Life outside the womb can be a challenging adjustment and babies often find themselves uncomfortable, fussy, not sleeping well, having digestive problems, and even possibly showing physical or emotional issues.  Pediatrics craniosacral therapy is a gentle newborn safe hands-on treatment that can effectively resolve the wellness challenges babies commonly face.  Craniosacral refers to the entire spine: at the top is the cranium  and at the spine’s base is the sacrum. 

Babies and children can have many challenges at any stage of their development upon which pediatrics craniosacral therapy can be an invaluable healthcare response ensuring their wellness.  Pediatrics craniosacral therapy’s function is to help maintain a healthy environment for the child’s central nervous system to function efficiently, thereby influencing a variety of bodily functions to also function efficiently. 

Addressing and resolving a child’s symptoms at their earliest stages ensures debilitating issues don’t surface with an even more pronounced effect down the line later in life.  Thus pediatrics craniosacral therapy can be an effective response to:

• fussiness
• Restlessness
• Colic
• reflux
• inconsolable crying
• tongue tie
• torticollis
• difficulty with sleeping
• digestive problems
• difficulty with nursing
• respiratory Problems
• molding of the cranial bones
• structural issues arising from the use of vacuum extraction or forceps delivery 
• c-section
• imbalance in baby’s structure or movements
• bonding and attachment issues
• Improve developmental delay

Pediatrics craniosacral therapy can also address issues in older children including:

• Structural issues (imbalances in posture or movements)
• scoliosis
• behavioral issues
• emotional problems
• any stress left over from his/her birth
• learning disabilities and developmental delay
• support him/her during difficult phases of development
• Pre-op prep or Post – op recovery (surgical procedures)
• sleep issues
• help with autism and other disabilities

Pediatrics Craniosacral Therapy: Why Babies Benefit 

Newborns have just endured the most intense human experience they will ever undergo – being born.  Even seemingly complication-free births can leave imprints from the experience that are not self-resolving, and in fact stored in the newborn’s central nervous system.  Consequently adjustment to the world outside of the womb and baby’s new environment can be stressful and disorienting. 

The specific circumstances and events of a newborn’s birth experience can affect their autonomic nervous system, trigger a flooding of stress hormones and hurl the larger central nervous system into a fight or flight survival state.  Once the baby’s central nervous system is in this high alert overdrive state, a cascading of dysregulation of body systems (muscular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, and more) begins and all the classic baby ailments eventually surface. 

When a baby’s central nervous system is out of homeostasis or balance, almost every organ in their body is affected while stimulated adrenal glands further perpetuate a cycle of constant agitation.   This is generally what accounts for the common baby symptoms

such as trouble with nursing, digestive problems, fussiness, inconsolable crying, not sleeping, and more.   The pendulum can also swing the other way and a stressed central nervous system can produce the opposite:  excessive sleeping, a quietness, a seemingly withdrawn baby not making contact well and showing signs of attachment issues.

Pediatric craniosacral therapy is effective in manipulating a baby’s central nervous system to both relax or envirograte, finding a place of balance or equilibrium for the purposes of maintaining homeostasis. Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment so that cells (tissues and organs), and therefore body systems can function effectively.   Like all of us, a baby’s central nervous system must operate within a narrow range of balance  or equilibrium,  despite the challenges a changed external environment outside the womb presents.     Pediatric craniosacral therapy is effective in identifying and resolving issues disrupting the homeostasis and efficiency in functioning  of the baby’s central nervous system. 

Pediatrics Craniosacral Therapy: Why Newborns Should Receive Care Early

Head trauma is common in childbirth due to the enormous pressure applied to a baby’s head during a typical vaginal delivery.  At birth, the 22 bones of a baby’s skull are soft, not fully fused together, and thereby enable the baby’s head to naturally compress as it travels through the birth canal.  It’s not uncommon for a newborn’s body or head to not quite completely decompress itself after traveling compressed through the birth canal.  The 22 bones of the head might be pushed and misaligned and spaces between adjacent bones get compressed and or apply pressure on blood vessels and nerves – introducing problems. 

