The Ultimate Breakdown to Bodywork for Babies: Benefits, Techniques, and Tips
written by your friendly neighborhood (South Bay Los Angeles) OT/IBCLC 😉
If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of bodywork for infants, discussing different techniques, and providing insights into finding the best practitioners in Los Angeles (and beyond), then keep reading.
First, we have to start with…
What is bodywork?
Bodywork is an umbrella term to describe a passive, yet skilled movement that directly or indirectly impacts anatomical structures (such as bones) or body systems (such as gastrointestinal or digestive systems).
Many modalities have been studied over the years in different populations, but there are a few that have direct research regarding infants. The key is to remember that even if it’s mentioned that “baby needs bodywork” to improve feeding, it’s important to have a specific reason to choose the most appropriate modality, not necessarily the title of the provider.
In general many modalities can reduce tension, increase circulation, improve digestion, promote parasympathetic nervous system response, and heal tissues.
What are the bodywork techniques/modalities most used for babies?
(including some of the benefits of bodywork for infants that are backed by research)
Chiropractic Adjustment
A chiropractor focuses on treating the spine using hands-on techniques to examine and treat musculoskeletal conditions (bones, muscles, and joints). They manipulate bone and soft tissue (muscle, tendons, ligaments, fat, fibrous tissue, lymph, blood vessels, fascia, and synovial membranes). Common reasons for referring to a chiropractor are cranial ridging (when the bones of the skull remained overlapped after birth) and assisted vaginal delivery such as the use of forceps or vacuum. Chiropractors are less likely to be covered by insurance for your infant. Here’s a recommendation if you’re looking for an amazing mobile Chiropractor in Los Angeles.
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
“Osteopaths” in the United States attend medical school and are Doctors of Osteopathy (D.O). Not all D.O.s practice osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). Like Chiropractors, they can manipulate bone and soft tissue to influence structural change for healing. Many of the OMM techniques for breastfeeding infants are completed on the skull, trunk, and hips. Some providers will complete additional training called, cranial osteopathy, which is an additional set of skills gained by osteopaths to better address the whole body. The Osteopathic Cranial Academy has a directory of providers. Since these providers are physicians, they can bill your medical insurance and have a greater likelihood of being reimbursed if offered a superbill.
Craniosacral Therapy
Derived from the technique “osteopathy of the cranial field” mentioned in the section above. This does not require any medical or allied health degree to learn and perform on others. In some states a massage therapy license is required to use this technique, however, in California, licensure for massage therapy is not required. Therefore, any person can learn and practice this modality without required oversight. Craniosacral therapy targets the rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid with a very light touch (5g or the weight of a nickel) on the skull, hips, and other parts of the body. This is a very gentle technique with minimal chance of harm if the provider is trained. There is a research paper from 2019 that included 84 infants in a randomized control trial to determine the effectiveness of craniosacral therapy in the treatment of infantile colic . The conclusion was that the use of craniosacral therapy reduced the number of crying hours, the severity of colic, and increased the total hours of sleep.
More often, I will use CST in practice where the symptoms are related to colic and general dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system (breathing, heart rate, etc.). If there are consistent tension patterns, I rarely use this modality in isolation, as I find there is movement also needed for the fascia to respond.
Myofascial Release (MFR)
“Myo” as in muscle and “fascial” as in fascia. MFR is a form of manual therapy that involves the application of a low load, long duration stretch (typically 90 seconds) to the myofascial complex, intended to restore optimal length, decrease pain, and improve function. There is typically no medium such as oil used since it doesn’t give enough traction on the skin to mobilize tissues below in order to get a good release. The research on MFR has a lot of mixed findings, and none of it is infant-specific. MFR is typically used by physical therapists, occupational therapists, and massage therapists.
I use this modality frequently in my practice. Since fascia has both receptors for sensory and motor neurons, movement is just as important as touch.
Craniosacral Fascial Therapy (CFT)
Also known as the Gillespie approach, CFT originated from the craniosacral principles from osteopathic work, myofascial release, and Gillespie’s work as a periodontist. This technique has been increasingly popular among physical therapists and occupational therapists over the years. Again, in many states, a provider must have a massage therapy license to perform this technique as a paid service. Visually, this looks like myofascial release. Clinically, I’ve seen this produce the same results.
Acupuncture
A component of traditional Chinese medicine that uses thin needles that are inserted into the 2,000 acupuncture points connected by meridians. Some find Japanese acupuncture more suitable for infants, but that would be your preference. In a systematic review of 4 randomized controlled trials that looked at acupuncture for infantile colic, “from the narrative analysis, acupuncture appears to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of colic, including crying and feeding and stooling problems, and may have only minor adverse effects.”
Reflexology
This modality uses pressure to specific points on the feet, ears, and hands using thumb, finger, and hand massage techniques. This technique is also used without the use of oil or lotion. In a systematic study that included 277 infants and children, the effects of reflexology on child health included reducing pain level, regulating heart rate, increasing oxygen saturation, relieving infantile colic symptoms, and neonatal abstinence symptoms.
Massage
Massage by far has the most research specific to infants. There are many different techniques for massage, but most literature is around effleurage, the smooth consistent strokes. Massage is one of the most traditional forms of bodywork that remains a postpartum practice in many cultures. In my humble opinion, massage is one of the most underutilized treatments when working with infants with feeding challenges or any distress in general. Benefits of massage for infants include:
Autonomic regulation. When completed with the baby on their belly, massage decreased the heart rate and increased oxygen saturation.
Increased stooling. When massage was performed for 15 minutes twice a day, there was an increase in the number of bowel movements.
Digestion. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, “massage therapy significantly reduces the gastric residual volume and vomiting in preterm infants.”
Weight Gain. In a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials including a total of 697 participants, preterm infants that received “moderate” pressure massage, weight gain increased by an average of 5 g/day and those that received light-pressure massage increased by 1 g/day.
Parent Mood. Not only does massage have great benefits for infants, but it also has mood-boosting benefits for mothers.
Honestly, the other modalities are nice, but if there aren’t any trained practitioners near you, or you have financial limitations, then rest assured knowing that massage can also be extremely beneficial for your baby.
Tips for Finding the Best Bodywork Practitioners in Los Angeles for Your Baby:
Reach out to your trusted network of providers currently helping you with your infant. They will have a referral for you.
Check the provider's qualifications! Which modalities do they use? What background do they have in the human body?
Look for reviews. You can likely find reviews online from Google or Yelp or even from their clients on social media platforms.
Safety Considerations and Precaution
Bodywork is not a regulated field of practice. If the provider does not have a license in the state of California, then you should definitely be thorough in ensuring that the provider you have chosen is qualified to complete the services.
Summary of Bodywork for Babies
Many different techniques may be beneficial based on your baby’s individual needs. It’s important to know why your infant is being referred for bodywork to ensure it is something that is best addressed via bodywork. The common denominator of all techniques is touch. We can’t downplay the incredible importance of touch on the nervous system and overall well-being.
If you are struggling with breastfeeding issues, then bodywork may be a helpful support in addition to your lactation support. It’s important to keep in mind that bodywork is not a replacement for therapy interventions (physical therapy or occupational therapy). If your baby needs to improve strength, endurance, and coordination, among other things, then bodywork alone will not achieve that goal.
p.s.
If you’re interested in scheduling a bodywork session with me, you can schedule an appointment here.
If you’re a professional interested in learning more, check out Bodywork for Better Breastfeeding from The Lactation OT continuing education platform.
