Childrens Services

Paediatric Dietician

The paediatric (children’s) dietitian specialises in assessing nutritional requirements, food intake and growth both in times of health and disease.

Paediatric dieticians teach the families about sound nutritional principles and the best ways to select and prepare food. In some cases, such as children who have kidney disorders or diabetes, the diet modification may be complicated and require a great deal of guidance.

Clinical dieticians who have chosen paediatric nutrition as their specialty might specialise further, working extensively in intensive care units, or focusing on particular illnesses or disorders. Some focus on food allergies, for instance, or on how diet changes can be of benefit for children with issues such as autism or attention-deficit disorder.

The paediatric dietitian manages an age group from the very premature infant through infancy and childhood until adolescence, when their care is transferred to an adult service.

Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy for Children

At The Smart Clinics we have a number of therapists who specialise in nutrition for children. Poor nutrition is putting our children’s health at risk. Weight issues, diabetes, eating disorders, food allergies and behavioural problems in children are becoming increasingly common.

Babies and children of all ages can benefit from seeing a Nutritional Therapist. The types of conditions that can benefit from nutritional therapy are colic, weaning difficulties, skin conditions, hyperactivity, frequent colds and coughs as well as many others.

Some nutritional therapists specialise in infertility, pregnancy, postnatal and prenatal nutrition.

Immunisations (vaccinations) are also known as ‘injections’ or ‘jabs’. They are one of the most important ways of protecting individuals and the community from serious diseases.

Most immunisations are given during childhood. Some are given more than once to make sure your child is fully immune to that particular disease – with each vaccination, the immune system creates a stronger response. This ‘top-up’ is called a booster.

Normally, after a completed vaccination programme, your child should have lifelong protection against polio, probable lifelong protection against measles, mumps, rubella and meningitis C, at least 10 years’ protection against diphtheria and tetanus, and at least three against whooping cough.

For more information and advice on immunisations contact one of our friendly GPs.

The Smart Clinics offer flu jabs for children.

Flu jabs are best administered during the autumn in order to protect against the seasonal flu virus.

Having a baby is one of the most important times of your life where you require lots of care and attention. At The Smart Clinics, we provide a comprehensive range of postnatal and antenatal care. Our obstetrician provides sensitive care for pregnancy and delivery.

We have osteopaths and cranial osteopaths who have a wealth of experience working with newborns. Cranial Osteopathy is a wonderful tool to assist the postnatal recovery of both mother and infant by unravelling physical strain patterns and also bringing the body into restorative stillness.

Cranial Osteopathy is frequently used to help babies and children who have had a traumatic birth and have difficulties in breast feeding, sleeping or are generally restless.

Our aim is to offer every woman greater choice, depth and flexibility in their care ensuring a happy, healthy and informed pregnancy.

Baby massage is an effective way of helping a number of problems that babies frequently experience.

Massage can soothe, reduce colic, aid digestion and relax your baby which often helps them to adopt a better sleeping pattern. It is an enjoyable experience for both giver and receiver and can bring you even closer together.

Cranial Osteopathy is a refined and subtle type of osteopathic treatment that encourages the release of stresses and tensions throughout the body, although the name Cranial Osteopathy implies a technique that relates to the skull, the approach is effective for the whole body. Osteopaths feel for a rhythmic pulsation or shape change in the body’s tissues that are under abnormal tension and use very gentle pressure to release these tensions.

Cranial Osteopathy is a gentle and effective osteopathic technique and may be used in a wide range of conditions for people of all ages; it is often the treatment of choice for acute pain (backache, joint sprain), for babies, young children and pregnant women.

Paediatric Osteopathy is a specialised area of osteopathy that treats babies and children of all ages, using gentle non-invasive manual techniques for the treatment. Paediatric Osteopaths undergo special training, developing subtle but accurate skills to diagnose and treat from children and babies.

Birth is one of the most stressful events of our lives. The natural forces of the uterus push the baby through the birth canal with astronomical forces. The baby has to turn and twist as it squeezes through the mother’s pelvis; this journey can be quite stressful. The baby’s head has great ability to absorb these stresses in a normal delivery and this process may cause some moulding, which can be visible at birth. This moulding will in most cases subside within the first few days, sometimes the process of unmoulding is affected by other stresses and strains and became incomplete, which may cause discomfort at the babies head and neck. Osteopathic treatment may be useful to alleviate stresses, providing better chances for a newborn baby to settle.

Paediatric osteopathy may help with:

• Crying, screaming, irritability
• Feeding difficulties
• Sickness, colic and wind
• Sleep disturbances
• Ear infection
• Sinus and dental problems
• Headache, aches and pains

Osteopath Nick Cowan treats children from adolescence through to teenage years. Whether it’s sports related injuries, or more complex aches and pains related to juvenile pathologies.

A thorough history and biomechanical examination is undertaken and a clear treatment plan is explained to achieve the best outcome.

In addition Nick works alongside our other practitioners; cranial osteopaths, podiatrists and nutritionist, to provide the most holistic approach to good health and well being for his young patients.

Many foot problems are hereditary and can be successfully corrected early in life. An underlying biomechanical foot problem may not become noticeable until a teenager/adult embarks on a fitness programme at which point their feet, knees or hips may start to hurt.

Curly or overlapping toes, oddly shaped nails, in-rolling feet should all be checked by a podiatrist.

A child who falls frequently or doesn’t like to walk or run may have a foot problem. Sometimes a baby can be born with ingrowing toenails, we can treat these easily.

Bunions need to be treated very early so if you have a family history of these you should have your children’s feet checked. We usually treat mechanical foot problems with corrective orthoses (specially made insoles) and curly toes respond well to moulded silicone splints.

Children often catch verrucae ( plantar warts). Small verrucae can be easily treated with over–the- counter preparations but any large or painful verrucae should be professionally treated. At The Smart Clinics, we have a team of experienced podiatrists who specialise in treating children.

Child psychotherapists work with children who are suffering from symptoms including depression, aggression, phobias, anxiety, physical/psychosomatic disorders, learning difficulties and behavioural problems. Their aim is to help children understand and address their inner conflicts. Treatment can take a year or more, depending on the nature of the problem.

An educational psychologist is concerned with helping children or young people who are experiencing problems within an educational setting with the aim of enhancing their learning.

Challenges may include social or emotional problems or learning difficulties. Work is with individual clients or groups; advising teachers, parents, social workers and other professionals.

Client work involves an assessment of the child using observation, interviews and test materials.

They offer a wide range of appropriate interventions such as learning programmes and collaborative work with teachers or parents.

Educational psychologists also provide in-service training for teachers and other professionals on issues such as behaviour and stress management.

Travelling with babies, toddlers, children or teens can create a raft of questions and queries.

The Smart Clinics can advise on the most appropriate immunisations/vaccinations depending on where you are travelling to and the age of your children.

We can also advise on issues from sun exposure and hydration to nutrition, how to manage on a plane, jet lag with little ones and planning for any regular medication.

If you are planning to travel, speak to one of our health professionals as early as possible to get a ‘fit for travel’ review for your family.