Problems can also occur when cranial bones get twisted or compressed, and then stay out of shape. This can sometimes happen after a baby has experienced forceps delivery or ventouse (vacuum) extraction. Prolonged or traumatic birth can involve a degree of twisting where ever so slight misalignment can also occur, especially if there’s been pressure within the spinal column during the birthing process which is common in a C-Section delivery.  This can be disruptive to the nerves at the back of the neck (those responsible for relaxing and tensing muscles), leaving a baby feeling very uncomfortable and unsettled.   Babies commonly try to communicate their discomfort through body language and crying.

Be mindful even the slightest misalignment could have an impact on other central nervous system nerves that branch out from the lower head and spinal area transmitting essential messages to and from all body systems.   For example a baby’s reflux can originate from a misalignment in the neck disrupting nerve communication with the digestive system.  The same basic framework of nerve misalignment at birth is commonly the origin of difficulty with nursing or sleep, respiratory problems, fussiness and more.  Pediatric craniosacral therapy can treat any structural trauma or in place patterns of nerve compression by the 22 bones of the head incurred in the birthing process.

Pediatrics Craniosacral Therapy: How Babies Benefit

Pediatric craniosacral therapy is a kind of gentle manual medical massage of the structures and bones that run adjacent to the central nervous system – and can release compression and tension among the cranial bones of the head, spine and the sacrum bone.

There is a series of 3 membranes that surround the spinal cord and connect to the bones of the head. This membrane system is filled with cerebrospinal fluid, coating, protecting and nourishing the brain and spinal cord, and also holding and transferring tension throughout your body.  The circulation of cerebrospinal fluid within this system creates a pulse-like rhythm.  Pediatric craniosacral therapy assesses the health and efficiency of that rhythm and through gentle manual techniques can increase the flow and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid by eliminating blockages and invigorating nerves. 

Increased cerebrospinal fluid circulation can help normalize a baby’s central nervous system, returning it to equilibrium and allowing  homeostasis to enable the body to heal itself.   I work with the natural movements of the baby’s bones to release the restrictions held within this membrane system, returning the central nervous system to a state of homeostasis so it can drive all body systems to function efficiently.  

This gentle hands-on technique facilitates the unwinding of areas of compression and misalignment, encouraging the release of stress and also any associated emotions.  It’s important to stay mindful any central nervous system stress can disrupt the bonding process, leading to further complications in almost every aspect of the development of a child. Evidence indicates many newborn babies could benefit from a pediatric craniosacral therapy session within a few months of birth – ideally in the first two weeks. This could help prevent many future problems in childhood and adulthood, including neck pain and spinal disorders,  digestive issues, ear problems, developmental problems and more.  Resolving any central nervous system issues while a person is still a baby is prudent and much less daunting than when that child matures and the issues become more pronounced.

Pediatrics Craniosacral Therapy: Signs of One or Multiple Nervous System Restrictions in a Baby

If any of the following strike a cord or feel familiar, please give me a call for a more comprehensive conversation on what you may observe and paths of treatment.

Baby is restless and unable to sleep on a schedule.  When the baby is sleeping, they seem tense as if uncomfortable.  This observation is common with babies who experienced some form of birth trauma or were extensively separated from the birthing mother.

Baby can latch on one breast but seems reluctant and uncomfortable to do so on the other side. Babies commonly have a sore or stiff neck after birth, making it harder for them to turn one way. 

Baby seems restless and tense making them hard to cuddle, indicating the baby may have sustaining discomfort from the shock of birth.

Baby appears to have a restricted range of motion of their tongue, a condition known as  ‘tongue tie’.  It’s not uncommon for the pulling and twisting of a baby’ shoulders to transfer to the throat, pulling it all together as tongue tie is a small amount of fascia tissue that’s become too tight.

Baby has a hard time latching. The palate or roof of baby’s mouth may have a shallow latch, making the gag reflex shallow.  Introducing the nipple can make baby gag (vomit) and frightened of feeding.

Baby makes clicky or  “slurpy” sounds while feeding.  This can indicate insufficient suction (sealing) on the breast or bottle while feeding. This typically is accompanied by the baby taking in air and causing discomfort.

