Container Baby Syndrome

What is Container Baby Syndrome? 

• Car seats 
• Strollers 
• Jumpers 
• Exersaucers 
• Bumbo seats 
• Swings 
• Rockers 
• Pack n’ plays

These useful pieces of equipment have been labeled “containers,” as giving support to the child and keeping them safe and in one place. However, time in these “containers” can quickly add up. Switching from one container to the next. These products and many others like them limit the amount of natural movements (kicking, turning their head, wiggling side to side, etc.) that help develop strong muscles. Increased time in containers can cause delayed development skills such as rolling, crawling, and walking. Container baby syndrome is spending too much time in these containers causing problems with movement, cognitive development, and social interactions.

Why is Container Baby Syndrome a problem?

Although containers are used to help keep your child in a safe place and allow you to easily transport your child, the equipment can hinder their development. It may seem like placing your child in a container will help them become better sitters, standers, and walkers, but in fact it is preventing them from developing those skills properly. Prolonged time in a container may result in your child taking longer to develop their motor skills such as rolling, crawling and walking. It can result in various movement disorders, cognitive delay, speech/language delays, ADHD and social delays. Laying on their backs for long periods of time in the containers may cause your child’s head to become flattened, deformed, or they may develop tightness in one side of their neck due to the lack of movement allowed in a container.   

Alternate Positioning Options

Decrease amount of time your child is in a container. Only utilize containers (strollers and car seats) for when you are transporting.  It is important to utilize alternative positions in order to decrease potential deficits in the future.

• Increase tummy time throughout the day with adult supervision. Tummy time does not need to be for long periods of time and children can slowly increase their time with accepted tolerance. Begin with 5-minute increments and build up to 30 minutes.
  • Tummy time can happen on the floor, over a boppy, over the parent’s legs, or even suspended over an adults arm depending on the child’s tolerance to tummy time.
• Another option is to hold your child in your arms to increase neck and trunk strength while you walk around.
• Though you may be traveling somewhere and the child needs to be in a car seat, once you arrive to your destination, remove the child from the car seat and carry them to decrease container time.

Red Flags Warranting Physical Therapy Referral

• Delayed milestones
• Abnormal head shape
  • Flat spot on head (plagiocephaly)
  • Trouble maintaining forward head/neck with sustained/preferred head positioning to one side (torticollis)
• Lack of independent or active movement
• Child not tolerating tummy time
• Not kicking legs/feet when positioned on their back or stiff legs making sitting difficult
• Not exploring toys/environment well
• Described as bored, discontent, fussy
• Increased weight/obesity

How Can a Physical Therapist (PT) Help?

Physical therapy should be started early, often prior to the baby being 3 months old, but a physical therapist can also help a child who is older regain strength and well-being. Your physical therapist will help improve your baby’s:

• Movement skills and strength: PT will integrate use of appealing toys, games, and songs to encourage your baby to learn new movements and strengthen underdeveloped muscles.
• Positioning: PT will teach you skills on how to reposition your baby and ways to aid in developing more normal movements, strength, and skull shape by:
  • Increasing floor time and tummy time 
  • Increasing times of sitting upright without the use of a container
• Parent education opportunities:   
  • Learn to safely place your baby on its tummy after every feeding, nap, diaper change, and whenever the baby is awake and alert
  • Explain how holding your baby for feedings rather than feeding it in a carrier or stroller allows the baby to look around, improving neck and eye movement
  • Using a playpen to allow baby to be active and safe without being confined to a container
  • Changing the position of toys and mobiles in the crib to encourage turning of the head in different directions

Helpful Links:

1. https://www.moveforwardpt.com/resources/detail/tummy-time-tools​