Once your baby begins to move around, it’s time to transition away from using containers, such as seats, exersaucers, or jumpers. Too much time spent in these types of equipment prevents exploration and falling, and will not help them gain the balance necessary to move safely.

The Purpose of Stationary Baby Holding Equipment

Let’s explore what baby-holding equipment accomplishes beyond the marketing claims. Baby seats (such as a Bumbo) do not help a child learn to sit. These devices support a child who cannot yet hold themselves up in a sitting position. They are merely places to put your child when you don’t want to hold them or lay them on the floor. Learning to sit without support requires practice and protection from injury as they develop this skill. Mastering sitting is best done on the floor or in a playpen where a fall is safe.

Exersaucers or standers of various sorts are excellent places for your baby to stand and play without falling. Often, babies spend most of their playtime sitting in these, which is why they do not aid standing. Standing requires balancing when you lose your balance. Exercising those balance muscles occurs only when not safely held by equipment.

Ditch your jumper, please. Babies should not learn to jump before they walk. Those skills are out of order according to the gross motor development timelines. And if your baby loves jumping, they may suffer a delay in walking because they’ve not developed the balance necessary to walk.

Learning to Move Requires Practice

There’s an old saying that says, “You learn what you practice.” For babies, that saying is true, as well. Suppose you want them to learn to sit without support. In that case, they must practice it, including mastering the skill of righting themselves when they wobble.

When learning to get in and out of a sitting position, practice is again required. This transitional movement cannot be mastered while being safely held in a baby-holding device. Sitting should be learned on a firm surface, such as a playpen or a designated play area on the floor.

Crawling and pulling to standing need lots of practice and many tumbles. Again, a safe play area on the floor or a playpen offers a place where your baby is happy, and you are free from chasing them around constantly to prevent injury.

The Epidemic of Gross Motor Delays Created by Lack of Practice

Over my years as a pediatric physical therapist,

I've seen many cases of children being delayed with their gross motor skills because they had inadequate practice moving around. #motordelays #childdevelopment
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Moms must get engaged with their babies as they learn these motor skills. There is no app or anyone to call to help. You are the one who must attend to and offer opportunities to your child during those six months or so as they learn these all-important motor skills.

Get a Playpen

Most families have a pack-and-play for overnights and travel. These can double as a playpen. If you can afford a stand-alone playpen, get one. For those with more space and extra cash, consider setting aside an area of your family room. Have a padded or carpeted floor. Remove most toys (tripping hazards) because a fall on one can cause harm to your baby. Ensure your baby can’t reach electrical outlets, cords, or access a higher surface and pull something down onto themselves.

Remember, this phase of moving around is just the beginning of the excitement you’ll feel when your child begins walking. Start today by baby-proofing your home because when your child crawls and walks freely around the house, you want it to be as safe as possible.

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