The medical system routinely makes light of infants and toddlers with sleep issues.
A “healthy” two-year-old presents with difficulty sleeping. Mom said her daughter was also often tired, assuming a lack of restful sleep. Because I picture those children as being loaded with energy, I felt something was off with this child.
The history was unremarkable other than she was born fast. I never really felt that fast deliveries were problematic until our Lancaster infant research demonstrated that possibility.
She presented with a zero-second brain cycle. Her fascial web, including her neck, looked very good. This corresponded to mom’s describing her infancy without any fussiness issues.
I often see patients of all ages with tight heads who have difficulty sleeping. Since there is no specific sleep center in the brain, various areas can play a role.
Sleep is a result of a balance between the neurotransmitters of the hypothalamus, brain stem, and thalamus, along with the hormone melatonin from the pineal gland. My hypothesis is that for this system to function optimally, the craniosacral fascial system also has to work efficiently.
The brain needs to expand and contract well, the cerebrospinal fluid needs to flow unrestricted, and the web needs to be open for the fluid to reach the collagen fibers of the fascia.
When a child presents with a tight head, the impairment of this system may be an important factor for poor sleep. This theory will need to be tested with scientific research.
When I did the frontal-occipital release technique, her frontal tissues dramatically shifted as her brain cycle opened to an amazing 170 seconds. Apparently, the soft tissues of that area of her head had been traumatized during the forty weeks of gestation and was holding up the craniosacral fascial system.
The answer is always the work at birth as a preventative measure. Gillespie Approach Training is so needed for providers of little ones.
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