Osteopathy for babies in Sheffield
Could it be reflux or colic?
We can help explore what may be behind your baby’s crying, discomfort or unsettled behaviour, so that you can feel clearer about what’s going on, and confident about what to do next.
Testimonials
What our clients say
Helping you understand why your baby may be unsettled
By the time many families come to see us, they’ve already tried a lot. They’ve experimented with feeding positions, spent hours walking the floor with an unsettled baby and searched for answers about why their baby doesn’t seem comfortable.
Often, the question they’re trying to answer is simple: “is this reflux, colic or something else?”
When your baby seems uncomfortable, unsettled or difficult to soothe, it can be hard to know what they need.
At The Osteopathic Practice, we’re here to listen, understand your baby’s individual story and help you make sense of what you’re noticing, so you can feel more confident about the next steps.
Is this reflux, colic or something else?
Part of the difficulty is that the symptoms can look very similar.
At The Osteopathic Practice, we often meet families who are less concerned about the label and more concerned about the fact that their baby simply doesn’t seem comfortable.
How we think about osteopathy
Parents often come to us because their baby has been given a diagnosis such as tongue tie, reflux, colic, plagiocephaly or torticollis.
From an osteopathic perspective, we’re less interested in the diagnosis, but more in the baby in front of us.
We want to understand your baby’s pregnancy, birth and early experiences, and how their body has adapted along the way.
Rather than treating a condition, we use gentle osteopathic techniques to identify and address patterns of tension, strain or restriction that may be affecting a baby’s comfort and function.
By helping babies feel more comfortable in their bodies, we aim to support their natural growth, development and ability to adapt.
Understanding reflux in babies
Reflux happens when milk and stomach contents come back up after a feed. Some babies bring up milk and seem completely unbothered by it, while others can become very uncomfortable.
Some babies with reflux may:
- Cry after feeds
- Arch their back
- Find it difficult to settle
- Seem uncomfortable when laid flat
- Wake frequently
- Become distressed around feeding times
Not all babies with reflux are obviously sick. Some experience what is often called silent reflux, where milk and stomach contents may not come all the way back up, but the baby still appears uncomfortable or unsettled.
For many families, feeding can become stressful when they are constantly trying different positions, keeping their baby upright after feeds or searching for answers.
What is baby colic?
Colic is a term often used to describe periods of frequent crying or unsettled behaviour in an otherwise healthy baby.
You may notice your baby cries for longer periods, seems difficult to settle or appears uncomfortable at certain times of the day.
Many babies go through periods of increased crying during their early months, and every baby will have their own pattern and needs. Although colic often improves as babies grow, it can be an exhausting and worrying time for families. Read more on our Baby Colic Page.
Is It reflux or colic?
The truth is that reflux and colic can look very similar.
Babies with colic may be windy, gassy, bloated and difficult to soothe.
Babies with reflux may be more unsettled around feeding times, cry after feeds, arch their back or seem uncomfortable when lying flat.
Some babies may show signs of both, which is one of the reasons why why we don’t focus only on the label.
Instead, we take the time to understand your baby as an individual and explore what may be contributing to their discomfort.
How osteopathy can help
Every Happy Baby Check appointment begins with a listening session. This gives us the opportunity to understand your baby’s story properly, including feeding, sleep patterns, settling, pregnancy, birth and any concerns you may have as a parent.
During your listening session, we’ll take the time to understand:
- Your pregnancy journey
- Your baby’s birth experience
- Feeding and sleeping patterns
- Anything that has been worrying you
The second part of the appointment is the comfort check. This is where we gently assess your baby’s movement, comfort and overall function.
We look at how your baby is moving and whether there are areas where they may be holding tension or experiencing reduced comfort.
Parents are often surprised by how gentle this process is. There is no forceful manipulation, clicking or sudden movements. Many babies relax deeply during treatment, and some even fall asleep.
If osteopathic care may be appropriate, we’ll explain everything clearly and discuss the best next steps for your baby.
A gentle approach to understanding your baby
Every baby has their own story. Understanding what has happened from pregnancy through to those early weeks helps us build a clearer picture of how they are adapting.
Your appointment gives you time to talk through what you’ve noticed, ask questions and feel listened to.
We’ll gently assess your baby’s movement and comfort, explain what we find and discuss whether osteopathic care may be helpful.
If appropriate, and with your permission, treatment can often begin during the same appointment.
Benefits of osteopathic treatment for babies with reflux
Parents of babies with reflux often come to us after they’ve already tried lots of things.
They may have experimented with different feeding positions, spent hours holding their baby upright after feeds, spoken to health visitors or infant feeding specialists, or discussed medication with their GP.
Often they’re simply looking for another perspective.
One of the benefits of osteopathic treatment is that it gives us the opportunity to step back and look at the whole picture.
Rather than focusing solely on reflux symptoms, we’re interested in understanding how your baby is feeding, sleeping, moving, settling and adapting.
Many parents tell us that having somebody listen carefully to their concerns and spend time assessing their baby feels reassuring in itself. When treatment is appropriate, our aim is to help babies feel more comfortable and settled.
Families notice improvements within a few sessions, although every baby is different and there is no set timeline that applies to everyone.
Other approaches parents may try
Alongside seeking osteopathic support, many parents try different approaches to help their baby feel more comfortable.
These may include:
- Keeping their baby upright after feeds
- Adjusting feeding positions
- Support from lactation consultants or infant feeding specialists
- Using prescribed medication such as Gaviscon or Omeprazole under medical guidance
- Making changes to feeding routines
For many families, osteopathy becomes one part of a wider support network that may include other healthcare professionals, feeding specialists and other sources of advice.
How we work together
Book an appointment
Share your experience and feel heard
Get started on your baby’s customised treatment plan
What happens during a Happy Baby Check?
Your appointment begins with a listening session, where we’ll take time to understand your baby’s journey so far, including pregnancy, birth experience, feeding, sleep and any concerns you may have.
We’ll then carry out a gentle comfort check, looking at your baby’s movement, comfort and overall function, talking you through anything that we notice.
If osteopathic care may be appropriate, we’ll explain everything clearly before beginning any treatment. Babies’ bodies are still developing, so we use very gentle techniques adapted to their age and stage.
There is always an opportunity for feeds, cuddles and breaks whenever they’re needed. We’ll make a recommendation about how many sessions we think will be required to have your baby feeling comfortable in their body.
Our aim is to help you better understand your baby and provide reassurance that comes from feeling listened to, supported and informed.
Frequently asked questions
Reflux relates to milk moving back up from the stomach, while colic is a term used to describe periods of prolonged crying or unsettled behaviour. Some babies may experience signs of one, both or neither.
Many parents choose osteopathy because it provides a gentle, hands-on way of assessing their baby as a whole. We look at your baby as a whole and use gentle techniques to support comfort and movement.
Reflux is common in babies, particularly during the early months while their digestive system is developing. If you have concerns about your baby, it is always worth seeking advice.
Yes. Osteopathy can be part of a wider support approach alongside advice and treatment provided by your GP, paediatrician, health visitor or infant feeding specialist.
No. You can book directly with The Osteopathic Practice without a referral.
Further reading
If you’d like to learn more about how osteopathy can support your baby and family, you may find these pages helpful:
