What is a container? And what is ‘container baby syndrome?’
- Container: Car seats, strollers, swings, bouncers, jumpers, infant seats, exersaucers, and walkers are all considered to be ‘containers.’ Some of these are necessary to use in day-to-day life (like car seats), while others are less recommended.
- Container Baby Syndrome: Container baby syndrome results from a baby spending excess amounts of time in any of the above devices. These devices limit baby’s freedom of movement and ability to explore their environment physically, socially, and cognitively. Resulting conditions can include head flattening, torticollis, milestone delay, developmental delay, and orthopedic conditions of the spine and hips.
The best place for baby play is the FLOOR
You can start placing baby on the floor from day one! I like to use a play mat or a blanket on a carpeted or padded surface. A few simple toys is all you need. Even better, get down on the floor with your baby. It may not seem like they are doing much at first, but every small movement they make is wiring and forming connections in their brains. This freedom of movement leads to bigger milestones down the road like rolling, sitting, crawling, and walking.
A more realistic way to look at container use
Many baby containers claim to help support infant development, but this is simply not true. A baby walker will not help your baby walk, and an infant seat will not help your baby sit independently. In fact, some of these containers can actually be harmful by putting your baby into a position that their bodies simply aren’t ready for and may teach them how to use their muscles in all the wrong ways. I like to look at containers as a tool for parents. Put them in a bouncer to give you a few minutes to make dinner. Give them a safe space as you shower. Just don’t use containers as a substitute for human interaction or floor play.
General guidelines for container use
- Generally, try to keep container time limited to 20-30 minutes at a time, no more than twice per day.
- Balance container time with equal or more floor time.
- Use age and size-appropriate containers for their recommended purpose as outlined by the manufacturer instructions.
- Do not use containers for sleep. They are not safe for sleep and can lead to dependence on additional input for sleep.
- Remember, not all containers are created equal. Reach out to me if you have questions about specific devices.
Do you have more questions regarding baby containers or anything else related to your baby’s development? If you are local to Columbus, be sure to book a consultation so we can chat! As always, I am here to help.