What a Pediatric PT Thinks About Baby Jumpers
For more resources like this, check out these other Movement Mama posts:
Encouraging Jumping Skills
Creating a Safe Play Space for Babe
The Best Playmats for Baby
Which Infant Seat Is Best?
Millions of dollars are being spent to make you believe you need things like *this* to be a good parent. Which simply isn’t true! Your baby will LOVE these, because supported standing and bouncing are easier than floor play AND because babies crave MOVEMENT!
I want to start by giving you a little food for thought. How do you think your knees would feel if you went and ran a half marathon tomorrow without training? I sort of liken the joint stress of a baby jumper to that scenario because…
Bone is strengthened in response to
1: muscles pulling on them and
2: weight bearing
The biggest danger in my opinion with jumpers is damage to crucial bones and joints of the lower extremities. Babies that are placed in jumpers often cannot yet stand or walk independently, let alone jump. In this situation, we are placing large jumping forces on the joints that haven’t even acclimated to the strength and bone density required for standing yet.
So, what can you do if the money’s already been spent?
Before you start letting that guilt creep in, hear me out… You are NOT a bad parent! You registered for or bought a toy for your baby that you were told would be great and sure enough, they love it! You loved your baby well. And now you’re going to have the following information to make the best decision for your little family with *all* the facts!
Here are some ways that you can play with this toy in a safer way:
You could allow them to bounce in your lap instead (short bouts of controlled bouncing are developmentally normal and the social interaction is an added plus)
You could fill up a big plastic tote with water and let them bounce and “swim” in the water for reduced joint stress
Hang it over a couch or couch cushion to reduce joint stress
If it’s more of a bouncing exersaucer, you could allow them to stand on the outside of it and bounce so they are controlling the motion more!
If you’re looking for creative ways to keep babe safe while limiting the time they spend in containers, take a look at this post for my tips to create the perfect Yes Space. And if you need an infant seat, my absolute favorite, The Upseat, is not only created by a team of therapists but is amazing for hip-health and fits your little one up to 2 years of age! This link gets you $10 off!
