Belen Optimum Health

02/07/2025

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22/06/2025

20/06/2025

✨ Supporting Toddler Anxiety & Tantrums with Craniosacral Therapy ✨

Big feelings in little bodies are often a sign of an overwhelmed nervous system—not “bad behaviour.”

At the clinic, I regularly see toddlers experiencing anxiety, frequent meltdowns, or difficulty settling. Under the surface, contributing factors often include:
💨 Poor breathing patterns
⚡️ A high-tone (hyper-alert) nervous system
🔊 Sensory overstimulation
🧠 Gut-brain imbalances impacting regulation

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that helps reset and regulate the nervous system by releasing deep tension in the body. It supports more ease in the breath, improved digestion, and a calmer, more resilient emotional state.

By helping the body feel safe, grounded, and supported, CST creates space for more regulated behavior and emotional balance—naturally.

🤲 A calm nervous system is the foundation for a calmer child.

03/06/2025

Calling all new and expecting mums in the Malahide area!

Is your baby struggling with colic, reflux, feeding discomfort, or just seems unsettled — no matter what you try? 💔 You're not alone, and there's help available!

I delighted to be talking on this topic at the upcoming Baby Wellness Seminar.
Also featuring talks on baby sleep and baby-led weaning.

Join us for a FREE Baby Wellness Seminar hosted by Malahide MedTalks – a supportive and informative evening designed to help you navigate those early baby days with confidence 💚

🗓️ June 12th, 2025
🕖 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Malahide Yacht Club
🎁 Free goody bags for attendees (thanks to !)

You’ll hear from experts in:
👶 Baby nutrition & craniosacral therapy
🌙 Infant sleep
🥄 Baby-led feeding

🔗 RSVP now by emailing: info@malahidemedical.ie
Spaces are limited – don’t miss out!

24/04/2025

Working with children is so incredibly rewarding 🙏. Something as simple as supporting the gut with personalised foods and gentle supplements can lead to such powerful transformations 🦚

What is even more incredible is how often these changes ripple out, positively influencing behaviour, mood, and overall wellbeing. It is a beautiful reminder of how connected the body and brain really are!

04/04/2025

Thrilled to welcome Marina Ferrari, registered lactation consultant to our Malahide Children's clinic. She is joining Colette Trout and myself.

Our clinic team now covers lactation support, physical therapy, craniosacral therapy, pre and perinatal psychology and nutritional therapy, offering a wide range of natural health approaches to new parents and families 🌟👨‍👩‍👧‍👦👩‍👦😄✨️

03/04/2025

This week, I had the pleasure of stepping into a classroom of enthusiastic students to talk about energy and performance through nutrition. But it was not just a talk. We got hands-on with a smoothie challenge!

The mission? Create a nutrient-rich smoothie using a mix of vegetables, fruits, and protein sources (seeds only—no nuts, school rules!). The classroom buzzed with excitement as students hotly debated the texture and taste of new ingredients- ‘celery in a smoothie? yuck!’. Then came curiosity—as they started experimenting. ‘What happens if we mix spinach and passion fruit?’ ‘Can we add flaxseeds for protein?’.

Every single student took part, from blending to taste-testing. Even those who had told their teacher, ‘I won’t drink a veggie in a smoothie’. It was refreshing to see them explore beyond their usual food choices. The power of the group? The fun setting? As I was leaving the class, a boy said to me, ‘That wasn’t too bad, can you give my mum the recipe?

08/03/2025

04/03/2025

Babies are born wired for connection. From the moment they enter the world, their early experiences shape how safe, loved, and understood they feel 🐣💓

Every cry, whine, or fuss is a form of communication—never without reason. While some needs are straightforward, like hunger, a nappy change, or sleep, babies also have emotional needs. They might feel overwhelmed, lonely, or frustrated and rely on their caregivers to help them navigate these feelings.

Supporting a thriving baby—one who feeds well, sleeps soundly, and engages in play—requires more than just meeting their physical needs. It is about tuning in, offering a calm and reassuring presence, and responding with kindness. By truly listening and creating a nurturing environment, parents can better understand what their little one needs in the moment 🌟

This process, known in pre- and perinatal psychology as co-regulation, is how a baby’s nervous system learns to sync with a caregiver’s.

When parents provide consistent, comforting responses, babies feel secure, leading to less crying and fewer moments of parental frustration. In essence, co-regulation builds a foundation of trust and emotional resilience—helping both baby and parent thrive together 👨‍👩‍👦

In my clinic, I love helping parents decode their baby’s body language—from different types of cries to tiny movements and behaviours. We work together on reassuring cues and soothing techniques to help little ones feel safe and comforted. While babies are, of course, the centre of attention, supporting and empowering parents is just as important in every consultation 😀

18/02/2025

Having a picky eater can be seriously stressful.

It usually goes like this: parents try to lay down the rules. If that doesn’t work, they resort to tricks or bribes—sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. Then comes the self-doubt: are we doing something wrong?

Here is the thing—being a fussy eater isn’t a major health risk in itself, but it can stick around and cause a lot of stress for both parents and kids. Some children don’t just “grow out of it” and end up functioning at a lower level—getting sick often, looking pale or tired, and lacking energy or motivation.

So where do you even start? From my experience, picky eating has multiple causes, including:

* Sensory issues (taste, smell, texture)
* Motor issues (chewing, tongue movement, swallowing)
* Behavioural factors (family dynamics, beliefs, priorities)
* Emotional triggers (past negative experiences with food, food anxiety)
* Family eating habits (meal routines, snacking patterns, rewards)

This is something most people don’t know—fussy eating can also be linked to GUT HEALTH 👋😄

The bacteria in our gut can affect food preferences, hunger signals, and digestion. And beyond just picky eating, research shows that gut bacteria can impact mood, irritability, focus, and even stress tolerance by producing substances that nourish the brain (yep, the nervous system!).

So parents, don’t beat yourselves up. Instead, let us bring to focus on supporting the gut—creating a healthy environment where good bacteria thrive, digestion improves, and the body gets the nutrients it needs. Strengthening the gut barrier and introducing beneficial bacteria can make a real difference. I have seen it work in my clinic, and it might just work for your little one too!

30/01/2025

Every breastfeeding mum with a fussy/colicky baby should know that there is a simple way to help with colic and fussiness.

You can help reduce colic and fussiness in breastfed babies by simply observing the mother's diet and the baby's behaviour.

The how, how long for and benefits are relatively straightforward.

But what it is often missed is that it is essential to PERSONALISE, as the foods that tri trigger issues can vary for each fussy/colicky baby.

Join me on 4 February at 3pm to for a live talk where you can Ask ME Anything related to common foods that help with colic and foods that don’t (register 👉👉👉https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/sTeqfHEdSIebofC7YVyTxQ