Your baby is a…
LITTLE ARCHER
Your baby loves to arch their back, lift their head, and can be surprisingly strong!
Help Your Little Archer Thrive with Baby Moves
Baby Moves is an online, osteopath-led course designed to help parents support their baby’s movement, comfort, and symmetry through easy-to-follow exercises and techniques. The course offers practical guidance to promote healthy head and body positioning at home – great for babies who love to arch back.
Life as a new parent can be hard. You may have tried everything to help your baby feel more comfortable and move better…. but nothing’s working.
All new parents face challenges with their baby.
Is your baby is difficult to settle? Do they dislike certain positions like the car seat or pram?
Does your baby dislike tummy time?
Does your baby seem to have a ‘stiff neck’ preferring to look one way?
Have you’ve recently noticed a flat spot on your baby’s head?
You’re probably asking yourself (and Google) “Why is this happening?” and “Is this normal?” and “What can I do differently?”
These questions are common. You’re a caring parent wanting the best for your baby, and you need clear, actionable steps to support them.
What’s The Likely Cause Of Your Baby’s Flat Spot?
Based on your answers to the quiz, there’s a good chance the issue causing your baby to experience discomfort and difficulties in certain positions is their preference to arch back. Arching makes certain positions (like being in a car seat) difficult and sometimes uncomfortable.
Arching back can also be associated with a preference for your baby to turn their head one way, causing them to develop a flat spot on their head.
Knowing this can help you take the right steps to address it.
It’s crucial to address head/side preference early, even if your baby doesn’t have a flat spot YET. This is because a baby’s head grows rapidly in the first few months, then it slows.
Early intervention can:
What if you could learn ways to help YOUR baby CALM and MOVE BETTER based on THEIR own unique strengths?
Ways that take NO extra time, use NO special equipment?
Calm and Comfortable Baby
With your support, your baby can calm (lowering their stress hormone levels) and begin to pay attention to their senses and the world around them.
They now have some happy awake time, sharing some beautiful smiles with you.
Stronger for Learning
You’ve gradually helped your baby become more flexible and comfortable, and they are now happier to be in lot’s of different positions – including on their tummy!
They can start learning by interacting with the world around them… using their body and paying attention to their senses.
Peace of Mind
You feel good knowing that you have been proactive in helping your baby move better, and feel relief once you see them improving.
Getting onto movement preferences early means you can stop worrying about your baby, celebrate their milestones, and enjoy this time with them that goes so fast!
The Path to RESOLVING a Head Preference and PREVENTING a Flat Head
First line of treatment is repositioning- and that is all some babies need.
But there is no chance of repositioning a baby who is crying all the time!
No learning happens unless your baby is calm. And some babies have a very hard time in the first 8 weeks of life (sometimes longer) as their digestive tract adapts to increasing volume in their stomach and the movement of human milk or formula through their intestine.
This is normal, but it doesn’t mean we can’t do anything to make them feel more comfortable. We can!
Settling: The Foundation of Learning and Change
To effectively support your baby’s development, it’s crucial to first ensure they are calm and comfortable. A settled baby is more receptive to techniques that improve FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT to prevent and help resolve flat spots.
Learning how to recognise and respond to your baby’s cues is key. This involves understanding their body movements and knowing how to help them feel secure and content.
Once they are more comfortable and interested in the world, you can try repositioning.
why settling is important
Repositioning: Reduce and Prevent Flat Spots
By incorporating simple activities into your daily routine, you can ensure your baby spends equal time on both sides of their head, preventing and correcting flat spots. This proactive approach is vital, especially during the early months when your baby’s head grows rapidly.
Successful repositioning means your baby is sleeping at least 50% of the time with head turned to non-preferred side.
Building Strength is essential for Balanced Growth
If that doesn’t work, it’s important to focus on building their strength. Strong muscles support better movement and help prevent flat spots from developing. Encouraging your baby to enjoy tummy time and other activities not only enhances their physical strength but also promotes healthy, symmetrical development.
But It is not just tummy time that is important for head control. In a recent review, Researchers highlight the lack of advice for the prevention of flat spots. Here it is suggested that the focus is on tummy time and face time.
