Nursery World - Health & Well-Being - Container Baby Syndrome

Too much containerisation – such as in a pushchair or car seat – is bad for babies. Meredith Jones Russell reports

Use of ‘containers’ such as buggies, car seats, highchairs and bouncers can seem a practical and safe means of occupying or transporting a baby. However, young children regularly spend up to two to five hours a day in these containers, while in the USA this may total 60 hours per week, according to Dr Lala Manners in her new book The Early Years Movement Handbook.

Spending a lot of time on their backs allows babies very little movement of the neck, spine or torso. While babies and infants up to one year of age will naturally change position every two minutes, placing them in a supine or semi-reclined position ensures their trunk, head and neck are supported for long periods, minimising the incidental opportunities to move that can be so integral to development, and reducing any challenge to postural muscles.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included