French Nanny London is delighted to be partnering with Baby Physio, paediatric physiotherapy and osteopathy specialists. They were able to share useful insights on how paediatric physiotherapy and cranial osteopathy can help keep our precious babies healthy and thriving. From the importance of early check-ups to gentle techniques after birth, we’ll see how these paediatric physios and osteopaths can support our little ones’ health, ensuring they grow up strong and vibrant.
Welcoming a newborn into the world is an unparalleled joy, a moment filled with boundless love and hope for the future. As parents, we dream of our little ones growing up healthy, happy, and reaching all their milestones along the way. However, it’s important to understand that some babies might face early health challenges that need our attention and care.
Some babies are born with minor pathologies that, if left untreated, could potentially impact their health and well-being as they grow. Yet, modern paediatric physiotherapy and cranial osteopathy shine in their ability to offer proactive solutions, making sure every baby gets the best start in life for their health.
Why is it important for your baby to have an early assessment?
An early assessment of your baby by a paediatric physiotherapist or osteopath is an essential step in ensuring their well-being from the beginning of their life. By having a baby physiotherapy assessment of your baby from head to toe shortly after birth, any potential issues can be identified and addressed promptly. This early intervention is important for the main reason that the earliest a condition is detected and treated, the easiest it will be for the paediatric physiotherapist or osteopath to fix this condition, and – at the opposite, if left untreated the condition can impact the future of your children and become more difficult to fix over time. This is the main reason why we always advise parents to have their baby’s health check as early as possible by a specialised paediatric physiotherapist or osteopath.
Osteopathy Rebalancing after Birth, what are the benefits?
At different degrees, depending on how long was the delivery, the position of the baby in the womb, if forceps were used or if it was by c-section, every birth brings tensions in a baby’s body. These tensions are usually the causes of sleepless babies, crying babies, reflux and other digestive pathologies.
A gentle adjustment by a cranial osteopath can help realign your baby’s body and alleviate any tensions or discomfort that could also lead to a future condition. These adjustments are particularly beneficial for addressing any birth-related trauma. By having a baby rebalancing treatment of your baby’s body early on, you can promote relaxation, improve sleep quality, and ensure your little one’s comfort as they adjust to life outside the womb. This gentle approach sets the stage for a smoother transition into infancy and can help prevent any potential issues from arising later on.
Main babies’ conditions that can be resolved easily by paediatric physiotherapist if addressed early.
It is common to see a baby born with their feet turning inward or outward, this is due to their position in the womb – which has created a long stretch of the muscle on one side of the foot and retracted the muscle on the other side. But no worries, baby feet deformities can be effectively addressed through physiotherapy, which focuses on correcting alignment and promoting proper function of the foot.
For this baby condition, the paediatric physiotherapist will use a variety of gentle exercises, stimulation and stretching tailored to the specific needs of the baby. These exercises usually include gentle stretching to improve flexibility, strengthening exercises to promote muscle development, and manual techniques to encourage proper alignment of the feet. By implementing targeted interventions early on, physiotherapists can effectively improve foot health in babies, ensuring that they develop a strong foundation for mobility and overall well-being.
Torticollis in babies is a condition characterised by a stiff neck and limited mobility on one side when the baby tries to turn their head. The paediatric therapist approach focuses on restoring proper neck mobility and alignment to ensure optimal development.
Once again torticollis is due to the position of the baby in the mother womb with their head tilted on one side during the months of the pregnancy, which stretches their neck muscles on one side and retracts the neck muscles on the other side. If detected early, it can be effectively treated through both physiotherapy and osteopathy.
Physiotherapists and osteopaths employ a combination of stretching exercises and manual techniques tailored to the individual needs of each baby. Stretching exercises help loosen tight muscles and improve range of motion in the neck, while manual techniques such as gentle massage and manipulation work to release tension and promote proper alignment.
Finally, developmental delays in babies can be a source of concern for parents. But first of all, before worrying, it is important for you to know that each baby reaches their milestone at their own pace, so it might happen that your loved one is not yet crawling and walking while other babies of the same age are already doing it. Now, it is important to understand the reason why these milestones take too long to happen. In this case, the paediatric physio or osteo will do a thorough assessment of the baby’s movement, their joints, their reflexes and muscles strength to understand if it is due to an underlying condition or if your baby is only taking their time.
Once the cause has been found, the therapist will stimulate the baby movement by using ludic and fun exercises to show your baby how to use their limb and muscles, and how to reach their next milestone.
Similarly, cranial osteopathy offers gentle manual therapies that can also help in addressing developmental delays in babies. By addressing any structural imbalances or restrictions, osteopathy can support the body’s natural ability to promote optimal development.
With the help of the parents and regular specific stimulations, your baby will be able to crawl and walk easily towards the rest of their beautiful life.
I hope you enjoyed this article and have been reassured that any babies conditions, if addressed early, can be solved by modern paediatric physiotherapy and cranial osteopathy – so your baby can start their new life the healthier way possible.
If you wish more information or wish to see a specialised paediatric physiotherapist or a cranial osteopath for your baby or child in London, you can contact www.babyphysio.com or call them on 02071250262