See how she’s on her tiptoes? This is typical and leads to the majority of the strength being recruited from her calves and thighs. Look at the picture of Abby in her favorite bouncer. In a stationary bouncer, all of that coordination can't happen." When they cruise the furniture, they learn about lateral movement, and how to turn their legs and feet. And that pull to explore is so important. They are limited in what they can do, and are stationary. I spoke with Gail Abaray, a pediatric physical therapist in Weatherford, who told me, "Bouncers don't allow infants to explore and move. And the more I’ve researched it, the more I’ve realized that too much time in these things can be detrimental to a child’s development. Physical therapists have been warning parents for years about the problems with bouncers. Especially since I suspect my own child has likely been affected. Other doctors may think these things are harmless, but I respectfully disagree. Looking back, she was in the bouncer way too much. She was probably in them a total of an hour to an hour and a half a day. When we had to deal with the 2-year-old tantrums (and boy are those frequent)…in she went. When we’d sing songs and play music with her big brother…Abby would get to howl and jump along in the bouncer. When we’d read books, Abby would be propped up to be able to see the pictures. We were happy too, because we were constantly chasing her 2-year-old brother around, and it was nice to have a safe place to plop her down while that happened. I have never owned one of these because they come with safety risks – children can fall down stairs, tip over, touch a hot stove, get pushed by siblings, pinch fingers, and slam into walls in these devices, and as fun as they seem, they’re not a good idea.Īround 4-5 months we started putting Abby in a jumper and she was thrilled! Finally she could be propped up and see everyone! She could control her body enough to bounce, and loved it. Parents love them, because, let’s face it – they’re a quick and safe option for a break.īaby walkers are similar – except they are on wheels so babies can bounce/pull themselves around the house. Kids love them because they’re fun and stimulating – most have toys and games attached – and they get to see more of the room and things going on around them, along with getting a chance to bounce up and down easily. Unfortunately, I believe what has played a big role in Abby’s delay is the amount of time she has spent in her favorite jumpers.īaby jumpers, bouncers, exersaucers, and activity centers (they’re all basically the same thing) are stationary devices that allow a child to “stand” and bounce prior to developing those skills naturally. Always make sure, if your child has delays, to ask your pediatrician for a good neurological exam to check things like muscle tone. Of course there are numerous medical conditions that can cause motor delays. Abby certainly fits into this latter scenario. Some kids want to go go go.and some are completely fine with sitting still and working with what is in a close vicinity. The baby’s temperament can also lead to delays. There are exceptions to every rule of course, but I think this plays a role. As you can see from the pictures, Abby has not missed any meals. I notice that leaner, smaller kids tend to develop these movements faster, and bigger, longer kids sometimes need more time to build the strength to try these things. Sometimes it’s the baby's weight-to-height ratio. I see patients all the time at our Willow Park office that have gross motor delays, so I know not to worry. She has delays in what we call “gross motor development” – the development of the “big movements.” Cruise along the furniture while holding onto it. Shift from sitting to crawling to sitting again. Pull up to stand, or really put much weight on her legs at all. Things she cannot do? Crawl with her belly off the floor. be still my heart!), pick up small toys and explore them slowly, play peek-a-boo, pick up her tiny foods with two fingers, point, laugh, and clap. She is a sweet and happy baby who loves to babble ("mamama". My 10-month-old daughter Abby has some developmental delays.
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