Why?
Tummy time helps your baby build and strengthen their back muscles, and the muscles that extend their neck (look up). But babies also need to strengthen the neck muscles at the front of their neck- these muscles bring their chin to their chest (look down) and working one side at a time, also help turn the head. From this article, a helpful parent handout was created with some ideas of how you can help your baby strengthen both the back and front of their neck. The idea here is the more quickly your baby can control their head and build their neck strength, the more easily they will be able to move their head and vary their head position to avoid flat spots…. and learn!
You may already have tried exercises like these with your baby. If your baby seems upset or uncomfortable when supported to move in these ways, they need further support.
Early Intervention Is Key
Addressing these issues early on can make a significant difference. Early intervention helps prevent persistent flat spots and supports balanced muscle development, ensuring your baby’s head shape improves as they grow.
By taking action now, as early as possible, you can positively influence your baby’s growth and development.
Learning these techniques can transform your baby’s development journey, providing them with the comfort, strength, and balance they need to learn and grow.. Let me guide you through this process to help support your baby’s healthy growth and development.
Window of opportunity
Introducing…
Baby Moves: Healthy, Strong, Symmetrical.
A 3 part guide to help your baby CALM, ENJOY TUMMY TIME and MOVE BETTER, perfect for babies dealing with a flat spot or neck stiffness.
Baby Moves offers a step-by-step approach to support your baby’s healthy development.
Take a step towards a healthier future for your baby. Join Baby Moves today and see the difference it can make!
Why Baby Moves
Course Outline
Here are THREE KEY PARTS to Baby Moves. Each part is designed to set you and your baby up to experience some WINS, and make the next part easier.
Think of it like scaffolding your baby’s development.
The GOAL of Baby Moves is threefold.
Firstly (from part one) we want your baby to become more comfortable, so you’re able to calm and settle your baby more easily.
Secondly, is for your baby to start to enjoy tummy time as a foundation for all gross motor skill development and lifelong learning.
And thirdly, we really want your baby to be able to sleep with their head turned evenly equally to the right and the left through the night to prevent flat sports occurring or help resolve your baby’s flat spot if they already have one.
SETTLING
Part 1: Settling and Repositioning – The Foundation for Learning
Help Your Baby CALM and Become Interested in the World
A settled baby is more receptive to techniques that can improve movement preferences, including repositioning.
Repositioning means helping your baby comfortably move to their non-preferred side- especially during sleep.
This module focuses on understanding and responding to your baby’s cues, ensuring they are calm and comfortable. Once they are calm you can try repositioning using our comprehensive repositioning guide to promote a healthy head shape.
In this module you’ll learn:
…and more
STRENGTH
Part 2: Building Strength – Strength is the Foundation for All Motor Skills.
Support Your Baby’s Physical Development
Your baby learns through using their body, before using their brain.
Building your baby’s strength is important for promoting overall development and preventing flat spots.
This module provides exercises and activities that support your baby on their tummy, on the floor.
In this module you’ll learn:
…and more
SYMMETRICAL
Part 3: Move Freely and Evenly – Symmetrical Posture and Physical Function
Support Symmetrical Development
Encouraging your baby to move freely and evenly makes meeting milestones so much easier, and of course is ESSENTIAL for preventing and resolving head preference and flat spots.
This module teaches you how to observe and address postural preferences with targeted stretching exercises.
In this module you’ll learn:
…and more
Investing in Your Baby’s Healthy Development
Imagine the peace of mind knowing you’re giving your baby the best start in life, by helping them settle and move better. The outcomes from Baby Moves training are invaluable. You gain:
It is important to note, Baby Moves DOES NOT replace a visit to a paediatric osteopath. Instead, it’s designed to complement professional consultations, it provides you with essential tools and techniques that are easily accessible and can be incorporated into your daily routine.
Accessing services such as osteopathy can be challenging with one wage and the rising cost of living. However, investing in your child’s development is invaluable. Frequent therapy with an osteopath or physiotherapist is usually only needed until your baby starts moving freely.
We find in our practice, babies who progress the fastest are those whose parents continue home exercises between visits… Baby Moves exercises!
