Infant Development – \"Container Baby Syndrome\"

Wondering which baby gear you need to add to your baby shower registry? Have you heard of "Container Baby Syndrome?" Perhaps your pediatrician mentioned it and you're wondering about healthy infant development.

If you walk the aisles of any big box store, there's no shortage of brightly colored and comfy looking baby gear. Your registry checklist has loads of baby gear listed. If baby gear — also referred to as containers — are so popular, they must serve an important purpose for infants, right?

Stores and manufacturers are great at marketing these items as necessary. Many suggest you need them to help your child reach milestones or to learn independence from an early age. However, overuse of baby gear can lead to Container Baby Syndrome. Experts want parents to be aware that many of these items can harm your baby's development.

What Are Baby Containers?

Baby containers are any device which limits your baby's movement. This includes:

• Infant swings
• Bouncy seats or sitting 'support' style seats
• Car seats
• Jumpers, exersaucers, and walkers
• Pillows, cushions – including positioning pillows
• Infant carriers – babywearing

As you can see by this list, some baby gear is vital. Always use a car seat in a moving vehicle to keep baby safe. Babywearing can be an excellent way to meet your baby's need for touch, bonding, or even feeding while you're up and about. Utilizing baby gear isn't inherently harmful. However, overusing some baby gear can have a negative effect on your baby's development.

Pediatric physical therapist and early childhood expert, Wendy Rohin, PT, DPT works to inform parents of the importance of movement during infancy. She shared, "In the first year of development, movement is learning. When babies and toddlers are left in their car seats, swings and sitting devices, passively taking in all stimuli without movement, they are not learning."

What Is Container Baby Syndrome?

During your baby's checkups, her pediatrician will assess her overall development. In the absence of other known health conditions, they might consider Container Baby Syndrome if they notice:

• Delays in reaching milestones such as not rolling, sitting or pulling to stand at the appropriate age
• Tightness of the neck leading to baby keeping her head turned and tilted to one side — this is known as torticollis
• Flat spots on the head from a lack of movement — this is known as plagiocephaly

For babies already at risk for developmental delays, such as preemies or babies with medical conditions, the side effects of excess time in containers is higher.

Is Container Baby Syndrome Dangerous?

Anytime we hear the word syndrome, it's easy for our minds to go to a very serious medical problem. While Container Baby Syndrome is not a serious medical condition, it has a big impact on development and should be taken seriously.

Spending too much time in a container can impact:

• Meeting milestones
• Muscle tightness, especially in the neck
• Positional abnormalities of the head – plagiocephaly
• Social skills
• Language development
• Muscle strength
• Sensory processing difficulties

Being in a chair limits baby's ability to move and build muscle strength. It also reduces the amount of time babies spend naturally exploring their environment — an important part of development.

Meghan Krouse, a licensed clinical social worker and certified sensory enrichment therapist shared, "The brain craves novelty in balance with new sensory exposure. I remember my son learning to crawl and he would go from a warm, fuzzy carpet, to a cool tile, to a rough little step, and to the rough stone porch. The exposure to changes in temperature and texture, that happen naturally during exploration, stimulates the brain to grow and learn."

How Is Container Baby Syndrome Treated?

If your baby's doctor is concerned about container baby syndrome, or any delay in milestones, he'll refer for a developmental evaluation. Depending on where you live, this may mean a specialist physician, early intervention program, or a pediatric physical therapist.

It's also important to limit your baby's time in any containers. Use a car seat only when you're in a vehicle. Wearing your baby rather than overusing a swing or bouncy seat can be excellent to reduce flat head syndrome.

The Most Important Thing – Tummy Time

The most important thing you can do to reduce or treat container baby syndrome is practicing lots of tummy time. Placing your baby on her tummy for about 90 minutes per day can help in reaching appropriate milestones. The 90 minutes do not need to be consecutive, just throughout the day. If your baby is upset, you can lay on your back while she has tummy on your chest.

If the developmental evaluation confirms container baby syndrome or any other delays, a variety of therapies may be prescribed. Your baby will likely receive physiotherapy to help build muscle strength and coordination. Depending on age and delays, occupational and speech therapy may also be indicated.

How Can I Prevent Container Baby Syndrome?

There are many things you can do to prevent container baby syndrome including:

• Using a car seat only in your vehicle
• Babywear rather than always setting baby down
• Limit time in any bouncy seats or swings
• Avoid using sitting devices
• Put baby to sleep on her back on a flat firm surface instead of a swing, rocker, etc.
• Practice about 90 minutes of tummy time per day
• Spend plenty of time making eye contact, singing, talking and playing with your baby
• Avoid baby walkers — they can delay walking and increase risk of injury
• If your baby was premature or has medical conditions, request referrals for therapy programs, even if it's just for monitoring

What Do Parents Need To Know About Baby Gear?

If you're still preparing for baby's arrival and wondering which devices to get, remember that they shouldn't be spending excess time in them. While stores are excellent at marketing, you don't need devices to reach milestones. A walker will not help with learning to walk and may interfere with their muscle development. A sitting device doesn't teach proper sitting and can lead to weak core muscles.

The big box stores won't tell you this, but the best way for your baby to reach milestones is plenty of tummy time on the floor. This doesn't mean you should never use containers, but it's important not to overuse them.