I have a two year old who has recently started at Jardin d'enfants. As much as I adore him he can be a fairly grumpy little chap, which I've always put down to his being a bit of a late developer/frustration etc. However, after several weeks at the Jardin d'enfants the owners have recommended that I take him to an osteopath as they are concerned he may be unhappy due to a physical condition. This isn't very common in the UK (as far as I know!) but I wonder if it might be more commonplace in Switzerland to visit osteopaths with children - I'm a little confused about what benefits it would have and whether it might be a traumatic experience for us both. Does anyone have any thoughts or any experience of this kind of treatment for toddlers?
I found it is much more believed in "douce" medicine here than elsewhere. My friend was just told by her boss to get some heeling over the phone by a guru, so she would not miss days at work.
Sorry I do not have any experience with an osteopath, though a friend here took her wee baby there (few weeks old), she believes in this stuff. I am not sure if it actually helped or if the baby simply outgrew the phase.
I would advise you to see a ped, too. And keep a journal of his moodiness (specific foods, sugar, wheat, tired - how many naps, hungry, does his mood differ when at home as opposed to daycare? He might just not be happy there, ignored, etc.) Some children need more help adjusting to new places, transitions from one activity to another, or leaving their folks out of sight.
My son has been to an Cranial Osteopath since he was three weeks old, he's now 14 months. I take him to the FPO which is in London and there is a noticeable difference every time we go. I have also had treatment there and it made a big difference to me. The treatment is extremely gentle and totally non-invasive.
As far as I understand it the theory is that most babies suffer some type of trauma during birth, especially if it is a C-section, back to back labour, forceps or extremely long or short second stage. I'm sure you have seen how much the skull changes shape! As they grow and the plates fuse together there can be different areas of pressure. The object of cranial osteopathy is to very gently relieve that pressure and allow normal function. It's very holistic and airy fairy but then apparently the idea of using accupuncture to induce labour is as well and my waters broke during the treatment.
All babies are different and there are no studies with definitive evidence that it works however to me the logic behind it is sound, I have seen a marked difference through treatments and so have all of my friends who have tried it with their babies. Saying that I am aware that the plural of anecdote is not evidence!
If you have the money I'd suggest trying it, but I am not a professional.
Ok - just to clarify - I'm just looking for advice from anyone with experience of taking their child to an osteopath. I've already been to the paediatrician regarding his issues. I've already explored other links as to why he may be unhappy quite a lot of the time. This is what mothers do! This has been going on for much longer than his time at the Jardin d'enfants. Specific advice on osteopathy for children (rather than just stating the obvious) would be most welcome
Thanks for the info, MeMyselfandI. I can definitiely see how this could benefit a young baby...but maybe not the right thing for a two year old who won't sit still for more than 1 minute at time!
The extra information you gave makes all the difference to the replies you will get! I also took my son to crainial osteopath when he was a baby, to be honest I have no idea if it made any difference or not as he was only a few weeks old when we went. I have also had it done on myself, it is very gentle, non invasive and does not hurt at all. I think since your pediatrician has ruled anything from his point of view seeing an osteopath would not hurt and you never know it may just help.
My son hasn't stayed still for a very long time! There are small babies but also kids up until teenage years when I take him for a treatment. If you go to someone who specialises in children then they will have a variety of toys to play with and should be good at distracting them while they do the treatment. Harry's tend to take place while he's bouncing up and down on my lap.
This is the FPO in London, I'm not sure if you visit the UK regularly but if you're not sure and don't want to put out the pennies then they operate on a donation system and are very, very experienced.
Our son did not sit still when he was a toddler. At 4 he eas dianosed wioth ADHD and put on ritlain. It was a due to a concentration problem. At 14 I did neurofeedback on him and it calmed him down. I have work with young children who have this problem.
Hyperactivity or a nervousness can come from the family atmosphere, the type of food(allergies) or stress
So true. Most toddlers I've seen were fidgety by nature, too, though. Show me one toddler that is not hyperactive, haha (and not sedated). It is also very easy as a parent to expect a child to be obedient and a happy camper all the time like when they were babies while their needs for stimulation have increased. Sorry for digressing, just found your comment interesting and don't like to pm.
