Tiny bodies, big changes.

How pediatric CST differs from adult CST

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a hands-on healing modality that uses gentle touch to release fascia throughout the entire body. The technique is the same for babies as it is for adults, but the touch is even lighter, the sessions are shorter, and the setting is whatever helps your baby feel safe.

Babies don't lie still on a treatment table. Most pediatric sessions happen with your baby in your arms, on a soft pad, or while nursing, wherever they are most settled. Maura will work with you, not around you.

The goal is the same: support the natural movement of cerebrospinal fluid, release tension held in the body, and give your baby's nervous system the room it needs to regulate.

What a pediatric session looks like

Sessions are 30–60 minutes, your baby sets the pace. You stay with your baby the entire time. Maura will start with a brief conversation about your baby's history, birth story, and what brought you in.

From there, she works wherever your baby is most settled. Often that's in your arms, sometimes on a soft pad, sometimes while nursing. She uses very light touch, about the weight of a nickel, at the head, jaw, neck, spine, sacrum, and feet, pausing whenever your baby needs to pause.

Some babies sleep through the whole thing. Others cry, which is often part of the release rather than a sign of distress. You are always free to pause, nurse, change a diaper, or end the session early.

After the session, Maura will share what she felt, what she worked on, and what to watch for in the days that follow.

How CST fits with your other providers

Pediatric CST is most effective when it is part of a coordinated care team, not a replacement for one. Maura works alongside the providers already involved in your baby's care.

• Pediatrician. Always your first stop for medical concerns. Keep your pediatrician informed about complementary care your baby is receiving.
• IBCLC (lactation consultant). For feeding and latching work, CST and lactation support reinforce one another. Many parents see their IBCLC and Maura in close sequence.
• Pediatric dentist or ENT. For tongue and lip tie revisions, the typical pattern is to schedule a CST session within 24–48 hours of the procedure, then 1–3 follow-ups as recommended by your provider.
• Pediatric physical therapist. For torticollis and head-shape work, CST often pairs well with PT stretching and positioning protocols.

If you'd like Maura to coordinate with another provider on your baby's care, let her know, she's happy to.

Frequently asked questions

What is pediatric Craniosacral Therapy?

Pediatric Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a very gentle, hands-on bodywork modality adapted for infants and children. The practitioner uses extremely light touch, about the weight of a nickel, at key points along the cranium, spine, and sacrum to release fascial tension and support the natural movement of cerebrospinal fluid. For babies, this can support the unwinding of compressive forces from birth and ease symptoms tied to a dysregulated nervous system.

How is pediatric CST different from adult CST?

The technique is the same, but the touch is even lighter and the sessions are shorter and more flexible. Babies don't lie still on a table, sessions happen wherever your baby is comfortable, often in your arms, on a soft pad, or while nursing. Sessions are typically 30–60 minutes but follow your baby's tolerance, not a clock.

When do parents typically bring their baby in?

The most common reasons are: feeding and latching difficulties (especially after a tongue or lip tie revision), reflux and colic, torticollis (a tilt or rotation preference in the neck), an asymmetrical head shape, difficulty sleeping, persistent irritability, and recovery from a long, fast, instrumented, or surgical birth. Many parents also bring babies in proactively after birth simply to support nervous-system regulation.

How soon after birth can my baby see Maura?

Pediatric CST is appropriate from the first days of life onward. Many parents come in within the first 1–2 weeks after birth, especially when feeding issues, asymmetry, or recovery from a difficult delivery are part of the picture. Earlier is often easier, but it is never too late.

What does a pediatric session actually look like?

You stay with your baby the entire session. Maura works wherever your baby is most settled, often in your arms, on a soft pad, or nursing. She uses very light touch at the head, jaw, neck, spine, sacrum, and feet, pausing whenever your baby needs to pause. A session is usually 30–60 minutes; if your baby is done sooner, the session ends sooner.

Will my baby cry during the session?

Some babies sleep through the whole session. Others cry, and that can actually be part of the release. Crying during gentle bodywork is not a sign that anything is wrong; it is often a baby expressing tension they have been holding. Maura will work with you to read your baby's cues, and you are always free to pause or stop.

How many sessions will my baby need?

It depends on what you are working with. For many feeding, sleep, and minor asymmetry concerns, 2–4 sessions over a few weeks produces meaningful change. For tongue tie post-revision support, the typical recommendation is one session within 24–48 hours of the procedure and 1–3 follow-ups. Maura will give you a personalized recommendation after the first visit.

How does pediatric CST work alongside our IBCLC, ENT, or pediatrician?

Pediatric CST is most effective when it is part of a coordinated care team. For tongue tie, that often means working in close sequence with your IBCLC (lactation consultant) and the pediatric dentist or ENT performing the revision. CST does not replace any of these providers, it complements them. Maura is happy to coordinate with your existing care team and will encourage you to keep your pediatrician informed.

When should I take my baby to the ER instead?

Seek emergency medical care, not CST, for any of the following: fever in an infant under 3 months, persistent vomiting, lethargy or unresponsiveness, breathing difficulty, a bulging fontanelle, a fall with head impact, suspected fracture, or any acute change in your baby that worries you. CST is complementary wellness care and is not appropriate for acute medical emergencies.

What does a pediatric session cost?

Pediatric Craniosacral Therapy sessions are $175, the same rate as adult sessions. We offer multi-session packages (3 sessions for $525) for ongoing care. Sessions are cash-pay; we can provide a superbill for HSA/FSA reimbursement.