Baby has problems with gas. Baby passing gas is natural and having a problem doing so can indicate restrictions at the vagus nerve, which controls the gut, originates at the cranial nerves in the back of the head and is readily treatable with pediatric craniosacral therapy.

For Mom, breastfeeding is painful, related to the seal and depth in how the baby is latching on.

Baby is frequently vomiting.  Whether due to reflux, allergies or something else, pediatric craniosacral therapy can correct gastrointestinal restrictions to allow the digestive and nervous systems to function efficiently.

Baby cries, curls up or is in pain after feeding.  Pediatric craniosacral therapy can identify a baby’s restrictions and relieve them, allowing the baby to reorganize their feeding system to a less uncomfortable posture.

 

How Pediatric Craniosacral Therapy Can Work for Special Needs Children

• Easing the tension patterns of children on the autism spectrum, supporting their sense of comfort with self, safety and awareness of the world around them.  Research supports how pediatric craniosacral therapy has delivered positive responses as a  treatment for children with autism. 
• As multiple integrated pathways within the brain are required to operate in harmony for normal function to occur, with children with ADHD some of these pathways within the brain and central nervous system are performing at abnormally high (hyperactive) and/or low (hypoactive) levels.  When the stress of this compromised fluid flow is relieved, the areas of the brain that have been overactive and/or underactive can normalize.   Research has proven the effectiveness of pediatric craniosacral therapy on treating ADHD in reducing hyperactivity, increasing attention, reducing anxiety, conduct disorder, and embarrassment, social problems and more. Click here to learn more about my treatment for children with ADHD.
• Children who have dysgraphia and or dyslexia commonly have quick, sharp minds, but difficulty demonstrating their knowledge and skills.  Pediatric craniosacral therapy can reduce tension in the hands and arms, which makes the process of writing less stressful and more comforting.  Dyslexic children often have trouble processing visual and auditory information; pediatric craniosacral therapy can reduce tension patterns around the ears and eyes, so the language processing areas of the brain function more efficiently.  Click here to learn more about my treatment for children with dyslexia, and here for more information on my treatment for children with dysgraphia. 

 

Our Portfolio Pediatric Craniosacral Therapy Serving Newborns, Toddlers, School Age Children & Teens

Alex was born in March 1972. At the age of 7 he started to experience frequent headaches with all the conventional symptoms of a Migraine headache. His particular headache resulted in him experiencing auras, nausea and sensitivity to light with no particular trigger to the onset of the migraine.

After years of treatments, therapies and medications, his headaches were no better and Alex continued to experience them all throughout childhood and into young adulthood. Some years the headaches would come monthly, some years every two to three months and some years weekly. His headaches were incurable, there was nothing that could alleviate the symptoms and head pain. Until he experienced cranial manual therapy, which resulted in the complete eradication of his life-long Migraine Headaches.

At the age of 16 Alex noticed a mild deformity in the right side of his ribs, a slightly lower right shoulder and the experience of constant lower back pain. Although mild, a diagnosis of Idiopathic Adolescent Scoliosis had been labeled.

At the age of 18 he was involved in a serious car accident that exacerbated his lower back pain. Throughout the years Alex had tried a multitude of conventional treatments but continued to suffer on and off with lower back pain, even throughout Chiropractic school and beyond.

In 2015 and fifteen+ years out of Chiropractic school, Dr. Kaminsky participated in his first and life changing Craniosacral Therapy seminar and he was fascinated, intrigued and hooked. It all made sense, he was immediately astute to its methods and since that first seminar, and as a result of trading sessions of Craniosacral Therapy with his colleagues, his back pain subsided and till this day has never returned.

Dr. Kaminsky decided to enhance his skill-set to better serve his patients. He began reaching out to other craniosacral therapists, cranial osteopaths, and many types of leading practitioners from various fields for advise and consultations He also enrolled in Upledger continuing education seminars with a focus on mostly hands-on manual and alternative therapies.

And, as he gained knowledge with his own health issues, he has learned to help more and more patients achieve great health results.

Dr. Alex Kaminsky is headache free and low back pain free, and has committed himself to a life of learning, teaching and treating patients. His emphasis is on the patient’s stored patterns of the body and each individual healthcare needs.