Is weightbearing (standing, sitting) unsafe for young babies?

[Tommy77]

Hey Megan

don't worry too much about that reply, its a perfectly reasonable question. However, what I would to see is some references to all this "research" that nale seems to like quoting?? I'd also be more than interested in which school taught him all this information, because it certainly wasn't part of my degree.

One comment on your original post tho, I'm not a fan of the jolly jumpers for a few reasons. When I was a student, we were always taught that they were bad news for a number of reasons, and as far as I know that hasn't changed in the last 10 years that I've been working in paediatrics. However, I don't recall predisposing a kid to spondylolisthesis being one of those reasons.

Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance.

[1234nale]

Ahh prejudice, that prejudice!
Tommy77, I don’t think it’s relevant where from you are, as long you say you are physio. It is very insulting and that you think that someone is less physio, less human or less valuable, than you just because he’s (in this case she’s) from another country (or maybe not you don’t know that). On this site are our colleagues from all over the world, I don’t need to know where are they from, I don’t care, they are physios. It’s horrible to close your mind like you did. And yet, who give right to you to say whose diploma is good?!
Regarding researches, because you had your prestige diploma (10 or 20 years ago) it doesn’t mean you should not read or learn anymore, medicine is going forward.

I am just very disappointed that you are working in pediatrics for 10 years and still think that 6-12 weeks old child should be seating and standing???

There will be always different point of viewing in lots of questions and dilemmas in our profession but I don’t see why you must insult anyone? This forum exists for learning and exchanging different opinions and that is good. Don’t turn it in something bad.

Best regards Natasa

[Tommy77]

Dear Natasa

I really don't understand how you come to be calling me judgemental and prejudiced after your original reply. Your line " Or did you mean 6-12 months, not weeks? I fairly hope so..." may well be the most insulting and superioristic piece of egocentrism I have ever seen on this forum.

As for the rest of your rebuttal, I understand english is your second language, so I'll try and make this clear for you. I am not in any way recommending standing for 6 week old infants, I merely acknowledged Megan's right to ask, without having to be insulted by you. I am also VERY interested in the literature, which is why I requested you to give references of this research that you have used to support your own point of view. If you could get back to both of us with those references, then that would be helpful.

My apologies if you have interpreted that I think physios who went to schools other than mine are somehow less qualified to discuss things on here.

[1234nale]

Hi Tommy77,
My sentence ’ or did you mean 6-12 months’ was not sarcastic, I really believe that Megan make mistake in writing, because timing 6 m (for sitting) and 12m (for standing) and I hope so because I didn’t like image in my head of child that old put in that positions. In this case I didn’t meant for any particular research, just that in years before was thought that if child don’t seat by 6 m it is not normal and demands treatment (which bring parents to put their babies to forced sitting or standing positions, which, again I believe this is the case), and in now days that line for normal motor development is moved upwards (8m for sitting and 12 m to even 18 m for standing), depending individually from child to child. I think you don need references for this it’s in most pediatric books dated from 2000 onwards.
And if Megan did not make mistake in writing, then I still think it’s very unusual question. Yes of course that everybody have right to ask everything that is what I try to do- to answer, in my own way, we all are different. But don’t look for last thoughts in my writings because there are no any. Like you said English is not my maternal language, like I believe and for majority of people on the site, so don’t immediately jump on the conclusion that someone is ‘ insulting, superioristic or egocentric‘, maybe our English simply are not that perfect as yours…
All the best Natasa

[ramywhite]

Hello every body,
I am agree with 1234nale about not enforced any child into tasks he can't do it yet whether he is handicapped or normal one . But, sitting needs many things to be achieved like head control, trunk contol, righting reactions and balance. So, to achieve sitting you can start with head and trunk control in the first 3-6 months and so on but you shouldn't put your 3-6 weeks CP child in sitting position for about 1 hour daily just to learn him how to sit; that's very weird. You can't even know if your patient will sit probably after that or not if he is now just 6 weeks of his age. So, why any one enforce him to sit. Focus on his age related problems and try to fix them first.
But I am not agree with insulting stuff I read. We don't login to write or read that.

[wutti]

hi everbody!!

christ, that is a really though diskussion here. I agree with most of the statements. if an infant or child is normally developed (no neurological disorders) it goes his own way. every individual has its own way and speed of development. to force these things often results in problems. if an infant is not able to sit, stand or walk on its own, or starts to do so on its own, it needs more time to develop these motor skills and control mechanisms. Most people think, that if they bring the infant in the special position (jumper etc. )it might help or speed up things. but this is all passive and only active movements with repetition has real learning effects.
i would suggest to give a little baby the time to make its own experience, as long as its physiological.
cheers

[phunphysio]

Yes, a discussion and a half! The enthusiam and passion is great! Yes it's a question of a child developing at it's own rate vs exposure it centain positions. I face this battle everyday in my clinic where mothers are either doing too much or too little to facilitate normal development of the infant. I too do not support jolly jumpers or walkers and there is reasonable evidence to support their non-use. Teaching a 6 month old child to jump when they are not yet sitting is a case of common sence lost in our world today. Both have evidence for the danger in use (children can access things they otherwise couldn't-jug cords, christmas trees, hot coffee-you name it) On the other hand some parents don't do enough to help the little ones develop-especially low tone babies- floor time is essential, rolling, sitting, commando crawling etc. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to work out if a child has enough muscle tone to support the position they are in, early sitting is flexed and I havn't seen evience to support wearing of joints etc at this young age. How is a child supposed to sit if they have never been exposed to the position?