Parents are bombarded with the variety of baby equipment on the market and want to make sure their child has everything they need to develop age appropriate skills. The Bumbo seat has become more popular in the past few years as an item to help your infant sit upright before they are able to do so independently. As a pediatric physical therapist, parents often ask me if the Bumbo is good for their baby's development or if it will delay their independent sitting skills.
As with any piece of positioning equipment, a baby needs close supervision while in the seat. Babies that spend a lot of their time on the floor and moving around their environment will develop the strength, balance, and coordination they need for motor skills later in life, however a short amount of time in a Bumbo seat can be fun and different activity as well.
Some tips to keep in mind if you choose to use a Bumbo seat for your child:
- The Bumbo does not provide head support. Your child should be able to hold their head steady when held in an upright position. If your baby's head starts to drop to their chest, their muscles are probably tired and its time to come out of the seat
- If there is a lot of space between your baby and the edges of the seat, you can roll up burp cloths or small blankets to tuck on the sides or in front to take up the extra room as your baby grows and develops more trunk strength
- The Bumbo has a removable tray that you can place toys on to encourage your child's hand eye coordination as they reach for and grasp toys. However, if your child looks down most of the time, try positioning the Bumbo in front of some hanging toys, such as on a baby gym play mat. This will help encourage your baby to look up while sitting
If you have any questions about whether a Bumbo seat is appropriate for your child, or other questions about their gross motor development, please contact a physical therapist at
Child and Family Development to discuss your concerns.
Parents can be overwhelmed with the number of baby toys available. Exersaucers are advertised as a safe way for a baby to develop motor skills, hand eye coordination, and object exploration. When used appropriately, an exersaucer can help your baby with these skills. However, when an exersaucer is not used appropriately, it can hinder rather than help your baby's development.
Short periods of time in an exersaucer can be fun for your baby, but spending time on their belly and sitting on the floor are extremely important for achieving developmental milestones. If you do choose to let your baby play in an exersaucer, the following tips can help position your baby safely and comfortably.
- Use rolled up blankets tucked in the space between your baby's body and the sides of the seat to prevent your baby's trunk from wobbling too much in the extra space
- Make sure the exersaucer is low enough that your baby can rest their feet flat on the bottom surface with a little bit if bend in their knees. If your baby's legs are hanging or just their toes can touch the bottom, the weight of their legs can pull on their hip joints, possibly causing damage to ligaments needed for stability for standing and walking
- Place a thick book, such as a phone book, under your baby's feet if they do not reach the bottom while on the lowest setting
- Keep the time short--if you see your baby laying their head down or leaning more on the side, its time to come out
- If your baby does not yet have good head control or the ability to hold their head steady when you hold them upright, they are probably not yet ready to be in an exersaucer
As with any piece of equipment, your baby still needs close supervision while using it. Some babies like exersaucers, some babies don't. If you have questions about these suggestions, a pediatric physical therapist can help guide you to determining if an exersaucer is appropriate for you baby.
Photo via http://www.babyearth.com/images/images_big/10-0518-01.jpg
In a previous blog, I referenced an article about the concerns about the growing number of "bucket babies"-children that spend a majority of their day in car seats, swings, exersaucers, and baby seats, and not enough time on the floor. A lack of floor time can cause developmental delays in otherwise typical, healthy children.
Parents often ask what the alternatives are to being in a "bucket", while still keeping your child safe and happy. Some of the activities I discuss with parents are:
> Make tummy time fun! - prop up mirrors for your baby to look at themselves
- lay on your tummy across from your baby to provide social interaction--siblings are great at this game too!
- provide entertaining toys with lights or music for your baby to look at
- baby gyms with hanging toys also provide something fun to look at while encouraging your baby to lift their head
- place a small, rolled up blanket under their chest and arms to help them prop up a little more to look around
> Lay your baby on their side, using rolled up blankets or burp cloths in front of their belly and behind their back for support and balance
> When your child is learning how to sit, place a boppy or other pillows behind them, snugly around their hips to provide a little support as well as cushion in case they start to lose their balance
> If your child needs a little more help sitting, they can sit with their back to a soft but firm ottoman or couch, with pillows on either side, and toys in front to provide entertainment and safetyYour child still requires supervision while in each of these positions, however they will be strengthening their muscles, improving their balance, and increasing their independence, while still being safe.
If you have specific questions about other activities or your child in particular, a pediatric physical therapist can discuss your concerns with you to help you provide a stimulating environment for your child to grow and develop!
Ask any pediatric physical therapist and occupational therapist-- she will always promote the benefits and importance of tummy time for an infant's motor development. Many recent research and news articles have discussed the need for tummy time starting at a newborn age, especially with the Back to Sleep Campaign encouraging parents to have infants sleep on their backs.
The article linked below has been circulating online communities discussing "bucket babies"--children that spend a majority of their time in car seats, exersaucers, and swings--and how too much time in a container can lead to difficulties with strength, coordination, vision, eating, and sensory processing problems. The article also discussed the importance of crawling as more than a means of mobility before walking.
www.ky3.com/news/contactky3/ky3-lack-of-tummy-time-blamed-for-developmental-delays-02232011,0,3781056.storyIf you have any questions about tummy time or your child's development, Child and Family Development has many qualified professionals that can discuss your concerns or provide further information to help your child achieve their milestones!
