Gentle osteopathy for babies, from the very first weeks
Baby Osteopath in Sint-Niklaas
The first months with your baby are special, but they can also be quite challenging. Your baby may cry a lot, sleep poorly, feed restlessly or simply not seem entirely comfortable.
At Praktijk Novia in Sint-Niklaas, you can bring your baby to an osteopath for a gentle, calm treatment. We look at your baby as a whole and take the pregnancy, birth and development into account in our assessment.
Marie is currently welcoming new babies at the practice.
When can you see an osteopath with your baby?
Babies can't tell you what's bothering them. Sometimes you simply notice that your baby is restless, keeps adopting the same position, or that sleeping or feeding is difficult.
Parents come to us with, among other things:
- a positional preference or a tendency to look to one side
- a flattened head (plagiocephaly or brachycephaly)
- difficulty turning the head to both sides
- asymmetrical posture or movement
- crying a lot or struggling to settle
- trouble falling asleep or very short naps
- restlessness during or after feeds
- difficulties with breastfeeding or bottle-feeding
- frequent hiccups or difficulty burping
- colic or other digestive complaints
- reflux
- difficulty passing stools
- when your baby seems tense or uncomfortable after birth
- after a difficult, fast or assisted delivery, for example with vacuum or forceps
- after a breech birth or caesarean section
- after a premature birth
- when motor development seems asymmetrical
Don't quite recognise your baby in this list? Feel free to get in touch anyway. Together we'll see whether an osteopathic consultation could be useful.
Osteopathy for babies: what happens during a consultation?
Treating a baby calls for a different approach than treating an adult.
During the first appointment, we take plenty of time to listen to your story. We ask about the pregnancy, the birth, feeding, sleep, crying and your baby's development, among other things.
We then observe and gently feel how your baby moves and how the body functions as a whole.
The treatment is very calm, using gentle techniques adapted to your baby's age and comfort.
Your baby doesn't need to lie still during the treatment. They can feed, cuddle, cry or take a break. We follow your little one's pace.
You don't have to wait until your baby has 'real problems'
Some parents only book an appointment once a problem has been going on for a while. There's no need to wait.
You're welcome to come in as soon as you notice, for example, that:
- your baby always looks to the same side;
- the birth was very difficult or very fast;
- your baby seems noticeably tense;
- you're unsure about the symmetry of their movements;
- your baby has trouble feeding or is very restless;
- or for a preventive check-up at around 6 to 8 weeks of age.
An osteopathic consultation is no substitute for a medical diagnosis or treatment. For health issues that require medical follow-up, we are happy to work together with your GP, paediatrician, midwife or other healthcare provider.
Frequently asked questions about osteopathy for babies
From what age can my baby see an osteopath?
You can bring your baby from the very first days of life. There is no minimum age. Treatment is always adapted to your baby's age and development.
Is osteopathy painful for babies?
Baby treatments use very gentle techniques. We constantly pay attention to your baby's reactions and comfort.
Does my baby need to have a problem to see an osteopath?
Not necessarily. Parents also come for a preventive check-up, after a difficult birth, or when they are concerned about things like their baby's positional preference, symmetry or movement.
What if my baby wants to feed during the appointment?
That's no problem at all. You're welcome to feed your baby or take a break during the appointment whenever needed. We adjust the pace of the treatment to what your baby needs at that moment.
How long does an appointment take?
A consultation lasts about 45 minutes.
How many treatments will my baby need?
That varies from baby to baby. After the examination, we discuss what we found and whether a follow-up appointment would be useful.
Do you have another question or are you unsure about something?
Feel free to contact us. We're happy to help!
Baby Osteopath in Sint-Niklaas
Praktijk Novia is located at Broedersstraat 37 in Sint-Niklaas.
We also regularly welcome people from the surrounding area, including Beveren, Temse, Zwijndrecht, Kruibeke, Stekene, Waasmunster, Hamme and the rest of the Waasland region.
The practice is easy to reach by car, and there is parking nearby.