Cranial osteopathy is an area of osteopathy that involves a more gentle therapeutic touch. It is different in style from the manipulative approach. It puts great importance on the subtle stresses and strains affecting the whole body.The term cranial osteopathy is not always popular within the osteopathic profession because it is not strictly accurate; the techniques are applied not only to the head but the rest of the body. These gentle techniques are well suited to children and babies so in this context some osteopaths prefer to use the term Paediatric Osteopathy.