Infant colic and reflux: osteopath in Paris

What is infant colic?

Colic describes intense, prolonged crying in a healthy baby, often in the evening, for no obvious reason. During an episode, the baby may go red, clench their fists and draw their legs up to their tummy.

Its exact cause is not known. It is common, exhausting for parents, and passes with time.

How can osteopathy help?

An uncomfortable baby tenses up: they arch, draw their legs up, clench their fists. This tension, sometimes there since birth, can keep the digestive discomfort going and make the baby harder to soothe. Osteopathy works on exactly this.

What I look at

your baby’s tummy, how supple it is, how they react to touch;
the diaphragm and rib cage, in connection with spitting up;
their posture: a baby who arches backwards or always lies the same way;
how they feed, sometimes linked to swallowed air.

What I work on

With very gentle techniques, I work on relaxing the tummy and diaphragm, on the neck and back, and on your baby’s overall posture. The touch is light and enveloping, so your baby can relax during the session.

What you can expect

The aim is a more relaxed baby, more comfortable after feeds and easier to soothe. I can’t promise the crying will stop, as colic has several causes and passes with time. But parents also leave with practical techniques: carrying positions, tummy massage, ways to ease spitting up.

And spitting up?

According to the French National Authority for Health, spitting up is very common in babies under one year and, in most cases, harmless. It decreases as the baby grows and spends more time upright.

Reflux disease is when spitting up comes with other signs: feeding difficulties, crying during feeds, poor weight gain. That diagnosis is for the doctor, who also decides on any treatment.

What can I do day to day?

A few simple pointers, to adapt with your doctor or midwife:

offer feeds or bottles somewhere calm, with breaks;
help your baby burp;
hold, rock and talk softly to your baby while they cry;
hand over to someone close when you are at the end of your tether: this is common and normal.

Never shake a baby, however tired you are. If you feel you are losing your patience, lay them down safely on their back and step away for a few minutes.

Who should I see, and when?

See your paediatrician or doctor first. They check that your baby is gaining weight well and that no medical cause explains the crying or the spitting up. Some signs need prompt medical advice: they are listed in the box « When to see a doctor first ».

At the practice

I see your baby with you, ideally at a time when they are fairly calm. We go over their crying, feeds, sleep and what the paediatrician has told you. I then observe your baby and work with gentle techniques. We finish with pointers for everyday life, and I refer you to your doctor if anything calls for it.

Frequently asked questions

Is colic serious?

No, in a baby who is otherwise healthy and gaining weight well. It is exhausting for parents but passes with time, usually within a few months. If in doubt, or if you notice a warning sign, see your doctor.

Spit-up or reflux: what's the difference?

Spitting up is common before one year and usually harmless. Reflux disease is when it comes with other signs, such as feeding difficulties or poor weight gain. That is for the doctor to judge.

Can an osteopath make colic go away?

I can't promise that. My role is to support an uncomfortable baby, alongside medical care, and to give you pointers for everyday life.

Is it reimbursed?

Most top-up insurers (mutuelles) and many international insurers cover part of the cost of osteopathy: check with yours. The French national health insurance (Sécurité sociale) does not reimburse it.

Sources

Page updated on 11 October 2026.

Colic and reflux