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This seminar is four CPD hours

24 January 2026 09:00-13:00

This half day course will cover the most common causes of unsettledness in infants, including colic, reflux (GOR/D), lactose intolerance and cows’ milk protein allergy or intolerance (CMPA/CMPI), through the topics of differential diagnosis, national guidelines, evidence, prognosis and management/support strategies. The course also examines red flags and when to refer. The session is divided in 3 main parts. It will begin with a 75 minute lecture which will be followed by a 60 minute Q&A interactive session to examine the concepts presented in the presentation. Finally a complex case study together with group work is used to demonstrate how the theory works in a clinical setting. This course does not cover osteopathic techniques for treating unsettledness in babies but is relevant to all osteopaths, physiotherapists and chiropractors who treat babies.

Timetable
09.00 – 09.15: Registration and introduction
09.15 – 10.30: Understanding Infant Behaviour – Lecture
10.30 -10.40: Break
10.40 -11.40: Interactive discussion, Q&A based on the concepts of the morning lecture

11.40 -11.50: Break
11.50 -12.50: Case studies/Group work
12.50 – 13.00: Q&A and Finish

Course suitability

All osteopaths, physiotherapists, chiropractors, final year students, new graduates, or those with more experience who wish to develop their knowledge in the most recent evidence around unsettledness in babies.

Osteopathic practice standards and other CPD elements covered

• A) Communication and patient partnership A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7
  B) Knowledge skills and perfomance B1, B2, B3, B4
  C) Safety and qualify in practice C1, C4, C6
  D) Professionalism D1, D3, D9, D10

Learning outcomes

• Developing an understanding of normal infant behaviour and crying patterns compared with problematic behaviour/crying
• Examining the most common causes of unsettled infant behaviour (UIB) and how to diagnose
• Identifying short-term and long-term risks associated with UIB
• Evidence informed best practice for managing infants with UIB
  

Speaker - Julie Ellwood

Dr Julie Ellwood graduated from the College of Osteopaths in London in 2004 and completed her Professional Doctorate in Osteopathy through the University College of Osteopathy in London in April 2016. Her research study was investigating the cause of unsettled infant behaviour with particular focus on postural asymmetry and was conducted under the supervision of Professor Alf Nicholson, paediatrician at the National Childrens Hospital in Dublin. The findings of this study have been published in the peer reviewed European Journal of Pediatrics. Julie has since co-authored several systematic reviews on manual therapy for paediatric conditions including unsettled infant behaviour and colic, plagiocephaly and congenital muscular torticollis. Julie has more recently co-authored the OIA 2020 Global Report on international practice and behaviours of osteopaths and osteopathic physicians, and their patients. Julie has an MSc in Applied Haematology, a Fellowship in Biomedical Science and Diploma in Sports Medicine. She is the mother of four children and established the Babybloom clinic for the multidisciplinary care of the mother-baby dyad in Strandhill on the west coast of Ireland in 2013.

Publications

Ellwood et al (2017) Relationship between Unsettled Infant Behaviour and Infantile Postural Asymmetry – Eur J Pediatr. 176(12):1645-1652. doi: 10.1007/s00431-017-2993-x. Epub 2017 Sep 18.

Carnes D, Plunkett A, Ellwood J, et al (2018) Manual therapy for unsettled, distressed and excessively crying infants: a systematic review and meta-analyses BMJOpen 8:e019040.  doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019040

Ellwood J, Draper-Rodi J, Carnes D (2020) Effectiveness of common interventions for the treatment of infantile colic : a systematic review. BMJ Open 2020;10:e035405. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035405