BABY

Does too much time in a bouncer seat or activity centre cause “container baby syndrome”?

BABY

THE INVERTED METAL “V” in the middle of my living room separated my life as a parent into two eras: the before–Jolly Jumper times, and after. Before-JJ, I bounced my colicky baby on a yoga ball for hours, cramming granola bars into my mouth with one hand. Post-JJ, I could sit and enjoy a whole sandwich while his delight at moving his own body beamed straight into my heart. These short breaks were vital to my mental health as a new mom.

Eventually, though, guilt would chip away at my bliss. My friends and I cheekily called Exersaucers and activity centres “circles of neglect,” even though we used them so we could unload the groceries or pee, while knowing our babies were safe. Despite the jokes, I knew I shouldn’t leave my son in the jumper for very long—I’d heard it wasn’t good for his little body. But how much was too much?

I didn’t know that there’s an actual label for this particular anxiety—container baby syndrome. It’s a serioussounding term that’s been floating around parenting circles for the last few years. While neither the Canadian Paediatric Society nor the American Academy of Pediatrics defines the term, the American Physical Therapy Association describes it as “a collection of movement, behaviour and other problems caused by a baby or infant spending too much time in a container.”

Stephanie So, a paediatric physiotherapist in Toronto who’s been advising parents on kids and healthy movement for more than 30 years, isn’t sure what to make of the label. “It sounds a bit negative,” she says. But parents do need to be aware of the importance of offering infants safe opportunities to move freely and practise new skills, like rolling and crawling.

The most infamous side effect of excessive time in a containment device is plagiocephaly, or flat spots on the head. (You may have seen babies wearing specially fitted helmets to correct this.) A baby whose head is always turned to one side in a bouncer seat, for example, can develop tightness and decreased range of motion in the neck muscles, or torticollis. The delayed development of skills like rolling, crawling and walking can also occur if your baby is always strapped into a car seat or Exersaucer.

Does this mean parents should avoid containers altogether?

“Absolutely not,” says Dina Kulik, a paediatrician at Kidcrew Medical, a paediatric clinic in Toronto. When used safely, she says, “15 minutes, two to three times a day—if the baby enjoys it—is fine.”

In reality, all parents need a safe place to put their baby down at times. Sometimes a container can even be a safer choice: “For things like cooking a meal, it just isn’t practical or safe to have kids on us or underfoot,” says Kulik.

Before trying out new equipment with your infant, check the manufacturer’s recommendations for developmental readiness; your little one might need to have core strength or be able to hold up her own head before she’s ready for a high chair or Jolly Jumper, for example.

So the physiotherapist, says her “device advice” for parents is all about moderation and practicality. Car seats and strollers, for example, are a must for transportation, but be sure to position your baby’s head and neck so they line up with their spine. That positioning is also important with bouncers, vibrating seats, rockers and swings. Some floor chairs, like Sit-Me-Up or Bumbo-type seats, can put the baby in a position “where their pelvis is tipped back, which isn’t optimal for their posture,” explains So. She adds that babies also don’t need to practise jumping or bouncing— something with a more stable surface, like an Exersaucer, would be her preference.

Even better, she says, is a playpen or simply putting your baby on the floor, which allows them to move around but still stay safe. “I encourage parents to use a blanket, or get a foam mat, to create a safe place on the floor,” says So. (You may need to add a play yard or baby fence.) “At this point in a baby’s development, they should be on the floor as much as possible, doing tummy time and learning to roll, crawl and pull up.”

But in the end, pragmatism wins: If it’s a choice between using an Exersaucer for a few minutes or being a parent who never gets to eat or use the washroom, the container wins every time. —Jen Cutts