A check-up for newborns

Examination

Before examining your baby, I start with an in-depth conversation. I take time to learn more about you and your family: How did the pregnancy go? How was the birth. Were there any particularities or difficulties? How is daily life with your baby going right now? How does it sleep, digest, and handle stress?

This conversation isn’t just a brief introduction. It’s an important part of the treatment. Putting all these pieces of the puzzle together helps me understand your baby as a whole and see the full picture.

I then explain exactly what I will do, so you know what’s happening at every step.

The examination itself is carried out with gentle touch. As a therapist, I’m trained to feel very subtle signals. In a sense, I “listen” with my hands to what your baby’s body is trying to tell me. The examination follows a systematic approach: I begin in the area of the sacrum and work my way up through the digestive tract, the shoulders and neck, all the way to the skull.

Throughout, I always look at the relationships within the body as a whole. The symptom isn’t always located where the cause is to be found. You could say that I use the same anatomy, neurology, and physiology as conventional medicine, just viewed through a different lens.

Treatment

I treat any movement restrictions found using gentle, manual techniques. I will never “crack” small children. Most babies find the treatment pleasant and respond by calming down or even falling asleep. It can happen that your baby becomes briefly unsettled during the session — that’s completely normal. Babies have their own unique rhythm: sometimes they’re hungry, sometimes simply tired. I take the time needed and adapt to your baby’s pace.

After each treatment, I set aside time for your questions. Depending on the situation, I may also show you simple exercises or techniques you can use at home to support your baby in the meantime.

Children typically need three to four treatments. I recommend planning the first two appointments close together. After that, the frequency can be adjusted depending on the topic and your baby’s development.

When to Schedule a Check-Up for Your Baby

If the birth was very difficult, too fast, too slow, or involving medical interventions such as induction, vacuum extraction, or an emergency cesarean. Or if your baby is showing clear signs of discomfort such as pain with certain movements, a preferred position, excessive crying, or difficulties breastfeeding, I recommend making an appointment as soon as possible.

No urgent concerns? Then an appointment from around the fourth week of life is ideal. By then you’ll already have a good sense of your baby’s rhythm, and any loss of mobility will be easier to feel.

After that, you’re always welcome to bring your child in for treatment or a check-up. Whether for motor developmental delays, teething pain, or simply the feeling that your baby is due for a general check.

Babies aren’t always easy to “read,” and it can sometimes be hard to know whether a treatment would be helpful or not. When in doubt, it’s always better to ask. Feel free to reach out to me at any time.