Unanswered Question: Is cranio-sacral therapy useful in the management of crying babies?
28 Jul, 07 | by BMJ Group
An eight week old baby is admitted with mild bronchiolitis. His parents mention that he has always cried a lot and that he is having a course of cranio-sacral therapy to try and improve things. You wonder whether there is any evidence for this.
What do you think? Any evidence, experiences or the like in cranio-sacral therapy?
Report by:
Emma Bradley, SpR Paediatrics, Bath
Fiona Finlay, Consultant Paediatrician, Bath
I have seen three young babies to date in my office using Upledger CranioSacral therapy. Those babies were miserable, after a couple of treatments they all were doing great. And they still are.
So yes, it is very valuable.
Christine R-Bennett
September 18th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
There are two forms of Craniosacral therapy: I am a member of the Cranosacral Therapy Association, not the Upledger school (who write it as CranioSacral.)
I am a craniosacral therapist without the capital S and work a lot with babies who are restless, crying or have “colic”.
My impression is that many of them are still shocked and confused from the process of birth, particulary if there is immediate separation from the mother. They respond well to treatment, and the parents are often also relieved to have their stories heard and handle the babies in a more relaxed fashion.
In about 90% if cases the parents report a more peaceful relaxed baby after 2 or 3 sessions. I expect this and if it doesn’t happen refer them back to ther doctors to check for deeper causes of discomfort.
Vivien Ray
Vivien Ray
August 26th, 2008 at 11:57 am