There is so much love and joy that comes with caring for a new baby! As parents, we are constantly bombarded with different and sometimes contradictory information when it comes to raising children. In the past few years, I have focused on expanding my knowledge on the subject for my own interest and to help me better raise and nurture my own children. I know that the following might be going counter to what we typically hear and see. Just know that this information is coming from those who are pioneers in pediatrics. That being said, feel free to take or leave what I'm about to share. Now, here's what I've learned.
Tummy time -- can start as early as day 1! We used to think that tummy time was after a few months, but really, it should be started as soon as possible. With newborns, you can just have them chest to chest and have the parent lean back at an angle (doesn't have to be horizontal). It's so important for spinal tone development and head shape symmetry to have them do as much tummy time as possible. At this point, it would also be a good idea to check if the infant will hold their head up symmetrically from left and right, or if they favor one side. At about 3 months, they will start to try and roll from back to tummy and vice versa. This is also a great check-in time to see if they can roll back to front on the left side and the right side.
*HOT TIP- Many parents limit tummy time because they say the baby hates it. They might fuss about tummy time if you just leave them on their belly alone or if you are out of view. They usually want to be on their back because they can see mom's face easier. If you get down to their eye level while they are on their tummies, they will be much more engaged and you'll see their effort to look at you! Extra Bonus: If you start to notice a favored side, try to get a toy they like and put it on their weaker side. You can also move to their perceived weaker side to strengthen their symmetry.
Carriers over strollers-- inward facing carriers are best (hot take, I know). On an evolutionary level, babies are naturally held with their bodies facing their parents, whether on the back or front, so they are more secure this way. There are outward facing carriers, but I am personally not a fan of them. They have had a history of putting a strain on the baby's pelvis and hips. Even though some carriers on the market today have made edits to be easier to face outward without injury, having a baby's back to your stomach will cause the baby to be more upright in the spine, before their secondary curves are built to protect them from the downward force of gravity. Babies don't start developing gravity sustaining spinal strength and curvature until they start to crawl/stand. In fairness, I could see an argument of using front facing carries when they are older (12+ months), but I often see babies that are much younger in them.
*NOTE- I know that carrying a baby is a lot more work than pushing one in a stroller, especially when the stroller doubles as a bag caddy when out, but especially when they are earlier in life, carrying will help their neurological development, their bonding and security, and most importantly, their head shape. Unfortunately that is often times more work on the parents. The recurring quote that Dr. Steve Williams said when it comes to cranial head shape and proper baby development was "the best place for baby is on the mum" (he's British).
No swaddles - Yes, those straight jackets that help keep them asleep all night might not be the best thing for them developmentally (double hot take!). Babies and infants are constantly building neurological pathways, and part of that is recognizing their awareness in space. They need to have the free motion of their hands and feet in order to do so, even at night.
Car seats-- this one is just because I've had to look it up a million times. In California, babies under 2 need rear facing car seats in the back seat unless they are 40 inches tall or reach 40 lbs. Children under 8 years old must be in a car seat or booster seat in the back until 4'9". Children older than 8 years old or taller than 4'9" can use booster seat or regular seatbelt. Personally, I find chemical free materials to be important when it comes to car seats. Just like with mattresses, there are a lot of toxic fire retardant chemicals that are in baby seats. There are also natural fire retardants that are chemical free options. Nuna is a brand that is a great example of fire retardant free materials.
Diapering- There is a technique to diapering that can reduce the stress and tension to baby's developing spine! Instead of pushing their legs up to their head or using them to lift up the baby's bottom, you can wipe baby's front, roll the baby's hips to one side, wipe bottom clean, slide the clean diaper under, roll the baby on the other side, center the diaper, and close up shop. It's a lot more neutral for the baby's spine!
*Additionally - We have found that baby's skin is sometimes sensitive to certain brands. Consider cloth diapering or diapers made of bamboo or more natural materials to minimize irritation =).
No screens/night lights- I think many parents inherently know that screen time is bad for kids, but how many times have we seen kids with a screen in front of them at a restaurant or in a car? Unfortunately screened devices are really good at getting kids to zone out and keep quiet and give parents a break. The problem is that zoning out is their little dopamine receptors (pleasure centers in their brains) lighting up like crazy and getting over stimulated to where it creates a physical addiction. Exposing children and babies to wireless devices also has an effect on a cellular level.
As parents, it's our job to provide our children with a safe environment for growth and exploration. From newborn to 2 years old is such an impactful period, that it's imperative that we do our best to nurture their growth. Did you know that the health of a baby in their first 2 years will impact their health into their adulthood? That's a huge responsibility!
As a last note, if you do notice a tendency of your baby to favor one side over another in feeding, tummy time, etc. then it would be an indication to see a pediatric chiropractor (like me) for assessment. Asymmetry is a window into the baby's development and is better taken care of sooner than later. Especially when it comes to head shape, there's a small window in which we can make positive change, and it can be improved quicker when the baby is younger.
That being said, all we can do is our best. The tips I'm sharing here are simple, but that doesn't necessarily mean easy. Small habits now can lead to huge changes in the future!
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