Baby Moves focuses on parent education, teaching you how to observe your baby and respond naturally and calmly, while helping them move better.
The course provides 18 MONTHS ACCESS for around the cost of a single 1-hour appointment with a paediatric osteopath, but it is worth much more than that…
This course has taken over 2 years, and around 4,000 hours to create. It’s been carefully put together based on the experiences of thousands of parents and their babies. And now, finally, it’s available to you and your baby.
Get Started Now & Invest In Your Baby’s Growth and Development
Baby Moves Healthy Strong Symmetrical
18 MONTHS ACCESS
Value = $799 USD
$97 USD
Baby Moves comes with our
100% moneyback guarantee!
If you don’t love our Baby Moves course, just email us within 48 hours after being granted course access and we will refund you, in full, no questions asked.
Please note, if you choose to be refunded, you will no longer have access to any part of the course to support your baby.
what if it doesn’t work for me?
Baby Moves is designed to support, but not replace a visit to a paediatric osteopath, but it can be a good place to start.
If you are following our baby moves steps 1, 2 and 3 every day, inducing at least one activity every awake time, we are confident that by 2 weeks, you will start seeing improvements in your baby’s ability to calm and/or strength and/or freedom of movement. It may be one of these areas, it may be all of these areas- as long as you are seeing some improvement in 2 weeks, you are on the right track!
If you fail to see any change in your baby after two weeks, and have been doing the baby moves activities multiple times every day (at least one activity every awake time), you can ask your questions directly in our online community. Osteopath Melissa is available EVERY WEEK to answer your questions and help work out your next steps. Our goal is to support you 100% of the way, and we are always trying to improve the services we provide.
Your baby still may need professional help from a paediatric osteopath or physio, or to check in with your GP – it is best to make these appointments at a trusted clinic near you AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to get the early support for your baby. Ask your GP or Maternal Child Health Nurse for their recommendation.
When Should I Expect To See Results
Part 1: Learn how to best settle your baby.
Expect to see results in 2 days**. Using our strategies you should notice that your baby calms fairly quickly when you implement them. Overtime, unsettledness should generally decrease and opportunities for learning should increase.
** IMPORTANT NOTE: in babies with no medical conditions, if your baby is extremely unsettled most of the time, consult your GP or paediatrician. Food intolerance and allergy can cause some babies a lot of pain and your health practitioner can assess for this.
Part 2: Help your baby build strength
Expect to see results in 2 weeks**. Your baby should be able to tolerate tummy time for slightly longer periods (when well rested and not hungry) and be able to sleep with their head at least 25% of the time to their non-preferred side, increasing this to 50% in the coming weeks.
** IMPORTANT NOTE: in babies with no medical conditions. If you fail to see any change in your baby after two weeks, see your local paediatric osteopath or physiotherapist. Baby moves is designed to support, not replace professional osteopathic care.
Part 3: Support your baby to move comfortably and freely.
After 2 months of Baby Moves exercises, your baby should be sleeping with their head equally to the left and right, and using their hands equally.
** IMPORTANT NOTE: in babies with no medical conditions. If you fail to see any change in your baby after two weeks, see your local paediatric osteopath or physiotherapist. Baby moves is designed to support, not replace professional osteopathic care.
FREE Repositioning Guide (PDF)
Value: $75 USD
Repositioning is always the first line of treatment for head preference. For some babies, it’s all they need.
You’ll learn lots of easy ways to promote your baby’s movement to their non-preferred side in our Repositioning Guide.
These simple activities into your daily routine can help your baby find a greater freedom of movement in their neck, to help prevent and resolve flat spots.
This guide includes the best ways to reposition your baby’s head during sleep too!
Successful repositioning means your baby is sleeping at least 50% of the time with their head turned to their non-preferred side.
Some babies STILL may need professional help to do this, but our Repositioning Guide is a good place to start!
Who This Course is Not For
Baby Moves might not be the right fit if you
Baby Moves is perfect for you if you
Ready to Support Your Baby’s Healthy Development?
Start incorporating Baby Moves TODAY and see the difference it can make.
