopath?

[LostAndNeverFound]

What was your experience like? Did it work or was it a waste of money?

My 6 week old doesn't settle in the day, he struggles with sleep and is never settled. I can't put him down when he's awake because he just screams. Night times are good though and he generally sleeps really well. He's exclusively breastfed.

[LuisGarcia]

Save your money for something real. You'll need it.

[Longdistance]

I've had it done on dd2. We only need two sessions, and dd had colic real bad. Was terrible in the evenings to settle. She was fine after two sessions.
Some people say its all 'woo', but my mw and bf councillor recommended I take dd. I thought, why not, and she was a great sleeper after that too, and still is.

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Chiropody = trimming toenails and putting nice cream on ime.
Maybe you're thinking of chiropractic .

I've never understood either technique as more woo than the other.
I don't like the bone-crunching they do as I think it's potentially damaging, but the cranial style is very gentle.

6 weeks' treatment had no effect on a tiny DS1 when he wouldn't sleep.
I'm currently seeing one but so far the only 'result' has been more neck/shoulder pain! I'm hoping it's my body responding to shifts and it'll sort itself out, but my opinion on cranial is undecided atm.

[QTPie]

We used one as a "belt and braces" measure (DS was breech). He had two appointments (2 days old and 2 weeks old): he was a great feeder and sleeper, but don't know if that was down to the osteopathy...

If he is sleeping well at night, then you are unlikely to have much of a problem: from my and friends experience, babies are notoriously a lot worse to settle for naps during the day. DS was 6 months before we sorted it out and I had walked a LOT of miles with the pram by then!!! Even at 6 months, he napped bye pushing him backwards and forwards in the pushchair... We didn't manage to settle in the cot until 14 months!

If you have the spare money, the cranial osteopathy is worth doing, but it may very well not be a cute for this problem.

[QTPie]

(DS DID settle at night, just not daytime naps)

[Kafri]

I used one when ds was 10/11 weeks as I had tried EVERYTHING else.

DS was colicky and eould scream endlessly and this went on from birth through to gradually easing off at 14/15 weeks. he has reflux and had lots of trouble with wind and was a very unhappy little man in thos early days.
I tried allsorts suggested by various people both in RL and on MN and eventually the only thing left was CO.

did it make a difference? it did seem to do something but not enough for me to be completely convinced about it. the guy I saw didn't charge me and in all honesty I think id have been a little put out if he had charged me for what difference I did see so that tells me I don't think it did much.

hes on meds and milk now for his reflux but even at 5m hes still a whiny baby and the last 2 days have been atrocious and feel like were back at 8w

[TheChaoGoesMu]

I did it with ds out of desperation when he was about 6 weeks. He was really colicky and unsettled. It did make a huge difference, he came home and slept through the night, and was really chilled out after that. Admittedly that was the only time he slept through until he was about 11 months, but at least the fact that he was a lot happier made it easier to deal with.

[valiumredhead]

Yes, I have used one many times and she was brilliant.

I have seen little babies coming out of the clinic so chilled and wide eyed after a session, it's amazing :)

I went when I had such bad back pain I could hardly move and was fine after the treatment. Also when I had sinusitis head aches - again with fantastic results.

[GingerDoodle]

DD was born with a kink in her neck - I suspected something from very early on but midwife, doctor and hv all dismissed it.

Just before 3 months, i did some research online, found a local osteo and spoke to her on the phone - she gave me some tests I could do and we decided to take her in.

We had one session and DD was turning her head both way for the first time ever by the end of it. I admit I don't fully understand all of what she did but its very very gentle and non-invasive - DD was happy throughout.

We didn't go back for the follow up as sling use, enforced tummy time and exercises did the trick. £50 well spent.

[LostAndNeverFound]

Thanks for your replies, interesting to hear everyone's stories. It looks like it works for some but not others.

I think I'm going to give it another few weeks and see how we go. Today I gave him a dummy and he's settled amazingly for his naps, no screaming! He's currently fast asleep in his moses basket where he's been for 2 hours, that's unheard of!

