Parents love watching their babies discover the world and meet new milestones. Everyone is excited when the baby rolls over, crawls, or walks for the first time. It is great to celebrate these achievements, but it is important to allow your baby to develop at their own pace without interference.
Our society tends to push babies to develop faster than what is natural. When caregivers try to help babies reach their milestones by putting them in positions they are not ready for, it can interfere with their natural development.
Babies develop better movement patterns when allowed to move naturally at their own pace. Developing movement in the proper sequence helps them learn to move more efficiently. This sets them up for a lifetime of healthy movement patterns.
Let’s look at a baby’s natural development and ways we tend to undermine it.
Natural Development
Lindsay Mumma DC says, “Children need to get a sense of how their bodies function in a gravity environment. This helps them coordinate and activate muscles in the proper sequence to initiate complex movements.”
While they need plenty of time in their caregivers' arms, they also need time to explore movement. Having a safe place to move independently will help them learn to move most efficiently. Babies don't learn to move properly if we interfere with this process.
When we try to rush them, they miss important steps in the sequence Mumma is talking about. As their muscles develop they will be ready for more advanced movements. We can not do this for the baby, it simply takes time! Of course, there will be times when a baby does not progress as expected and may need a professional to guide their care.
Interfering
It is so normal in our society to interfere with a baby's natural movement that parents rarely think about them. Many parents try to teach their children how to roll over, sit up, or walk. This interferes with their development. Allowing them to learn independently strengthens the muscles needed and provides a solid foundation for movement. This creates healthy patterns of movement that will stay with the child throughout their lives.
Propping them up on the couch sure looks cute, but if they cannot get in the position alone, they are not ready to be in it. Even the common baby devices that put them in positions they are not ready for set them up for restricted or unnatural movement. A good thing to know is that putting a baby in a position it can’t achieve or maintain on its own, places undue stress on the baby’s musculoskeletal system.
Maybe it's time to reevaluate some of the equipment our society thinks is normal.
- Bumbo seats - they aren’t ready to be in this position for long until they are sitting up independently.
- Swings - being strapped into a reclined position prevents the natural movements needed to develop the infant's core strength.
- Exosaucers - these tend to put the baby in a bad position for their posture and interfere with their development of balance. It also encourages babies to lock their knees and stand on their tiptoes which is less than ideal.
- Jumpers - their kneecaps are still forming and do not ossify until 3-5 years old. It seems unwise to encourage repetitive bouncing on these knees even in a supportive device.
- Walkers/Push Carts - walkers teach babies to use awful biomechanics and delay their ability to walk independently. Push toys should only be used with children who are walking well independently.
Parental Assistance
Parents often try to teach their baby how to roll over, sit up, or walk. While parents intend to encourage and help, this enthusiasm actually prevents the child’s development. When a child is allowed to develop without interference they will have a stronger foundation for healthy movement throughout their lives. A few things that are common in our society...
- Placing the baby in a sitting position
- Supporting the baby in a standing position
- Holding the baby's hands to help him walk
The Real World
It can be tricky to come alongside our children's natural development in a non-intrusive way. But, by allowing them to grow naturally at their own pace, they tend to build a solid foundation of strength and overall stability. While creating a safe spot for the baby to play and explore natural movement is ideal, not all situations allow for this. The key is to know the benefits and risks involved so that you can make the right decision for your family. If you decide to use some of these products balance it with lots of free, baby-directed movement.
When you know, you can make a conscious choice, rather than simply following society's norms. You might use some of these products as tools occasionally, but it may not be your default practice. Each situation is unique, and what might work for one family may not work for another. There is no judgment for parents who do (or have done) these things.
If you'd like to learn more, here are two great articles from the Pathways to Family Wellness Magazine put out by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (here and here). The second article has some great pictures of helpful and harmful positions for development.
I’d be glad to talk with you about ways to encourage natural movement for both you and your children. And of course, if you have any concerns about your child’s development please talk with me or your child’s pediatrician.
Dr. Jamie