CONTAINER BABIES: Bouncy Seats, Standers & Swings Oh My!

What is a container baby? Well after years of treating babies in Early Intervention (aka birth-3 years old) for motor delays, among other things, it is a phrase EI therapist have used to describe babies who spend too much time and the wrong kind of time in baby gear. I am not telling you to ditch your baby swing, but I am warning you there can be too much of a good thing.

Let’s start with the positive. Baby equipment is convenient. It can keep infants safe from roaming pets and overzealous siblings. It can provide parents with a moment to make dinner, take a shower or just rest their weary arms. However, if babies spend too long in certain equipment or are in the wrong equipment for their age the consequences may include motor, vision and language delays.

How Much Time Should Babies Spend in “Containers”?

There is no rule, and every piece of equipment has its own positives & negatives. Generally, aside from car seats, which are best in the car, a good rule of thumb is about 20 minutes.

Is Some Baby Gear Better Than Others?

Yes! Not all equipment is created equally. Some have more enriching qualities, while other gear will have more stunting qualities. As a pediatric PT, I think you should skip some altogether.

I Have All of the Baby Equipment, What Do I Need to Know?

Let’s break it down based on the piece of equipment. Some equipment is great, but only during the proper stage in development. Some stuff is not worth the space or the money.

1.     Bouncy Seats & Swings: they are great for younger babies, but alignment is important. Keep baby’s hips level and centered & make sure heads are straight ahead. Sitting asymmetrically can cause head flattening and jaw asymmetry. Once a baby can sit on their own, around 6 months, opt for floor time instead.

NOTE: Prolonged time in bucket car seats may also lead to head flattening (plagiocephaly) and jaw asymmetry

2.     Ring Standers: skip them until your baby is sitting independently or little necks and backs are not ready to be upright on their feet for long periods. If you use them make sure your baby’s feet are flat and not on lifted on tiptoes. Once a baby begins to play in a squat or can pull to stand, opt for a safe space on the floor.

3.     Bumbo-Style Seats: they put babies’ pelvis in poor alignment, which may impact spinal alignment, feeding control and motor development; instead choose a supportive high chair, especially for meals.

4.     Walkers: they are associated with injuries and do not correlate to better or earlier independent walking skills. I would invest in a playpen as an alternative container.

5.     Doorway Jumpers: honestly I am not a fan at all, they encourage biased movement and muscle imbalance that promotes poor postural and balance reactions. If you choose to use them do so in moderation and balance it out with plenty of push toy time

6.     Walking Harnesses: skip them before babies can stand independently, and if baby is beginning to walk I would pick a stable push toy instead.

Four Items to Enrich vs Stunt Development

Balance equipment use, that contains movement, with non-supported gross motor opportunities. Babies moving themselves through their surrounding supports and enriches vision, motor and pre-curses to language development.

1.     Ideally, supervised time on the floor should outweigh container time. Supervised waking Tummy Time on an activity mat, is great to encourage until your baby is rolling.

2.     Boppy supported sitting once your baby is 4-5 months & unsupported sitting once your baby is 5-6 months with container & cause and effect toys for enriching entertainment.

3.     A new playpen or a gated space can help keep baby safe when they are crawling & cruising alone surfaces.

4.     Once a baby is pulling to stand & beginning to take steps, a gated space to use a push toy is a great way to give a little support while promoting typical development.

Sorry to be the bad guy. The amount of baby products out there grows every year and container options are no exception. Containers may be convenient, but only good in moderation and at the right stage in development.  A good moto is less is more. The more time your baby spends on the floor exploring their environment the better it is for their gross and fine motor development, vision development and foundational muscle balance for speech development.

LUCK, LOVE & LIGHT Rachel