Yes, I agree. Sometimes we are expecting too much from children. Children are supposed to be jumping around and noisy. This is part of the learning process. Sometimes they learn their nervousness from the parents. I had to learn how to respond to my children more appropriately; I learned how to calm myself. Sometimes, when parents are receptive I teach them how to be calmer around thedir children.
I have found that many times the teachers themselevs have a hard time accepting the energy of children and want the children just to sit still.
Children take a lot work, patience and understanding.
There is an osteopath in Vevey who specialises in children. Her name is Laurence Bocquet Tel: 021 921 91 83.
I took my baby there for a couple of sessions when she was a few months old. The osteopath was very gentle with my daughter. It was also the garderie who suggested seeing an osteopath...
I really don't know whether it made a difference or not?? My Swiss friends really believe in osteopaths, my paediatrician is more sceptical!!
I've heard that she is pretty booked up now and it can be hard to get an appointment.
I have a 4 and a half month old and when he was one week old we took him to an Osteopath (upon recommendation of our midwife) as he was unable to breast feed. Our midwife explained there was some tension around his jaw.
We took him to one in Zurich and after his first session he was able to feed immediate as if he was doing it all the time.
Since then we take him occasionally when its necessary, I personally highly recommend it.
my earlier message got deleted for being commercial somehow but am just trying to answer your question! above osteopath is very good or there is a osteopathic children's clinic in Crans-Montana. Message me for more details.
I went to an osteopath during pregnancy because of back pain and she was excellent. She offered to come home after I give birth to immediately treat the baby -- because, as explained above, the theory is that we all suffer from trauma of birth and an early treatment would make babies happier. So my daughter had her first osteopathic treatment when she was only a few days old.
Alas, I wish I could tell you that it all got resolved. It did not, my daughter remained a very cranky, collicky baby.
Then when she was about 1 year old and still was quite miserable and kept us up all night, in desperation I took her to another osteopath. After about five sessions he told me that the treatment was working and that she (and we) should feel and sleep better.
I wish I could tell you that it worked this time. We continued to have years of sleepless nights and horrible, grumpy days. Finally, when she was 3.5, our paediatrician recommended to take her to an ORL clinic. It turned out she had sleep apnea so her tonsils and adenoids were surgically removed.
She now sleeps better and is generally in a better mood. Not entirely, though, some things in her case are clearly linked to personality traits. She is serious and very focused, prone to tantrums when she thinks that she does not do things as well as she could.
Enough of this rambling, my view is: try osteopathy, you have nothing to lose. Just do not count on it to resolve your problem (if indeed there is a problem). The solution may be somewhere else.
I met an osteopath during my pregnancy because my back was so sore. She explained to me that it was normal, since the pelvis 'opens' to make space for the baby. She helped me quite a lot with the pains, and she also gave me good advice on how to move (in and out of bed, for instance).
I brought my baby to do cranial ostheopathy, as he had a very traumatic birth. It was quite impressive to see her hold my baby's skull like that, but all the moves are very gentle and non-invasive.
If you have an additional insurance, it usually covers part of the fees.
Yes my 12 year old for long lasting pains after a traumatic shoulderblade fracture at school and pains in the hips. The osteopath is in Fribourg. Nice lady, very attentive an delicate. Would recommend.
Second experience with a 30 month old baby to a neo natal osteopath specialist in oredr to alleviate pains from delivery (collarbone fracture) due to abuse and mistreatment by the obstetrician. We immediately noticed that the head of the baby was 90 degrees with the rest of the body while sleeping. The osteopath diagnosed severe delivery traumatic disorders : cranial deformation, muscular elongation, broken collarbone, and all was corrected thanks to a few delicate and gentle interventions. This was in France though.
The must is to detect properly medically trained ostheopath and not those with a certificate obtained from an online university.