Aquatic therapy has many benefits and can help children with a variety of concerns. Some of the goals that a pediatric physical therapist or occupational therapist will establish are to:
~Increase overall strength, targeting upper or lower body, or core strength as needed
~Affect muscle tone, both hypotonia and hypertonia
~Improve balance and coordination
~Increase range of motion and flexibility
~Improve motor planning for new activities or increase efficiency of learned activities
~Provide exercise opportunities for children with weight bearing limitations or significant weakness by utilizing the buoyancy of the water
~Increase proprioceptive input and sensory input with various levels of water pressure
~Improve cardiovascular health and endurance
~Decrease pain
Please contact me at Child and Family Development for more information on aquatic therapy at: (704) 541-9080 x207
jsapel@childandfamilydevelopment.com
The winter months can be long and cold and families often struggle to find fun, energy burning activities for their children to participate in. Here at Child and Family Development, we have a partnership with the Harris YMCA to provide aquatic therapy to children throughout the year. Currently, this pool-based service is offered by 2 Physical Therapists, myself and Erin Harkins. The Harris YMCA has a heated, indoor pool with lots of great features for children with different abilities.
Some features include:
~heated, indoor pool available for use throughout the winter
~variety of entry methods including stair, ladder, and graduated entry
~vortex/whirlpool to move with the flow of water for assistance or against the flow of water
for resistance
~water wheelchair for transitions in and out of the pool
We also have many pool toys, flotation, and resistance equipment to engage the children in play while they are working.
Check back next week for more information on the types of impairments that aquatic therapy can help with!
In the media recently, there has been a study gaining quite a bit of attention. The study indicates that a third of infants today are overweight or obese, and that number increases when looking at children 2 years old. With adult obesity being such a significant concern, even more concerning is the very young age that children are beginning to show signs of being overweight. The study does go on to say that small changes can make a big difference, such as limiting sweets and sugar, encouraging fruits and vegetables, and watching portion sizes. The study is very careful to indicate that a "diet" for infants is not what they are recommending, as children need appropriate nutrients to grow and develop--providing the right kind and amount of nutrients is what is most important. Below is a link to the Today Show segment that aired about this study.
today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40856449/ns/today-today_health/Another important aspect of maintaining a healthy weight in adults and infants is exercise. Providing opportunities to infants for exercise can be as simple as taking them out of exersaucers and walkers and letting them play on the floor--especially on their belly or crawling if they are able, moving toys around their play area to encourage movement instead of playing with toys only right in front of them. If your child has a hard time moving around their environment on their own, or resists playing on their tummy, a pediatric physical therapist can help with ideas to gradually introduce more activity to your child's routine.
Starting early with combining good eating and lots of movement can help your child achieve and maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle for years to come!
As a pediatric physical therapist at Child and Family Development in Charlotte, NC, I see a lot of children that can run fast and jump high, but cannot complete a sit up without using their hands or balance on one foot for more than a few seconds. Parents are often shocked to find out that their little mover and shaker with a ton of energy, can be weak in their core abdominal and back muscles. Possibly due to the increase in technology oriented toys that children are exposed to at younger ages, and decreased time for gross motor games and playing outside, I am seeing more and more children with core muscle weakness.
Strong core muscles, abdominal and back, give a child grace and efficiency of movement, as well as a stable base for higher level skills and great balance. Part of our evaluation process involves limiting the child from using momentum and arm and leg strength that they have learned to compensate with, and really targeting their core muscles.
If you notice that your child has difficulty with activities that require good balance, small, refined movements, or slowing their body down, such as riding a bike, jumping and hopping, or catching a ball, contact us at www.childandfamilydevelopment.com for a physical therapy evaluation to determine if your child would benefit from a core strengthening program.
Kinesio Tape has long been used for athletes, and gained popularity when it was seen used in the Summer Olympics. Kinesio Taping is used in many therapeutic ways by physical therapists and the benefits can be just as effective for children. Here at Child and Family Development in Charlotte, NC, pediatric physical and occupational therapists use Kinesio Tape to help children with a variety of concerns and diagnoses, such as low tone and weakness, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, and developmental delays.
Kinesio Taping is great for kids because:
- It encourages the body’s muscles to complete multiple, correct repetitions of a desired movement over time.
- Anywhere your child’s therapist would put their hands to encourage or assist a certain movement, the therapist can apply the tape to guide the body in the correct movement.
- Your child will complete hundreds of correct repetitions, rather than practicing incorrect movements.
- Does not make the body do a certain movement, it makes the body want to do each movement correctly.
What is Kinesio Tape?
- A latex free material, a cross between a band aid and an ace wrap. It is the approximate thickness of the body’s skin, so the child will very quickly forget the tape is on.
- It can be worn through a bath or swimming, as long as the adult takes care when washing and drying not to let the tape roll off the skin.
