Cranial osteopathy
During labour, the soft bones in your baby's skull overlap to make the delivery easier. Afterwards, they don't always ‘unmould' properly, and this may cause pressure in his head. Cranial osteopathy can relieve this pressure and ease discomfort.
What happens?
The therapist seeks out areas of tension, and then gently works on the baby's body to release tight areas. Your baby should feel relaxed and sleep well after. He may be unsettled but will calm down in a few days.
Good for...
Babies who don't sleep much, cry lots, have wind or colic, or are jumpy.
Find out more
Call The British Osteopathic Association on 01582 488455 or visit www.osteopathy.org for a list of therapists, or the charity, the Osteopathic Centre for Children on www.occ.uk.com. Prices vary and start from £34 for the first session and a little less for follow-up sessions.
Calming scents
Aromatherapy oils are said to help the body rebalance. The most common treatment is massage, but you can use them in the bath, a burner, or vaporiser.
What happens?
The aromatherapist will mix a blend of oils and suggest treatments. ‘If your baby's over 4 weeks, lavender or camomile oil will help her sleep,' says Gillian Kavanagh from the International Federation of Aromatherapists. ‘Put a drop on her sleepsuit or cot sheet.'
You can also mix it with a cup of full-fat milk and add to her bath.
Good for...
Calming anxious children who don't sleep well, have colic or are fractious.
Find out more
Contact the International Federation of Aromatherapists on 020 8992 9605 or at http://www.ifaroma.org/. Visit http://www.manadala-aroma.com/ for organic oils. Lavender oil costs from around £3. Treatments cost from £30 for an hour.
Stay safe
Don't use essential oils neat on her skin or use essential massage oils on babies under 4 weeks. Instead use sweet almond or soya oil.
Rebalance his body
Homeopathy uses ‘energetic' remedies to treat the body, not just the illness. The homeopath will work out what's causing the sleep problem and treat that. ‘You could have two babies with sleep issues, but each would have a different remedy because the reasons why they're not sleeping differ,' says homeopath Marianne Atherton from The Vale Practice in south London.
What happens?
At your first appointment the homeopath will spend up to an hour watching your baby while asking you what he's like. They will also ask about your home environment and take his medical history. Personality and temperament play a part in deciding which remedies to give. The remedies then help your baby's body rebalance. Marianne warns it can take a while for new sleep patternsto establish and you'll probably need a second appointment about six weeks later.
Good for...
If your baby has trouble getting to sleep, has colic, eczema, is teething, or is an anxious child.
Find out more
Always consult a registered homeopath. Ask around for a recommendation, or contact the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths on 0870 073 6339 or www.a-r-h.org or the British Homeopathic Association on 0870 444 3950 or www.trusthomeopathy.org. First sessions for under-2s cost around £35, but this varies.
Stay safe
It's best to give the remedies to your child at least 10 minutes before eating, drinking or brushing teeth.
That feels good
Massaging your baby before bed will make her muscles warm and relaxed, and help her develop a good sleep pattern. It's a great way to bond, too.
What happens?
It's best to learn baby massage at a class or from a book. Pauline Carpenter, chairperson of The Guild of Infant & Child Massage says, ‘Massage is about learning what your baby likes and when they've had enough.' Most classes take babies from 6-8 weeks, as massage can overstimulate newborns.
Lay your baby naked on a towel and stroke gently from her head down to her feet. Always keep one hand in contact with her, talking softly and smiling all the time.
Good for...
Fretful, restless babies who don't sleep well. It can also help to ease wind.
Find out more
Ask your GP or health visitor, or contact The Guild of Infant & Child Massage on 01889 564555 or www.gicm.org.uk. Classes cost around £40-£70 for five lessons, but some health visitors or family centres offer them free. The Little Book of Baby Massage by Pauline Carpenter and Lorraine Tolley (Ditto International, £5.99) is available from www.touchneeds.com.
Stay safe
Always use gentle strokes, especially on your baby's tummy. The best oils for babies are sunflower or grapeseed oil.
What real mums say...
‘Lara's more relaxed'
Jo Walsh, 29, from London, took Lara, now 18m, to a cranial osteopath
to help her sleep.
‘When Lara was born, she'd only sleep if she was on my chest. She also had colic, so a friend suggested I try cranial osteopathy. After the therapist treated her, she was totally zonked and she began sleeping from 7pm to 5am within a week. Her colic improved and she was also more calm and relaxed.'
‘Lavender calmed them down'
Rebecca Palmer, 37, a herbalist from Hampshire, used aromatherapy oils on her children, Yogini, 7, and Torin, 3.
‘When the children were teething, had colds, or were fretting before bedtime I'd put a drop of lavender oil on their cot sheet. The smell calmed them down.
‘They weren't bad sleepers, but to help them relax at bedtime I made an oil rub that I massaged over their skin after their bath. I used lavender and camomile in sweet almond oil. It relaxed them and massaging the children was a lovely way to bond.'
‘I saw an immediate improvement'
Beatriz Calderon, 35, from London took her daughter Lydia, now 16m, to see a homeopath when she was 8 months old.
‘Lydia was a restless, nervous baby. At bedtime she'd be full of energy and it was hard to get her to sleep. Then she'd wake about four times in the night. By the time I went to Marianne, the homeopath, I was exhausted.
‘Marianne thought the restlessness might be down to teething so she gave me chamomilla as well as calc carb.
‘I saw an instant improvement. Lydia was calmer and less restless, which made it easier for her to get to sleep. She dropped off within 15 minutes at the most. She still wakes twice in the night, but I'm sure that will get better, too.'
‘He coos when I massage his back'
Kerrylea Doxsey, 27, from Gloucestershire, has two sons, George, 11 months and Harry, 4.
‘When George came home from hospital, he barely slept and would wake every two hours. He was premature and spent 10 weeks in an incubator, hardly being pickedup because he was so ill.
‘When my other son Harry was little I'd taken baby massage classes. I decided to try massage with George when he was 12 weeks old. Every night after his bath, I lay him on a warm towel and massage him gently.
‘I start from his shoulders and work my way down to his feet. Then I turn him onto his stomach and do his back, which he must love, because I can hear him cooing.
‘After 10 days George calmed down and started to sleep a lot better. Now he sleeps through until 3.30am - sometimes 5am.