Meet Melissa McDougall, Osteopath
Hi, I’m Melissa McDougall, an Advanced Paediatric Osteopath with 20+ years of experience. I’m passionate about supporting infants and their families, helping them navigate the early stages of their baby’s development. As the founder of Growing Bones, an osteopathic and allied health clinic in Yarraville, Victoria, I’ve dedicated my career to providing gentle and effective techniques that promote healthy growth and prevent issues like flat spots.
I’ve had the privilege of helping countless parents navigate the early stages of their baby’s life, ensuring they have the tools and confidence needed to support their child’s health. I’m also a mum to two beautiful boys, which gives me firsthand experience with the challenges parents face.
My approach combines my clinical expertise with a deep understanding of what it means to be a parent. I’ve seen how early intervention and the right techniques can make a significant difference, and I’m committed to sharing this knowledge with you through the Baby Moves program. Let’s work together to give your baby the best start in life.
Qualifications
Plagiocephaly does not usually affect the development of a baby’s brain, but if left untreated it may change their physical appearance by causing uneven growth of their face and head.
A longitudinal (long term) study in 2011 compared the development of 227 with plagiocephaly (Flat Head Syndrome) with 232 children without head shape change. At 18 months old, the toddlers with plagiocephaly scored lower than children without head shape change, with the largest differences noted in cognitive and language skills, and smaller differences noted in motor skills. Despite the differences between the groups, most children in the study scored within the typical range for their age and above the level to be medically diagnosed with developmental delay.
Positional Plagiocephaly or Brachycephaly develops because of a limited ability to move in a free and balanced way. Limited movement can result in missed opportunities for learning through play as an infant- but from the research, these delays don’t usually result in clinically significant developmental delay.
Helping your child move better, so they can learn better in infancy (and of course improve their flat spot) is a great investment in your time.
In my experience, a baby fails to respond to repositioning because they can’t move their head a certain way. It’s not comfortable, sometimes not even possible due to muscle strain and postural compression, particularly through the upper neck and base of the skull.
You can test this out- if you feel your baby loves looking at you (or out the window) – change their sleeping orientation so the things they prefer looking at are on their non-preferred side. If your baby still sleeps with their head to their favourite side there is a restriction that needs to be addressed.
Too often I see babies that are 6 months or older, with significant flat spots on their head- their parents were told not to worry, it will resolve by itself.
I’m going to be blunt- this is really bad advice, especially if that health professional has NOT checked for neck stiffness which would prevent your baby turning the other way. If your baby cannot move off their preferred side, there is little chance their flat spot will improve on its own.
Fortunately, many health professionals are now recommending that a head preference and even minor flat spots be looked at by a professional early (that is a paediatric osteopath or physiotherapist).
In a recent review, Researchers highlight the lack of advice for the prevention of flat spots. We agree, prevention is better than trying to resolve a flat spot.
I always recommend getting early support for a head preference OR a flat spot because of the window of opportunity we have to intervene, when a baby is young, due to the great amount of head growth they have in the first 8-12 months of life.
Below is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) head circumference growth charts for boys from 0-2 years (girls charts are very similar).
From these charts let’s reference a boy on the 50% percentile (average). His head growth would average
👶🏻 2.25 cm per month in the first 2 months of life,
👶🏽 1 cm per month between 2 and 6 months old,
👶🏾 0.5 cm per month from 6-10 months old,
👶🏼 and this rate of growth gradually decreases until the age of 2 years.
Ideally, the time to prevent your baby from developing a flat head is to check in with an experienced paediatric osteopath after birth as early as possible. Osteopaths can often pick up slight and early postural preferences that are much easier to resolve early, before any head shape change has begun.
The next best time (if you already notice your baby has a flat spot) is before 8 weeks old. As you can see from the head growth charts, a baby’s head grows very quickly in the first 8 weeks of life, so flat spots can appear quickly- as the skull grows rapidly in all directions except for the spot the baby is always lying on.
The later a baby receives support from a knowledgeable health professional, the more time a flat spot can get worse, and the less time we have to reverse the flat spot while head growth is rapid.
Research suggests the best results for plagiocephaly using manual therapy, including osteopathy are found in babies that present for treatment before 8 weeks old. Again, my advice is don’t wait and see! Get advice and support early.
