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PRIVATE CHILDREN'S OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT + baby massage classes. CHELTENHAM
Children's Occupational Therapy supporting development for 0–2 year olds
With over 10 years experience of working in large Children's Hospitals, Louise offers Private Children's Occupational Therapy for children under two, provided in your home throughout Cheltenham and the local Gloucestershire area.
A few things that often bring families to me
You know your baby best
None of these are a diagnosis — they're just common, valid reasons to ask for a closer look. If a couple of these sound familiar, it's worth a conversation.
Finds tummy time upsetting, or avoids it altogether
Strongly prefers turning their head to one side
Seems unusually stiff, or floppy, for their age
Was born prematurely, or spent time in NICU or SCBU
Rolling, sitting, or reaching feel later than expected
Sensitive or under-reactive to touch, sound, or textures
Feeding — breast, bottle, or solids — feels like a struggle
Traumatic birth or genetic diagnosis support
You simply have a feeling that something's not quite right
What does an Occupational Therapist actually do with babies?
An OT helps your baby build the skills they need for everyday life — moving, playing, feeding, interacting, and gradually becoming more independent.
Gross motor development — rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, and coordination
Fine motor skills — reaching, grasping toys, passing objects between hands, hand-eye coordination
Sensory development — support for babies who are unusually sensitive, or under-responsive, to touch, movement, sound or other sensations
Play — activities and toys chosen to encourage development at the right stage
Feeding — help with being in the best position for feeding, or support baby to use their hands to hold cutlery or cup
Tummy time & positioning — practical ways to handle and position your baby to build strength and movement
Daily routines — support with sleep, dressing, bathing and other everyday moments, when these feel like a struggle
Developmental differences — a full picture of your baby's strengths and difficulties, and an individual plan if development is delayed or there are concerns about movement, coordination or sensory processing
That can include:
A big part of the job isn't working with your baby directly — it's showing you simple activities you can weave into everyday play and routines, so the support carries on long after each session ends.
If something specific is on your mind — not sitting, not crawling, feeding difficulties, favouring one side — get in touch and tell me a bit about what you've noticed. I'll let you know how I can help.
Baby Massage Classes
I am a qualified baby massage instructor with the International Association of Infant Massage. The classes are small group courses (maximum of 8 for 5 weeks), designed to support bonding and provide expert therapeutic guidance in a call, reassuring environment. These groups offer a wonderful space to connect with your baby and other parents while learning techniques to support development and relief.
"Louise was a fantastic instructor + we have throughly enjoyed the sessions" SW
"Louise is great & puts you at ease" SC
About Louise Unwin
I'm Louise, a specialist Children's Occupational Therapist focused on Early Intervention and Developmental support for children aged 0–2, including those with neurological concerns or diagnoses. My career has been built on years of clinical experience in large NHS Children's Hospitals, where I saw first-hand how much of a difference early, timely support can make — and how hard long waiting lists can be for families navigating their child's development at home. I set up this practice so I could give your child and you that support directly, helping them reach their developmental milestones with confidence.
BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
Over 10 years of clinical experience in large NHS children's hospitals
Fully insured public liability
My services
Initial Assessment
A comprehensive 1-hour home visit to assess your baby's general development.
1:1 Follow-up
Targeted 45-minute sessions to review progress, adapt home plans, and continue therapeutic support.
Full Baby MOT
A proactive full check-up for meeting milestones, providing peace of mind and expert guidance.
Baby Massage Classes
Small group courses following the IAIM programme to support bonding and relief for your baby.
(From 20th October - 5 week course (small groups - up to 8) in Cheltenham. Contact me to book.)
Pricing & Fees
Initial Patient Assessment (1 hour)
£120
1:1 Follow-up (45 minutes)
£95
Full Baby MOT (1 hour)
£120
Baby Massage Group Course (IAIM programme)
£80
Possible Additional Costs
What's already included
- Clinical note writingIndividual treatment programmesPhone/email parent liaisonHome exercise plans & handouts
Travel
Travel up to 10 miles from Cheltenham is included. For visits beyond this, a charge of £0.55 per additional mile applies.
Formal report writing
If a written report is requested for professionals, nurseries, or legal purposes, this is charged at £100 per hour, always agreed in advance.
Where I work
Cheltenham & the surrounding areas - please contact me
"Trust that instinct. Getting it checked costs nothing but a conversation."
Local Area Parent