Container Baby Syndrome: How Modern-day Containers are Contributing to Movement Delays
“What is the best seat to help my baby sit better?”
“What is the best walker to help my baby be able to walk?”
“If I get one of those doorway bouncers, will it help strengthen my baby’s leg and help him walk?”
These are some of the most common questions I get from parents looking to buy something to help their baby achieve a milestone. Unfortunately, the marketing on some baby equipment is misleading and just plain wrong! Placing your baby in a chair will not help your baby sit better and having your munchkin bounce in a doorway can actually cause more muscle strength imbalances rather than strengthen their legs. Pediatric physical therapists refer to these pieces of equipment as “containers.” Using containers to help your baby sit or stand can lead to Container Baby Syndrome (CBS).
CBS is a cluster of problems with a baby’s development due to spending excessive amounts of time in a “container.” A “container” is anything that holds your baby in a specific position such as: baby swings, Bumbo seats, bouncers, jumpers, walkers, activity centers, and yes...even car seats! The developmental issues that can arise from spending too much time in a container include delayed movement milestones, delayed speech, poor muscle strength and coordination, and excessive flattening of the skull. Below are some specific reasons why containers can lead to these delays in your baby’s development.
Freedom of movement: When a baby is developing and learning movement for the first time, he needs to have freedom to move in all directions using all limbs and joints in his body. Containers do not allow babies to move freely within every limb and joint. Think about when you get strapped in on a roller coaster and you pull down the overhead safety harness. How does your movement change when you have the harness on? How does your movement change when the coaster reclines you as you ascend to the top of the track? This is exactly how a baby feels when we place them in containers such as baby swings and carseats.
Experience “failed” movement: Another point to think about is that babies need to experience “failed” movement to improve on the quantity and quality of movement. Failed movement is when your munchkin loses his balance while attempting to take his first step, or fall to the side when learning how to sit and reach for a toy. These are just a few examples of failed attempts that actually help your baby learn how to move better and more efficiently. Containers prevent these “failed” movements by securing munchkins in very specific positions with seats and straps.
Poor muscle use and coordination: Think about standing on your tiptoes and going up the stairs not being able to put your heels down. How is your balance? Do you think that is an efficient way to ascend stairs? This is an example of poor muscle use resulting in poor movement patterns that can be caused by doorway bouncers, activity standers, and baby walkers. Since these containers position babies to have some part of their body free to move and some restricted, it alters the baby’s ability to explore different types of movement using all muscles of the body. This causes the munchkin to use the same muscles and the same movement pattern over and over rather than using all muscles of the legs to explore a variety of movement patterns. The altered movement patterns cause poor quality and control of movement, which make later milestones or movement significantly more difficult.
Hip structural changes: Doorway bouncers and baby walkers can cause problems with the bones, ligaments, and muscles of the hips. When placed in these containers, the hips are positioned at an angle that prevents deepening of the hip sockets. The hip sockets should deepen within the first year of life in order to prevent any type of dislocation of the joint. Furthermore, the impact of the bouncers can cause further harm to their bodies as babies joints are not meant for repetitive impact activities until they reach 2 years old when running and jumping develops.
The good news is all of these issues can be avoided by prioritizing time spent playing on the floor.
The only place that allows babies to move freely with every limb and joint, to strengthen their muscles, and to experience those much needed “failure” movements is on the floor. Playtime on the floor will also allow the hip sockets to naturally develop as babies will work through the motions that contribute to the deepening of the sockets. Floortime is crucial for a baby to develop strength, coordination, and movement milestones within the expected timeline.
Now because I am a mom, I understand that there is no way around using some of these containers and they can also be very helpful in day-to-day life.
Road trip? Boom, your baby is in a carseat for several hours each day. You need to have a safe place to put your baby when you cook or shower? I understand that there are real life situations when using a container can't be avoided.
My “no no” containers include the doorway bouncers and baby walkers. In my opinion, these are not safe and have worse potential negative effects. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics has advised against the use of baby walkers due to the incidence of injuries caused by using them.
When using a container, make sure that the total time in a container does not exceed or replace time spent on the floor. No more than 15 minutes/day of container time is recommended. For days that you are on the go in the car, try to increase floor time later on in the week. It is all about balance throughout the week.
-Keep your munchkin moving!