Baby Moves exercises and activities are based on hundreds of parents doing these exercises at home for over 20 years.
All exercises and activities are shown clearly in a step by step video format, for you to follow at home.
All activities are designed to keep your baby calm and comfortable (using no more pressure than you usually would dressing or holding them). If your baby seems uncomfortable or cries- you stop immediately, and focus on the activities they like. Keep trying every second day or so- until your baby starts to enjoy the movement.
Think of it like tummy time (which should be done every awake time even for just seconds)— most babies dislike tummy time at the beginning (except those who have a very strong neck at birth – which can be due to tightness).
But you persist with tummy time as an exercise/activity, because you know it’s good for your baby, it’s helping them get stronger and reach milestones on time so they can start exploring their environment and learn. The same goes for Baby Moves.
No two babies are alike, therefore no two babies will respond in the same way to an exercise.
In our clinical practice, we understand it’s essential to
- Help a baby calm, so they can relax their body and start becoming interested in the word (Baby Moves Part 1: Settling).
- Help them strengthen weak muscles. This is not the same for all babies, for example- babies with strong muscles through their back will be good at tummy time- but may also stiffen their body, arching their back a lot and find it difficult to sit. Babies that ‘face plant’ during tummy time, or look down when held in a supported sitting position often have tight muscles on the front of their body. These two babies need completely different exercises- and Baby Moves will help you choose the right ones for your baby (Baby Moves Part 2: Strength).
- Help your baby move their head evenly and use their hands evenly. Did you know your baby doesn’t show hand dominance until the age of 2 years? If your baby is using one hand more than the other, speak to your health professional as there can be many reasons for this. In terms of head preference, your baby will often (but not always) look to, suck on, bat and reach with the hand in view- for example if your baby looks right, they may use their right hand more (Baby Moves Part 3: Symmetry).
No two babies are alike, therefore no two babies will respond in the same way to an exercise.
If a baby is NOT comfortable and calm in various positions, they will most likely resist and cry ESPECIALLY when you are encouraging them to turn to their non-preferred side. It is often uncomfortable.
Our Baby Moves course format sets you and your baby up for small wins, and the long term outcome you want.
In our clinical practice, we understand it’s essential to FIRST help a baby feel more calm and comfortable BEFORE working on strength and head preference.
YES!! Baby Moves will teach you so many fun ways to help your baby settle and get stronger. I guarantee you will learn at least one position that is your new go-to!
Often babies that have had a head preference will still have reduced ability to turn ALL THE WAY to their non-preferred side. So check, can your baby get their cheek to the floor on their non-preferred side?…Or do they compensate by lifting their shoulder or tilting their head? If not, Baby Moves may help.
You’ll learn tracking exercises (see our inclusion- Baby Moves Repositioning Guide) to encourage better movement to your baby’s non-preferred side.
Arm and shoulder exercises (covered in Baby Moves Part 2: Strength) can also be beneficial for improving end range movement and promoting even use of hands.
Did you know your baby doesn’t show hand dominance until the age of 2 years?
If your baby is using one hand more than the other, speak to your health professional as there can be many reasons for this.
In terms of head preference, your baby will often (but not always) look to, suck on, bat and reach with the hand in view- for example if your baby looks right, they may use their right hand more.
Arm and shoulder exercises (covered in Baby Moves Part 2: Strength) can also be beneficial for improving end range movement and promoting even use of hands.
Most babies dislike tummy time at the beginning (except those who have a very strong neck at birth – which can be due to tightness).
Tummy time on your chest is excellent – as it can be combined with skin to skin time, which has so many benefits for you and your baby. However, tummy time still should be done on the floor- from day 1. Yep, day 1!
Aim for tummy time on the floor, every awake time even for just seconds.
Practicing tummy time little and often is much, much, MUCH better than trying to get one block of 5-15 minutes every second day. Little and often desensitises your baby to the feeling on a hard flat surface, and the feeling of having to work against gravity. They get multiple chances to work their muscles against gravity, for short periods.