QT I think you're right, I think I need to just give it time in the day to get his napping sorted and try and look for his sleep signals so he doesn't get overtired.

The only thing I don't think I can do anything about is the car, he hates it. Screams from the second it starts moving until I take the car seat out when he'll start calming down and stop. My other two loved the car, he's the only baby I know that hates the car! Anyone got any tips on this?

[silverangel]

I went to an osteo when my back gave up when I was pregnant, she kept me mobile but is that not very different to a cranial osteo - I thought they didn't do actual manipulation? No experience, just interested...

[TallGiraffe]

Yes yes yes! It has transformed our lives. We had a total sleep refuser, who after 2 treatments now sleeps. He has gone from waking every hour to sleeping 10 hours in a stretch. Best money we have ever spent.

[pickledparsnip]

I've just started taking my 3 year old to an osteopath. Osteopathy isn't remotely woo (& I'm a total wooer)! Surprised some think it is. I wish I had taken him when he was a baby. I have seen big improvements since going (behaviour related).

[munchkinmaster]

No statutory regulation
No training in paediatric anatomy
Claims to 'cure' autism and ADHD
No thanks

Seriously, the soft plates in a newborns head are extremely different from the fused hard adult skull.

[cathers]

Just to clarify osteopaths DO have statutory training. A minimum 4/5 year degree, first two years of which are the same as medical doctors, last 3 years spent in osteopathic practice. To practice, we need to be registered with the General Osteopathic Council. Do not use one who is not. There is evidence to osteopathy can help with back pain.

Cranial Osteopaths can be osteopaths who have done post grad training in this field. So again, look for a GOC registered osteopath who has done post grad work in cranial. The title osteopath is protected. Unfortunately, the title 'Cranial Osteopath' is not, therefore may attract charlatans or other 'therapists' trading under this name.

[munchkinmaster]

Sorry cathers I did mean cranial osteopaths. I think the confusion between the two is part of the problem.

I've just got a bee in my bonnet as they tend to advertise at yoga places and there are always posters claiming they will cure ADHD, asd, low iq, dyslexia, you name it. It's just taking advantage of people.

[hophophippidtyhop]

I used one for dd who had brachycephaly. I could see her head shape improving before my eyes, and the difference in her behaviour too. I remember taking her one day when she was really grumpy and clingy - she came out a completely different baby. I've been to the clinic in Wandsworth(2 years ago) - minimum donation of £25.

[NoWayNoHow]

We used one for DS - traumatic birth, he screamed and screamed and screamed non stop for 8 weeks, wouldn't settle during the day (but like your baby, slept well at night). He used to jerk himself awake during the day as well and hated lying down. Also exclusively BF.

DH and I were literally in tears all day at one stage because we just couldn't cope any more.

After just one session of cranial osteopathy, he was a COMPLETELY different child. It was like he'd been swapped in the middle of the night. We did a few more and they said he had recol compression from the ventouse delivery. He'd basically lived 8 weeks with a splitting headache.

If you think that there's even a small chance tthe it will work, don't wait. Cranial osteopathy can do no harm at all, but it can also work miracles - there's nothing to lose...

[janey223]

Like notflyffy DS had a very traumatic birth and difficult first few months and we went to the osteopathic centre for children too. If you're near South London they are fantastic, although I think they may now have a second base somewhere else in London.

[TheYoniWayisGerard]

DD had awful colic and reflux. Went to one out of desperation. Total waste of £70. She was calm for a couple of hours, but that was it. I could have saved money and just taken her for a walk.

[munchkinmaster]

Except if you go pressing on soft babies skulls you can cause harm. I'm actually worried by someone seeing thier baby's head shape change.

[BikeRunSki]

DD is seeing one at the moment. She is 19 months old and has never slept for more than a few hours at once. Waking several times in the night was killing me . She had a traumatic birth and was born by crash c section. Several people suggested cranial osteopathy (the explanation didn't sound too hippy doo-dah) to me. Three sessions in she sleeps like a log.

[TheChaoGoesMu]

Have you got any evidence that it actually causes harm please munchkin?