Can Osteopathy Help with Reflux or Colic in Babies?
If your baby seems uncomfortable after feeds, cries for hours despite your best efforts, or arches their back and struggles to settle, you're not alone. Many parents arrive at Body Zest feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering what’s really going on.
Two of the most common concerns we see in newborns are reflux and colic. These labels can feel vague and frustrating, especially when the advice you’ve received so far hasn’t helped much. But did you know that gentle osteopathy may offer relief for babies with colic or reflux?
Here’s how it works, and how we support parents just like you.
What Is Baby Reflux?
Reflux happens when milk flows back up from a baby’s stomach into the oesophagus. This is very common and not always a cause for concern, most babies will experience some reflux, especially in the early weeks.
But if your baby is bringing up milk frequently, seems in pain, or is unsettled for long periods after feeds, they may have a more persistent or uncomfortable form of reflux (sometimes diagnosed as GORD or silent reflux).
Common signs include:
Frequent spit-up or vomiting
Arching their back or wriggling after feeds
Refusing to lie flat
Hiccups, coughing or gulping
Sleep disruption or unsettled crying
What Is Colic?
Colic is often described as excessive crying in a healthy baby, usually for more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week, for 3 weeks or more. The cause is not always clear, but parents often describe their baby as:
Pulling knees up to chest
Clenching fists and appearing uncomfortable
Crying at the same time each day
Difficult to soothe, even when fed and changed
While colic eventually resolves on its own, those weeks can feel very long.
How Osteopathy May Help
Osteopathy for babies (especially cranial osteopathy) uses gentle, non-invasive techniques to release tension and support the body’s natural ability to settle and function well.
Even a smooth birth can create compressive forces through the head, neck, spine, and digestive system - and this may affect how your baby feeds, digests, and settles.
At Body Zest, our experienced paediatric osteopath looks at:
The diaphragm and digestive system (which may be under tension)
The vagus nerve (which influences digestion and calming)
Tension in the upper spine or skull bones
Your baby’s feeding position and latch
Breathing and movement patterns
By gently working through these areas, we often see babies become more settled, feed more easily, and experience less discomfort after treatment.
What Parents Often Tell Us After a Session
We regularly hear:
"He finally did a big burp and settled after a feed."
"She slept for hours when we got home!"
"I just feel like I’ve got my baby back."
Osteopathy doesn’t 'cure' reflux or colic, but by supporting your baby’s structure and nervous system, it can help reduce the strain and make life easier - for you and your little one.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
We take our time. Your baby will be treated with care and sensitivity throughout.
Your first session will include:
A full history, including birth experience and feeding habits
Gentle hands-on assessment and treatment
Space for you to ask questions and feel heard
Guidance on positions, winding, and calming techniques
Our treatment room is calm, baby-friendly, and designed to help you both feel comfortable.
Final Thoughts
If your baby is unsettled, struggling with wind or reflux, or seems uncomfortable after feeds, you don’t have to go through it alone.
Many families at Body Zest describe cranial osteopathy as the turning point, not just for their baby’s comfort, but for their confidence as parents too.
👶 Safe, gentle, and baby-led
🌿 Support for digestion, feeding, and sleep
📍 Paediatric osteopath in Banstead, Surrey
Click here to book your appointment with our children’s osteopath Marie.