If I Could Only Invest in One Therapy for My Child It Would Be This

Jackie Leavitt and my son

When I became a mother, I realized how deeply connected a baby's body, feeding, sleep, movement, and nervous system are. If I could only invest in one healing modality for my child, it would be craniosacral therapy, which changed the course of our breastfeeding journey and so much more.

Let me begin by sharing our story with this therapy, which is commonly used to help with breastfeeding latch, digestive issues (i.e., gas and colic), torticollis, restless sleep, and nervous system regulation.

My son was born with torticollis, which is when the neck muscles cause the head to tilt to one side. I spent months trying to understand what may have contributed to this condition. In my research, I came across that prolonged labor, associated with epidural use, can increase the amount of time a baby spends in one position during birth. Just as when you sleep in a bad position for too long and wake up with a crick in your neck, spending an extended period in one position during labor can contribute to torticollis.

Torticollis should be treated as soon as you notice it because it can cause muscle weakness in certain areas and can affect balance as a baby grows, including crawling, climbing, and even eyesight and reading. In some cases, untreated torticollis can contribute to head flattening that may require helmet therapy, which is why early intervention is so important.

Having torticollis made it uncomfortable for my son to sit in the baby carrier (often a key sign that bodywork is needed), but the biggest issue it caused was latching on the right side. I remember feeling so discouraged because he simply couldn't get comfortable. At the time, I had no idea that the tension in his body could be affecting something as natural as breastfeeding. You can read all about my breastfeeding journey, but it was craniosacral therapy that allowed my son's head to turn enough to latch onto my right breast.

My lactation consultant recommended craniosacral therapy after one of our appointments. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, craniosacral therapy uses very light touch to release restrictions in the craniosacral system, which is made up of physical structures and physiological rhythms.

Birth is an incredibly intense experience for both the mother and baby. We often think about how a new mother may benefit from a massage or bodywork after labor to help her body recover, yet we rarely consider that a baby has also been through an enormous physical event. Whether labor was long or short, vaginal or cesarean, birth places tremendous demands on a baby’s body. Because of that, I believe every newborn can benefit from bodywork, such as craniosacral therapy, that relieves tension.

I'll never forget our first appointment with an osteopath. After that session, my son was turning his head from side to side, which he had not been able to do before. I remember looking at him on the changing table and immediately noticing that change an hour after we got home. He also quickly resolved the flat spot on the right side of his head.

I have kept up with craniosacral therapy monthly since then, and we now see my favorite craniosacral therapist, Jackie Leavitt, who is an amazing healer and physical therapist.

Jackie comes to our home each month to treat our son while he naps. I schedule each session around his nap time so that he is sound asleep when we begin. Craniosacral therapy is incredibly relaxing. If your toddler won't let someone do bodywork while they sit there quietly (not many toddlers do), then having the appointment while they are sleeping is the best way to do it.

My son continued to fall and hit the right side of his head, which I believed was related to his torticollis. After a session with Jackie, I noticed he stopped falling often, and people began commenting on how amazing his coordination had become. He is a ball player (even though he is only one—lol!), and now he can even run backward! He rides his balance bike all over the city. Watching his confidence and coordination grow has been amazing.

We had a session before we weaned from breastfeeding because craniosacral therapy is an amazing tool for nervous system regulation. I knew my son needed to feel safe and calm before this big transition because our days are full and we are often on the go.

For anyone who has a toddler, you know they insist on being in control because developing autonomy is a normal part of this stage. However, my son struggled every time we changed his diaper or his clothes. Those moments became a battle resulting in meltdowns, and I could tell his body didn't feel safe with the transition. Craniosacral therapy also helped his nervous system feel safe as we navigated these sensory challenges, and I can honestly say that he no longer struggles with them.

Whenever someone comes to me about the wide variety of issues they may be struggling with as a parent, I always recommend craniosacral therapy. It has become one of the first places I encourage families to explore.

For the first time in my life, I also started doing my own sessions with Jackie, and I can honestly say they have been incredibly cathartic.

One of the greatest lessons motherhood has taught me is that babies communicate through their bodies long before they can communicate with words. Often they aren't being "difficult" or "fussy”, they're communicating that something doesn't feel right. Supporting the body early can influence feeding, movement, regulation, and comfort in ways that are easy to overlook.

Every child is different, and every family's journey will look different, but craniosacral therapy became one of the greatest gifts we gave our son. I encourage parents to stay open-minded to the guidance they receive, even when it isn't considered mainstream, and to trust their intuition first and foremost.