When osteopaths examine babies areas of tension are often found in the spine or head. A baby cannot complain of backache or headache. They will typically express this discomfort by crying and being unsettled or irritable. Cranial osteopathy is a gentle technique aimed at releasing these tensions.
In a research study conducted by Clive Hayden into the effects of cranial osteopathic treatment on babies, some parents perceived the following changes in their child's behaviour: reduced colicky crying, improved sleep, less unsettled, less irritable behaviour and increased quiet happy spells.