A baby lays on their stomach on a blanket covered cushion on the floor, with two women sitting on the floor, one on each side of the baby. The baby is receving manual therapy from one of the women.

Photo by Carol Gray

Babies & Children

Craniosacral therapy for babies addresses the effects of difficult, prolonged, or surgical birth, and infant massage taught to parents promotes bonding with baby and optimal physical and psychological development.

Infant bodywork supports good oral motor and digestive function, and is an important part of a multi-disciplinary approach to meeting feeding challenges. CST for babies, especially intraoral therapy, may be suggested by your lactation consultant, tongue/lip tie release provider, speech language pathologist, or other clinician, often within a framework of two to three sessions over the course of five to nine days. A baby’s need to be seen for feeding difficulties is a time-sensitive matter. Please contact me via phone/text at (503)5586160 or e-mail at elizabeth.ryan.LMT@gmail.com; I hold in reserve appointment space on most days to accommodate urgent needs. Manual therapy/bodywork is available for tongue/lip tie pre- and post-release support, but I do not perform aftercare exercises. I encourage parents to also seek massage therapy for themselves in conjunction with tie release for their baby, and provide manual therapy for older children and adults who are planning or have had tie release procedures.

CST can also be helpful for:

  • head-turning preferences / torticollis

  • persistent sutural overrides

  • cranial synostosis treatment support

  • babies who arch their backs when crying

  • colic

  • babies with wet sounding lungs or breathing difficulties

  • constipation

  • babies with a high pitched or raspy cry

  • a heightened startle response

  • babies struggling with developmental milestones

  • frequent ear infections

  • plugged tear ducts

  • and more!

Older children may benefit from craniosacral therapy for:

  • Growth spurts

  • Sleeping difficulties

  • Digestive problems such as constipation

  • Concussion and post-concussion syndrome

  • Support during cancer treatment

  • Chronic bronchitis

  • Sensory processing challenges

  • Frequent ear or eye infection/inflammation

    You can request an appointment by phone/text at (503)558-6160 or by email at elizabeth.ryan.LMT@gmail.com.