Baby Moves Part 2: Strength, is all about understanding how your baby uses their muscles in tummy time, and includes lots of activities and supports to help them progress. Tummy time is so good for your baby- it is worth persisting. It’s helping them get stronger and reach milestones on time so they can start exploring their environment and learn.
Parents often share with me that colic and reflux are often barriers to tummy time.
No learning happens unless your baby is calm. And some babies have a very hard time in the first 8 weeks of life (sometimes longer) as their digestive tract adapts to increasing volume in their stomach and the movement of human milk or formula through their intestine. They may have colic or reflux and it is important in these cases, see your health professional for advice.
Unsettledness is often normal, but it doesn’t mean we can’t do anything to make your baby feel more comfortable. We can! And this is what Baby Moves Part 1: Settling teaches you.
In Baby Moves Part 1: Settling, you will learn:
…and more
Once your baby is more comfortable and interested in the world (be patient, this can take some time), and you will be able to help them extend their tummy time on the floor with our proven methods in Part 2: Build Strength in Tummy Time.
Make sure you check in with your GP or Paediatrician to ensure there are no medical causes for your baby’s symptoms.
The aim for all treatments to resolve flat spots (including pillows) is to get babies off their flat spot during the night- periods of growth. This is how all plagiocephlay treatments work:
Specific pillows (with a central area cut out) help resolve a baby flat spot by creating space between the baby’s head and flat surface.
Cranial orthoses (helmets) are fitted around a baby’s head except over the flat area, this directs growth into the flat area. Helmets are worn for 23 hours a day. So a baby’s head is not in contact with flat surface.
Both helmets and pillows can improve your babies flat spot, but unfortunately most pillows are not SID’s approved and helmets are expensive. Pillows and helmets also don’t improve neck tightness, head tilt, freedom of movement, primitive reflex expression or assist with gross motor skills.
By far the most cost effective, SIDs approved way to improve a babies flat spot is to get your baby to sleep with their head to the non-preferred side naturally for at least 50% of sleep time. Not only does this allow your babies head to grow and change shape on that flat side, but it also will promote their learning and development though promotion even reflex expression, improving comfort and strength in tummy time and promoting even use of hands (noting that hand preference should not been seen till the age of 2 years).
Baby Moves exercises and activities are based on hundreds of parents doing these exercises at home for over 20+ years. The exercises require no special training and are designed for first (or second, third, forth…etc) time parents.
All exercises and activities are shown clearly in a step by step video format, for you to follow at home. All are designed to keep your baby calm and comfortable (using no more pressure than you usually would dressing or holding them).
If your baby seems uncomfortable or cries- you stop immediately, and focus on activities they like. Keep trying every second day or so- until your baby starts to enjoy the movement.
Like everything, with time and practice, you will get better and they will get better!
Baby Moves exercises and activities are easy to incorporate into your day- no matter your routine or your baby’s temperament. No additional time needs to be set aside- all activities can be down when holding, changing your baby, or even feeding your baby.
Baby Moves teaches you to observe your baby, naturally bringing your attention into the present moment. Here, you can respond to your baby in the most natural, physiological ways, helping your baby calm and learn.
Our aim is to support YOU to support your baby.
You will experience really rich moments of connection (and relief ;).
It’s unreasonable to expect everyone who cares for your baby to be as diligent as you.
Giving them a copy of the Baby Moves Repositioning Guide (included with the course) is a great way to teach others activities that will build strength and incorporate social play.
Remember, you are most importantly you are your baby’s parent, not therapist.
Baby Moves activities can be done little and often, but its fine to skip a few days if someone else is caring for your baby, or you are not feeling well or there are other things to do.
Take the pressure off, you have full permission to take the pressure off!
After investing in Baby Moves: Healthy, Strong, Symmetrical we expect:
Baby Moves is designed for babies under 6 months old, with no medical complications.
It is also designed to support, not replace osteopathic care.
So if your baby is not responding in the timeframes above, it is good to seek professional help AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.
You can also refer to our Healthy Movement Checklist (Free Bonus) to see how your Baby is tracking and work out if they require further support.
Still have questions?
If you cannot find an answer to your question in our FAQ, you can always contact us and we will be with you shortly.