THE MARKET for complementary therapies and remedies is rapidly expanding, and is worth more than £300 million annually. However, many adults are unaware of the benefits for their babies. Here's how the little people in your life can be helped by a complementary therapies.

Cranial osteopathy Osteopathy is a form of therapy that uses the manipulation of bones, muscles, ligaments and connective tissue to release tension and relieve pain. Cranial osteopathy focuses on the head and spine. A cranial osteopath is trained to rebalance a disruption to the cranial rhythm by using very gentle movements.

A Danish study has shown that babies with colic which were treated with cranial osteopathy cried 40% less than those who went without treatment.

Cranial oesteopathy is also good for spitting up, sucking difficulty, delayed development, birth trauma, weakened immunity, sleep problems, irritability and wind. During delivery, the bones in your baby's skull overlap in order to get through the birth canal and afterwards there can be residual tension.

The average cost is £20-£30 for a 30-40 minute session. For details contact the General Osteopathic Council on 020 7357 6655 or www.osteopathy.org.uk. Also check out Healing Through Cranial Osteopathy by Tajinder Deora (Frances Lincoln, £12.99).

Homeopathy Homeopathy seeks to cure rather than just treat the symptoms of an illness. The medicine consists only of naturally occurring, non-toxic substances that aim to stimulate your baby's natural defences.

It is good for colic, teething pain, wind, eczema, sleeplessness, irritability, nappy rash, feeding difficulties, milk sensitivity, jaundice, and colds. Health visitors often recommend Colocynth 6c to encourage feeding and reduce colic. Babies can be very receptive to homeopathic treatments, which come in liquid form, powder, granules or tablets.

Research in the journal Professional Care of Mother And Child showed the effectiveness of camomile in soothing teething problems and laccanium for breastfeeding problems.

You can find many popular remedies, such as New Era, in your local chemist, but in the first instance, see a homeopath. Individual remedies can start from £3. To locate a medically qualified homeopath, contact the British Homeopathic Trust on 020 7566 7815 or www.trusthomeopathy.org For further reading, check out Homeopathy for Children by Gabrielle Pinto (CW Daniel Company, £9.99).

Baby massage and aromatherapy Baby massage is now one of the most popular complementary therapies for babies. Make it part of your daily routine to stroke and gently stretch your baby's skin with oils, such as lavender and camomile, diluted in a carrier oil such as sunflower oil.

A study in the journal Early Child Development And Care found that babies that were massaged regularly had less difficulty falling asleep and had more regular sleep patterns .

Baby massage is good for deeper sleep, anxiety, better feeding, colic and the contact and touching are an important bonding experience. Good-quality individual oils will cost from £4. The ranges from 4 Little 1 (0870 240 7509) and Tisserand (01273 325 666) are excellent.

For further details contact the Massage Therapy Institute of Great Britain on 020 8208 1607 or www.cmhmassage.co.uk/mtigb. Also check out Aromatherapy And Massage For Mother And Baby by Allison England (Vermilion, £7.99) Herbal medicine The oldest complementary therapy, herbalism, is the use of herbs, plants, roots and flowers to restore and maintain health and to keep the body in balance. There are home remedies available and more specialised professional remedies. It's best to visit a medical herbalist the first time.

In the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, the herbal remedy meadowsweet is shown to be an effective remedy for cradle cap because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Herbal medicines are also good for eczema, nappy rash, colic, constipation, clearer breathing, coughs, cuts and irritability.

Contact the National Institute Of Medical Herbalists on 01392 426 022 or www.nimh.org.uk. Also check out The Family Herbal by Barbara Thiess (Inner Traditions International, £10.89).