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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 plus Mondays & Thursdays at Organic Family Chiropractic.
For appointments at OFC please click the 'Book Appointment' link. For assessments in your home, please call, email or Whatsapp me.
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
- 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 small, 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
Full public liability insurance
Enhanced DBS
Enhanced DBS
My services
Initial Assessment
An hour at your home or at Organic Family Chiropractic in Cheltenham, to review development and discuss a plan going forwards.
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.
Pricing & Fees
Initial Patient Assessment (1 hour)
£90
1:1 Follow-up (45 minutes)
£75
Full Baby MOT (1 hour)
£90
Baby Massage Group Course (5 week 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.
If a written report is requested for professionals, nurseries, or legal purposes, this is charged at £100 per hour, always agreed in advance.
Formal report writing
Where I work
At your home in Cheltenham & the surrounding areas - please contact me
Organic Family Chiropractic, Cheltenham
"Trust that instinct. Getting it checked costs nothing but a conversation."
Local Area Parent