Are there any contraindications of Kinesio Tape?
- No! As long as it is applied correctly, the only contraindications to Kinesio Tape are not to put it over an open wound or severe eczema or other skin condition.
- Your therapist will do a small test patch before applying the tape over a larger area.
- Kinesio Tape can be used along with all other therapeutic interventions.
What else can Kinesio Tape do for my child?
- lengthen and relax muscles
- provide pain relief
- increase sensory input and proprioception
- correct misaligned joints
Contact us at
www.childandfamilydevelopment.com to find out more information about Kinesio Tape and how it can benefit your child!
Many adults have heard about weight training being a great mode of exercise to build muscle strength and increase overall fitness and health. Research also shows that light weight training can be great for kids over the age of 5 too! Some of the benefits of a supervised weight training program for children are:
- Increased muscle strength
- Stimulate bone growth and density
- Increased muscle endurance
- Improved muscular and cardiorespiratory endurance
- Improved functional stability and mobility, such as balance and walking
- Greater flexibility
- Decreased risk of injury
- Improved confidence and self-image
Weight training can be beneficial for children with disabilities and different abilities, as well as typically developing children. As pediatric physical therapists at Child and Family Development in Charlotte, NC, we can work with you and your child to develop a weight training program that is age and developmentally appropriate, to assist your child in meeting his or her goals. We include fun toys, balls, and resistance bands to give each child an indivicualized program with variety to keep it interesting. A weight training program can show results in as little as 20 minutes, 2-3 times per week! Contact us at
www.childandfamilydevelopment.com to schedule an appointment with one of our physical therapists.
part 3 of great toys for kids ages 2 years to 5 years old:
- 2-5 years:
- Dress-up clothes, dolls and stuffed animals, pretend food and kitchen equipment, or fix-it workshop toys will allow your child to expand their play skills as they pretend to be just like mom and dad.
- Books and puzzles will continue to build your child’s vocabulary, as well as drawing tools and playdoh to expand their creativity.
- Outdoor toys such as playground equipment, bikes, and basketball hoops will build their strength and balance.
- Sand boxes and water tables will encourage exploration of a variety of sensations
- 5 and up:
- Board games will help teach your child social skills such as turn taking, fair play, and following the rules.
- Simple word books will help your child begin to read as you help them sound out words and recognize letters. Encourage your child to build their own library and borrow with friends to teach an early love of reading.
- Modeling kits and jewelry makers can give your child a sense of accomplishment for making something on their own
part 2 of great toys for kids 6 months to 2 years old:
- 6-18 months:
- Pop up or ball popper toys, water toys for the bath, and musical tables will help your child learn they have control over their environment, as well as teach him or her cause and effect skills.
- Interactive toys such as ring stackers, shape sorters, stacking cups and boxes, and touch and feel books will assist your child in learning new cognitive and fine motor tasks. These toys will also help your child begin to ask for help if they are unable to complete the activity on their own.
- A push toy or rocking horse will help build your child’s strength, balance and independence as they learn to stand, walk, and climb
- 18 months-2 years:
- Animal farms, Mr. Potato head, aqua-doodle mats, colored legos, and simple puzzles will encourage a growing vocabulary as your child names each part.
- Simple counting, color, or shape games will continue to advance your child’s pre-school learning skills.
- Limit the number of toys that have an abundance of lights and sounds. The goal is for the child to talk about what they are playing with instead of having a toy talk for them.
Check back for toys for children 2-5 years old!
Having practiced pediatric physical therapy for almost six years, one of the most common questions I hear from parents is what type of shoes to buy and when. For most children in their early walking stage, shoes are not necessary while they are inside. The best way for children to learn to walk, improve their balance, and develop arches in their feet is by walking in bare feet. Bare feet allow a child to feel the surface they are standing on, feel a change in surface texture or uneven ground, and really use every muscle in their ankles, feet, and toes to help them keep their balance and build strength. When bare feet are not an option, such as outside or in a child care setting, socks with rubber grips or very thin soled leather shoes are the next best option. They provide very little interference between the foot and the surface the child is trying to stand or walk on. Stiff soled shoes or high top sneakers make it more difficult for an early walker to feel the ground below them. Although stiff soles aren't as noticeable to older kids and adults, to little ones it feels like learning to walk in platform, high heeled shoes!
After your child has been walking for a few months, they may be ready to try shoes. Shoes should have a flexible sole--from heel to toe, you should be able to curl the shoe into a C-shape. This will allow the child's foot to still feel their natural heel to toe walking pattern, even in the shoe. When you place the shoe on the floor, the width of the sole should rest on the floor, and you should not be able to rock the shoe from side to side. One last thing to check is that the shoe does not allow a twisting motion (as if you were trying to wring water out by twisting from the heel and toe). These types of shoes and sneakers can be found at very reasonable prices as well. I have had families find great shoes at Target, Payless, and Walmart. These stores also usually carry wide sizes as well. Happy shoe shopping! Jessica Sapel, Physical Therapist Charlotte NC, Child and Family Development
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