Cranial Rhythm and the Qudo Soother

Cranial Osteopaths and Craniosacral Therapists are trained to feel the subtle pulses in the human body. One of these pulses is the Cranial Rhythmic Impulse or Cranial Rhythm.

The Cranial Rhythm describes slow pulsatile movements that the body exhibits and can be felt in the cranium. The normal pulse ranges from 4 to 14 cpm (continuous passive motion). Often after birth, young babies will have compressions in their cranium caused by the birth process or by how they were lying in the womb. These tensions may be the cause of discomfort, persistent crying, and other common infantile ailments. 

Qualified specialists can gently hold a baby’s head to feel for the pulse, and improve the flow by gently freeing up areas causing restriction and tension. This is barely felt by the baby or children/adults when they receive the treatment. It is a very successful and gentle treatment that relieves compressions that can cause discomfort and pain. The baby’s whole system will function more effectively, and the therapist will feel the improved cranial rhythm after treatment.

Research (2009, Kotzampaltiris et al.) has examined whether an abnormal cranial rhythm is associated with excessive crying in infancy. A study of one hundred and thirty-nine full-term infants found that 41.7% of the infants with an abnormal CRI showed excessive crying. Infants with an abnormal CRI at two weeks old were 6.8 times more likely to develop excessive crying than infants with a normal CRI, suggesting that reduced cranial rhythm is a contributing factor to excessive crying in young infants.

As an experienced and knowledgeable Craniosacral Therapist and Chiropractor, Qudo Founder Nicky Bateman has treated hundreds of babies suffering from excessive crying, colic and other common infantile ailments. Nicky knows that babies like to suck on a human finger, often directing a parent’s finger to rest on their upper palate while they are sucking, instinctively providing some relief to their discomfort. 

In response to this knowledge and completely unique in its form, the Qudo Soother^TM mimics a human finger and helps to relieve strains, normalise the cranial rhythmic impulse, and rebalance somatic dysfunction in a baby. 

How? When babies suck the soother, the shape and density of the teat allow mobilisation of the soft tissues and sutural connections that encourage more active movement within the baby’s mouth, freeing up their tongue muscles. This active movement stimulates a rebalancing cascade of positive endocrinal activities and hormonal benefits such as oxytocin production, thereby mimicking sucking on the breast. This, in turn, provides a more effective soothing response.

Research and trials for Qudo Soother^TM determined the exact teat size, shape and density that delivered an improved cranial rhythm and relieved babies’ discomfort.