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Refrain from containing

After viewing a friend’s recent blog post, I was introduced to the topic of Container Baby Syndrome. A condition in which newborns and infants are left in “container” device for an extended amount of time.

Such devices include a car seat, stroller, Boppy pillow, Bumbo seats, swings/rockers, bouncy seats and vibrating chairs. It also includes any type of baby equipment in which they are contained or restrained.

What happens

Parents and caregivers believe they are keeping the baby from harm and safe from accidents. However, when used for longer than normal time periods, the baby becomes immobilized, not able to move the neck, spine or body freely. This includes letting them take a nap or eat in a car seat.

Common symptoms

Parents and caregivers should look for the following symptoms when assessing their child.

• Flat head syndrome. The back or the side of the head is abnormally flat.

• Torticollis. The baby has difficulty turning the head to one side or keeping the neck and head straight due to muscle tightness on 1 side of the neck.

• Delayed muscle development. The baby may not be able to roll, sit up, crawl or lift the head or reach out with the arms when on the tummy in a way expected for the baby’s age.

• Sensory problems. The baby shows a delay in the development of vision or hearing skills. The baby may have depth perception problems and problems tracking moving objects with the eyes.

• Delayed cognitive development. The baby may have delayed development of certain thinking and language skills.

• Facial asymmetry. The sides of the baby’s face may appear unequal as a result of the skull deformity and flatness.

Containment consequences

When a baby spends too much time in a containment device, the following common skills are affected: rolling, crawling and walking. Staying in the container for a prolonged time and over days and weeks can even cause severe, possibly lifelong problems, such as:

• Head and face deformities

• Decreased muscle strength and coordination

• Speech, sight, hearing and thinking problems

• Obesity

Prevention is key

New parents and caregivers can prevent container syndrome from happening by practicing the following:

Limiting the baby’s time in containers, such as car seats and strollers, to only when the baby is actually being transported somewhere.

Increasing the time the baby lies on the tummy when awake, allowing them to freely play on the floor on a blanket (with adult supervision).

Get some snuggle time in by holding the baby in your arms or a sling for short periods, instead of leaving the baby in a container.

I encourage parents to make time for meaningful “tummy time.” Your child’s growth and development will benefit greatly.

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Carrie Kube is a Director for the Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board.

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