PAEDIATRIC OSTEOPATHY AT BALANCED MOTION CLINIC
Paediatric Osteopathy for Babies & Children in Poole, Dorset
Birth is a significant physical experience for both mother and baby, and the early weeks bring plenty of changes as your newborn adjusts to life outside the womb. Paediatric osteopathy offers a gentle, hands-on approach that considers your baby’s birth history, movement, comfort and development.
Whether you’ve had a straightforward or more complicated birth, have noticed your baby favouring one side, or simply have questions about their physical development, I provide a calm, supportive environment to assess your baby, discuss your concerns and explore whether osteopathic care may be appropriate.
Osteopathic Care for Babies & Children
Parents bring their babies and children for osteopathic assessments for a variety of reasons. These might include concerns about head positioning, a preference for turning to one side, movement or general comfort.
During an appointment, I’ll take the time to understand your concerns, assess your child’s movement and discuss whether osteopathic treatment or further advice may be appropriate.
Newborn Assessments
Gentle osteopathic assessments considering your baby’s birth history, movement and comfort. Parents may seek advice about head preferences, unsettled behaviour or digestive concerns such as wind and constipation. I’ll assess your baby and offer appropriate treatment or practical guidance.
Babies & Early Stages
As babies grow, their bodies adapt to new movements and developmental stages. Osteopathic assessments can explore joint mobility, muscle function, posture and movement patterns, with advice on handling, positioning and supporting your baby’s physical development.
The Growing Child
FFrom developmental milestones to sports and physical activities, growing children place new demands on their bodies. Osteopathic assessments can explore concerns relating to coordination, joint mobility and sports injuries, with treatment and advice suited to their age and activity levels.
Paediatric Osteopathy Appointments
Paediatric osteopathy appointments are available for babies and children up to 10 years old. For children over 10, please book a standard osteopathy appointment.
Initial Paediatric Appointment
Gentle, individualised osteopathic care for newborns, babies and children, with time to discuss any concerns and assess your child’s needs.
Your appointment includes:
45–60 minute initial consultation
Discussion of pregnancy, birth and development
Gentle, age-appropriate osteopathic assessment
Treatment and practical advice where appropriate
Feeding & Osteopathy Concerns
If you have concerns about both your baby’s feeding, breast or bottle, and physical comfort, we can explore these together in one extended appointment.
How I can help:
Discuss your baby’s feeding and physical concerns
Assess movement, positioning and feeding
Offer practical advice tailored to your baby
Arrange an extended appointment to cover both areas
Meet Rianne
I’m Rianne, an osteopath at Balanced Motion Clinic in Poole, with additional training in paediatric osteopathy.
I particularly enjoy working with newborns, babies and children, taking the time to understand their birth history, development and any concerns parents may have. My approach is gentle and tailored to each child, with a focus on thorough assessment, appropriate treatment and practical advice.
I’m also a qualified Infant Feeding Coach, offering dedicated support with breastfeeding, bottle feeding and combination feeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens during my baby's first osteopathy appointment?
We’ll start by discussing your baby’s pregnancy and birth history, development and any concerns you may have.
I’ll then carry out a gentle osteopathic assessment, looking at your baby’s movement, joints and muscles. Depending on the findings, treatment may be offered alongside practical advice or recommendations for further assessment where appropriate.
Appointments usually last 45–60 minutes, allowing plenty of time for questions, feeding or settling your baby as needed.
How soon after birth can my baby see an osteopath?
Babies can be assessed from the newborn stage, and there’s no need to wait a specific number of weeks after birth.
Whether you’ve had a straightforward or more complicated delivery, appointments are adapted to your baby’s age and needs. If your baby has any medical concerns, I’ll advise whether assessment by another healthcare professional is appropriate first.
Is osteopathic treatment gentle for babies?
Yes. Paediatric osteopathy uses gentle, age-appropriate assessment and treatment techniques, which are very different from those commonly used with adults.
I’ll explain what I’m doing throughout the appointment, and we can pause whenever your baby needs feeding, changing or comforting. Any treatment will be discussed with you beforehand.
Can osteopathy help with reflux, colic or constipation?
Parents often seek osteopathic advice when their baby is unsettled or experiencing digestive discomfort.
While osteopathy doesn’t directly treat reflux, colic or constipation, gentle treatment aims to support comfortable movement and reduce musculoskeletal tension, which may help some babies feel more settled and reduce the symptoms of reflux and colic .
We can also discuss techniques parents can do at home to further help with these symptoms
What if my baby needs both osteopathy and feeding support?
As both a paediatric osteopath and Infant Feeding Coach, I can offer an extended appointment covering both areas.
This allows time for a musculoskeletal assessment alongside a separate feeding assessment, including positioning, attachment or bottle feeding where relevant.
Please contact me directly so we can discuss your concerns and arrange an appointment with enough time for both.