Jolly Jumpers; Should I put my toddler in a Jolly Jumper.... OR not????

**Jolly Jumpers**
*Part three* of our blog series on “Bumbos and Bouncers. Walkers and Jolly Jumpers and Capsules Oh My!”

By placing your baby in a jolly jumper, they learn to move in a way that the jolly jumper will allow; not in the way they would normally develop on their own. Babies are contained within the jumper, using their toes to push off for a fun ride. Yes, it looks fun, and your baby will be having an absolute blast, but they are learning a way to move according to the container they are in. If free to move on the floor, through tummy time, rolling, crawling, cruising and walking - they get to develop gradually and at their own pace. They get to build on the last skills learnt and the previous strengths gained. They build on the last mastered balancing, coordination and understanding of how to do things for themselves.

Jolly jumpers, similar to walkers, may encourage your baby to use their toes to help them move. This may tighten the calf muscles unnecessarily and doesn’t encourage good walking patterns. When they start walking on their own they can be prone to walk on their tippy toes and trip over as this is how they’ve learnt to use their legs and feet from using a jolly jumper.

Does your little one have trouble being on their feet? Would you like to have our Osteopathic team assess them and discuss your concerns with you? Call us and we can be a part of your healthcare team. Each individual is unique, so we go through a thorough case history to better understand your child, their birth history and development to date. We look forward to helping you and your family.

Keen to read a bit more? Have you thought much about bouncers? Follow the link to part four of our blog series on “Bumbos and Bouncers. Walkers and Jolly Jumpers and Capsules Oh My!”

Carly BroadbentApril 12, 2020General Osteo