Your new born baby is crying and you don’t know what to do. The doctors can’t find anything wrong and no one seems to know why your new born child is so miserable. Deep down you know your gorgeous baby shouldn’t be like this. It’s almost as if your baby is trying to tell you something, and you the doting parent and the other healthcare professionals just don’t get it. Yet, there may be an answer, please read on.

Over recent years there has been growing interest in the ideas put forward by cranial osteopaths who suggest that persistently crying new born babies may in fact have a sore head. A sore head or neck can lead to constant crying, latching problems, feeding problems, flat head, and symptoms often confused with colic or reflux etc. To discover more watch this short informational video view here.

What Might Create A Sore Head?

3 common causes

(A) Birth Trauma: Babies born with assisted delivery (ie forceps, caesarean ventouse) are at higher risk of cranial strains (sore head / neck)

(B) Lifting / Carrying Baby: Inappropriate lifting technique - just look at this slow motion video of what happens to a baby’s neck view here.

(C) Postural Strains: ie from baby lying in one position for a long time, ie in much the same way adults get a stiff neck in the morning.

Here’s what can be done to help. Try these top 5 tips below

5 Top Tips To Help Baby Stop Crying

1. Always support your baby’s head when lifting or moving him or her. Avoid lifting from under the arms as that often causes the head to tilt sharply backwards and can make a sore neck worse. View here.
   
   
2. A great way to keep the neck/shoulder free of stiffness is to get the limbs moving. Gently take arms above the head, to music, nursery rhyme, in a playful way etc. When the arms move the neck frees a little. Try it to “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” or “Wheels Of The Bus” etc
   
   
3. Giving your new born baby tummy time is so important. It will help the neck and importantly help with the development of the secondary curves of the neck and low back. Tummy time includes laying baby face down across your lap, forearm and also simply holding your baby horizontally so he or she can see the floor for short periods of time. 
   
   
4. Try to introduce postural variety during baby’s sleep. Such as gently turning baby’s neck to the other side, from time to time, or when you can supervise, let them sleep on their side, alternating both sides from time to time (a new born baby sleeping wedge can help). Never let your child roll on to the stomach as this can risk SIDS.
   When baby is awake and needs to be carried, try holding them high over your shoulder, so your baby is almost looking downward at the floor behind you, ie reducing pressure on the neck.
   When carrying baby in your arms or breast feeding, make sure their head is not allowed to be thrown back, as an extended neck can lead to a sore neck.
   
   
5. Sucking soothes. Try offering your new born baby a washed and cleaned finger to suck on. Some babies soothe instantly with a pacifier (dummy). There is no absolute evidence that using a pacifier interferes with breast feeding, but opinion is still divided.

These tips are given for guidance. Always see your medical doctor as persistent crying can also be the sign of an underlying serious problem.

Vispi Jamooji
Cranial Osteopath
Living Centre Clinic, London