Craniosacral Fascial Therapy: Another Way To Help Your Infant Thrive
Touch can create magic. In our lactation work, we see firsthand the wonders it brings. Two easy and useful ways we integrate gentle touch for babies are Craniosacral Therapy (CST) and Craniosacral Fascial Therapy (CFT).
Both use a soft touch to help release tension in your baby’s body to improve their overall health and ability to feed. Our focus today is CFT, which centers throughout the body. (You can read more on CST here.)
Believe it or not, over 40 face muscles impact your child’s ability to feed, swallow, speak, and other important developmental milestones.
Not every IBCLC has CFT knowledge but if you’re in Boise, you’re in luck! Baby Bonds offers craniosacral fascial Therapy to improve feeding success with your infant.
In this blog, we’re covering what exactly CFT is, how it works, the benefits to your baby, common questions, and what you can expect during a session.
What Is Craniosacral Fascial Therapy (CFT) & How Does It Work?
43 face muscles (to be exact) affect your baby’s ability to feed properly. Pregnancy and birth naturally create tension in many muscles, leading to feeding issues, digestive problems, or colic. As a parent, the last thing you need is more stress surrounding feeding your baby.
As an adult, it’s easy to imagine tension in your body, right? You sometimes feel it in your jaw during a stressful situation or know how tight your shoulders feel when carrying a heavy problem. The feelings all too familiar and nothing you’d wish for your baby.
Your baby could be experiencing tightness around any of their bones or muscles without you even knowing! This hidden tension causes trouble with a secure latch, sucking, swallowing, and more.
Craniosacral Fascial Therapy (CFT) releases tension through specific gentle touch.
Created by Dr. Barry Gillespie, CFT’s based on the theory that craniosacral and fascia systems link together (CST and CFT). Fascia's a connective tissue that goes throughout the entire body (like the skin, but directly over our muscles). It defends and assists muscles working at their best abilities. Everyday stressors cause the fascia to lock up or get sticky, which reduces proper muscle function.
With gentle, slow, soft, and repetitive touches — CFT releases tension, relaxing the muscles around the brain and spinal cord. This has a direct, positive impact on your baby’s central nervous system. [1]
Around 30 muscles aid your baby in feeding effortlessly, and CFT provides full range of motion. When these muscles relax, it prevents any type of oral restriction that hinders feeding success. Some parents call it the magic touch!
Answers to Your 5 Top Questions About Craniosacral Fascial Therapy
Is CFT safe?
It’s safe when performed by a licensed and experienced practitioner, like Melanie. Not every lactation consultant has this training or knowledge — but if you live in Boise, Baby Bonds is around the corner!
How many sessions does my baby need?
This depends on your baby’s unique situation. Sometimes only 1 or 2 sessions do the trick. However, a tongue tie can mean more visits (to get ready for a necessary frenectomy and post-procedure to promote optimal healing).
What ages can benefit from CFT?
While Dr. Gillespie studied CST +CFT on infants, we see it benefit older children as well. Melanie happily provides CFT to newborns up until age 2.
Does insurance cover CFT?
Some do. Under the Lactation Network, 6 visits may be covered. It’s considered a lactation visit, and we usually cover more than just CFT.
How can I book my first session?
Great question! Head on over to my new client booking page to get started.
Now let’s dive more into benefits and what a session will look like for your family!
Craniosacral Fascial Therapy Benefits For Your Baby & What A Session Looks Like
Honestly, your baby gains a lot more than just easier feeding with craniosacral fascial therapy. Since it allows optimal function in so many areas, your baby can experience other benefits too:
6 Benefits You May Notice From CFT [2]
Increase breastfeeding (or any feeding) success
Release tension
Improve coordination
Relieve colic symptoms
Improve digestion
Improve gas
With a relaxed central nervous system, your baby’s entire body settles into ease. Expect improvement with any or all feeding issues you’re dealing with. (Like less gas, yes please!)
What To Expect In A Baby Bonds Craniosacral Fascial Therapy Session
We cover a lot in your lactation care here in Boise. Our goal? Help your family thrive with support, knowledge, and compassion during this unique time.
While trying a new modality can feel scary, don’t worry. CFT’s so relaxing for babies — sometimes they fall asleep. Melanie, your empathetic lactation consultant at Baby Bonds, usually performs this after a feeding (so everyone’s already more relaxed).
She uses light touch to feel around your baby’s body. Her experience has taught her how to feel tightness and release it with specific movements and motions. Her expert training and education under Dr. Barry Gillespi’s approach means you’re trusting your baby with the best!
These sessions average about 10-30 minutes. Most parents notice an improvement in symptoms, from latching to gas. When your baby’s more content — you all experience numerous positive benefits. If for whatever reason your baby’s not enjoying the session (most do), we’ll try another day. This isn’t something you force.
Book Now!
Melanie’s eager to continue to support families like yours. She’s always educating herself to be more valuable in your time of need.
Baby Bonds Lactation Consultant Offers Craniosacral Fascial Therapy For Your Baby in Boise
If you’re curious about craniosacral fascial or Craniosacral Therapy, know that you’ve got an educated lactation consultant nearby. Melanie’s served the Boise community for over 5 years and continues to push herself to learn more to support families like yours.
Breastfeeding brings so many challenges to new parents, but when you have the right support — the suffering subsides and you get to enjoy the new addition to your family. Having an experienced and compassionate IBCLC in your corner makes all the difference.
See how Baby Bonds, craniosacral fascial therapy, and the right lactation consultant can change your breastfeeding journey!
Learn More About CFT Here
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