Bouncers for Babies are harmless! Well aren't they?

Bouncers:

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

This is a tricky one! Babies love that gentle bouncy restful motion to soothe them. Parents love a chance to put their baby down and have them still smiling. We think it’s important to have a good balance with bouncer time. 

Bouncers have your baby in a semi-reclined position, where their spine is a little curled. As Osteopaths we find that excessive time spent in that curled forward position may lead to tightness in the muscles  in the front of the neck, chest and abdomen as they don't get to stretch out as much. Also, it can be a passive activity where they are not exercising their body. This is where balance needs to be considered. 

It's important to provide your baby with time to stretch out, and to play in different positions such as on their tummies. This teaches them  to maneuver themselves and strengthen and stretch all their different body parts. Tummy time is such an important play time activity for their development! Being on their tummy helps strengthen their pelvis, torso, neck and arms, getting them ready for next milestones like rolling, sitting and crawling. (read our blog on tummy time to find out more - https://www.osteo4families.com.au/osteopathy-blog-admin/2019/4/28/a-guide-to-supervised-tummy-time-for-your-baby-what-happens-when-my-baby-doesnt-like-tummy-time)

At Osteo 4 Families we love to treat babies. We offer hands on treatment aimed to relax tight muscles and increase motion at stiff joints. We are a family friendly clinic, having toys available for young kids, and the flexibility for you to feed or change your baby whenever needed. We have a vacuum too, so bring snacks for your kids and we can easily clean up crumbs after! Our aim is that you and your family are comfortable here while getting quality healthcare.

If you are wanting to know more, contact us at Osteo 4 Families on 0416 161 411, or book online at https://osteo4families.cliniko.com/bookings#location

Our final blog in this series is on capsules. Stay tuned for our next blog- part five of our blog series on “Bumbos and Bouncers. Walkers and Jolly Jumpers and Capsules Oh My!”