Praise For: It’s All in The Head

“It’s All in the Head is a must-have book for not only chiropractors, but also for parents and anyone working with children. It is exciting to know that now there is a course for everyone to engage with two of the leading pediatric chiropractors who wrote the book. This class offers an opportunity to delve into the world of human potential from a salutogenic viewpoint. The information is insightful and gives clear meaning to what is common versus what is normal in your child’s development. You will gain a better understanding of your child’s developmental processes. It answers many questions including why and how cranial distortions affect not only structure but neurological function as well.”

As a pediatric chiropractor and a mom, this is the book I wish every parent had on their shelf. Marty Rosen and Nancy Watson take something that sounds complicated, cranial development, and explain it in plain language that actually makes sense.

This book walks parents through how the cranium develops and what healthy development looks like in a clear and simple manner. The checklists at the end of the chapters are the part I love most, because they give parents something concrete to look for instead of leaving them to guess. It gives parents peace of mind with what to look for and action steps to take before worry kicks in.

I recommend this to parents in my practice, and to any practitioner who works with babies and children. Whether you are brand new to cranial work or have been doing it for years, it will sharpen how you look at the kids in front of you.

I was first inspired to read It’s All in the Head as a parent whose child had brachycephaly, reflux, and torticollis from a shoulder dystocia birth.

After experiencing the chiropractic care difference with my children and myself, I wanted to understand these benefits more deeply and help share them with other parents and families.

It’s All in the Head includes invaluable milestones charts, practical developmental checklists, and dives into the 80% of the nervous system which is housed in the cranium.

Like Weston A. Price, who first shared with the public in Nutrition and Physical Degeneration in 1939 that cranial facial structural development affects the brain, Drs. Rosen and Watson articulate to those around the world for the first time exactly how these distortions impact child development.

This book was a game changer that put cranial facial, milestone, and developmental quirks in context for concerned parents like me who were simply dismissed by Western medicine.

I highly recommend It’s All in the Head to parents and providers wishing to provide the greatest positive influence possible on a child’s neurodevelopmental life path.

What inspired me to read this book was my desire to gain a deeper understanding of how a baby’s nervous system grows, develops, and thrives, particularly through the lens of Drs. Rosen and Watson’s clinical experience with chiropractic care. I wanted to further explore how best to assess and support the developing nervous system, as well as understand how chiropractic care may actively (and proactively!) contribute to a child’s overall development and well-being.

The book is written in an objective and accessible way, making it valuable for different audiences, including parents, chiropractors, and other healthcare practitioners. It provides clear guidance on what to look for and highlights how chiropractic care may play a role in supporting a healthy developing nervous system, promoting early awareness, and contributing to a preventive approach to child development. The checklists at the end of each chapter are extremely helpful and I go back to them very, very often.

This book serves as an excellent companion, both inside and outside the office, helping me to navigate the different windows of neurological development, recognize expected milestones, and identify potential developmental delays. Rather than providing protocols, the book encourages the development of a trained clinical eye and critical clinical thinking. It helped me observe more carefully, ask better questions, and engage in meaningful conversations with parents about their child’s behavior and development. Ultimately, it supports a more informed and thoughtful approach to chiropractic care.

Absolutely I recommend this book to anyone – especially Chiropractors and Chiropractic students – seeking a broader understanding of the foundations of the nervous system and the distinctions between common, normal, and potentially abnormal neurological development. This knowledge is essential for recognizing when further assessment or intervention may be needed to support a child’s optimal health, and well-being. It also provides valuable insight into the importance of neurological development and integration, empowering parents and practitioners to make more informed decisions and better support a child’s developmental journey.

“Dr. Martin Rosen and Dr. Nancy Watson have 40 years of experience with craniopathy and SOT chiropractic. They have taught many seminars, and fully love, know and thoroughly share this information. This is a must have book for ANYONE who has children, or is in awe of the human body, and has the desire to learn. They have created a through discussion of ‘normal’ vs. ‘common’, when it comes to many of the ‘common’ complaints and concerns for parents with their children, as well as some uncommon ones. They engage the parent and caretaker in such a way that allows a greater concept an understanding of basic anatomy, the nervous system, and the importance of CSF and allowing the dura-meningeal system to be free of restrictions. This gives a greater understanding of ‘normal’ primary respiratory motion and the freedom of the body to be at the optimum level of function, which creates ‘normal’ nerve flow, function and adaptation of the body as a whole.”

“This book is an invaluable resource for caregivers of babies and children. Drs. Nancy and Marty are so skilled at simplifying the underlying physiology behind the detailed cranial imbalances described. Also, there are many inspiring case studies thoughtfully interwoven throughout the book which provides meaning and adds depth to concepts relayed. This is also a perfect resource for healthcare providers who are new to assessing cranial distortion patterns and are interested in furthering their knowledge of the resulting ramifications. Highly recommend this read! I will be singing its praises to everyone.”

“Thank you Dr. Rosen and Dr. Watson for a wonderful, well written book! This book needs to be in the hands of every parent to help understand common vs normal and the importance of the nervous system when it comes to their child. If you are a parent who wants to ‘help them do what every parent wants to do with their children, give them the greatest opportunity to express their full potential,’ buy this book today!”

“This is a book that in very simple and easy to understand terms, explains the importance of proper brain development for a newborn and all during their growing years. Chiropractors can use the same terminology to explain it to their patients. This book helps explain why a parent would want their baby under chiropractic care.
There are so many key phrases and sentences in this book that chiropractors could use to explain this work to their parents. Chiropractors should read this book to be in able to share the information with their parents.”

I picked up this book while I was struggling to breastfeed my daughter. She was born at home at 9 lbs. 2 oz, and her latch was excruciating from the start. Oral ties were part of the picture, but I knew they weren’t the whole story. I believed cranial work would help her head recover from the birth process, ease the restriction in her sutures, and improve her latch.

It taught me how to look past the symptom and find the root cause of what was keeping my baby from latching and reaching her first milestone: breastfeeding.

My daughter had a growth spurt every other week for her first six weeks. The book helped me see how much the natural decompression of her head after birth was shaping her ability to latch.

Today, breastfeeding and lactogenesis are the lens I use to guide my patients. Breastfeeding is a baby’s first milestone, and it is constantly changing. It is their activity of daily living and a vital sign. Feeding milestones are a window into brain development. They showed me where to begin my exam and how to assess the neurological and functional aspects of the head, so the baby can place the right demand on mom’s milk supply.

I believe every parent should own this book, ideally reading it while still pregnant. It helps parents embrace their baby’s unique physiology and understand why their baby may struggle after birth. It also shows them how to help, and how to find the practitioner their baby needs to reach every milestone.

“Breastfeeding is a baby’s first milestone, their first activity of daily living and a vital sign. It’s All in the Head taught me to look for the root cause when my own daughter couldn’t latch, and it shapes how I assess every baby I see. Every parent should read it before their baby arrives.”

“Drs. Martin and Nancy have compiled an amazing book valuable for any parent and anyone who gives health care to children. It is clear, concise, full of useful information, and an enjoyable read. Further it has excellent illustrations. I have practiced chiropractic for over 40 years with an emphasis on craniopathy and found this book to be an excellent resource. I recommend this book to any parent or health care worker who works with children.”

“All in the Head” is a great book. I was inspired to get it because it is easy to read and has pictures that make it simple and easy to understand. I use it all the time and have extra copies available for the clients. I recommend this book to any chiropractor working with babies and children. It’s a great way to educate families on how cranial distortions affect the neuromuscular development and the effects this could have as the child grows.