If you also have a baby bouncer at home and you’re wondering if you’re using it the right way, don’t worry: you’re not alone.
In this article we talk about how to use the baby bouncer correctly, when it’s really necessary and what to do to avoid compromising your baby’s development.
Why baby bouncers are so common in our homes
Let’s start by saying that the baby bouncer is one of the most loved devices by parents, and the reason is simple: it’s convenient both for the baby, who has a wide visual field to observe what’s happening around, and for mom and dad, who can keep an eye on them while they’re positioned safely.
It’s precisely this convenience that leads many parents to use it for several hours during the day, often without realizing that this object might have potential risks.
However, the baby bouncer is as practical as it is problematic if used excessively and incorrectly.
The head of the newborn who spends too much time in it, in fact, tends to inevitably flatten and tilt backward, causing what is called positional brachycephaly or “flat head” or, if the newborn sleeps in the bouncer too often, even plagiocephaly.
The risks that many parents don’t know about
Let’s start right away with a concept that many parents misunderstand: prolonged positioning.
We’ve even heard people say that “the bouncer helps the baby develop back muscles.”
Every time we hear this phrase, we feel like responding that the exact opposite is true.
The baby needs free movement to develop correctly.
The bouncer, however convenient, immobilizes the baby and forces them into a position that drastically limits their possibilities for motor exploration. While this may be convenient in the very early periods, from tummy time onwards the baby must have ample opportunities to use their own muscles.
One of the natural positions for the newborn when awake is supine on the play mat, where they can freely move arms and legs, turn around and explore the environment.
How to use the bouncer correctly
Very often parents use the bouncer for a simple practical reason: they need to do something at home and want to keep the baby under control.
In reality, the baby can be positioned safely supine on the play mat when awake and active. The mat is also safe and the baby can be easily watched.
The fundamental difference is that on the mat the little one can:
- Move all limbs freely
- Turn when ready
- Explore through touch
- Develop muscles naturally
When the baby is in the bouncer, instead, they are forced into an anterior flexion that involves both the head and back, limiting natural motor development.
How long and when to use it: our recommendations
To prevent the appearance of flat head and ensure that no contractures and stiffness develop in your baby’s neck and back, we suggest using the bouncer ideally for maximum 20-30 minutes per day.
For example, when you need to have dinner or need both hands free for a few minutes.
Naturally, there are exceptions to this rule.
If one evening you’re particularly busy and the baby is tired of staying on the mat, there’s no problem if you leave them even more than an hour in the bouncer.
Clearly, this must be an exception to the rule.
Babies need variety in positions, but the bouncer should never become the main position during wake periods and, for sleep, the places must be different, especially regarding SIDS concerns.
What’s the best investment for your baby?
If you’re thinking of buying a bouncer, stop for a moment and consider this alternative.
Our advice is to save the money for the baby bouncer, whose cost ranges from 50 to 150 euros, and invest that money in a quality play mat.
The play mat is your baby’s natural habitat in the first year of life.
It’s their development space, the place where they’ll learn to roll, crawl, sit and finally walk.
In short, the play mat is the best investment for your little one’s motor development.
If you still decide to buy a bouncer
If, despite everything we’ve told you so far, you decide to buy a bouncer for your baby, here are the main parameters to consider:
- The seat: it’s the most important element because that’s where the baby is placed. Verify that it’s certified, safe and allows you to adjust the inclination.
- The movement: some bouncers offer manual or automatic oscillations that favor free movement and active exploration always represents the most advantageous choice for the little one’s future.
- The toy bar: it can offer visual stimulation, but make sure the materials are safe and non-toxic.
- Portability: if you need to move it often, consider the weight and whether it’s foldable or collapsible.
Our approach: balance and awareness
Let’s remember that there are no “bad” tools in absolute terms – unless we’re talking about reducers and bumpers in a newborn’s bed – but there is conscious or unconscious use.
The baby bouncer can be occasional support in the family routine, as long as it never becomes a substitute for the free movement that is fundamental for the baby’s development.
The best way to raise a healthy and motorically developed child is to be consistent and constant: no structural change will ever happen overnight.
Real changes require consistency and this is what we teach in our courses dedicated to child motor development.
We are with you
If you feel the need for support in your baby’s growth or have doubts about how to organize the spaces and times of their day, remember that you’re not alone.
We support you with guides, courses, and with personalized consultations.
Remember, we are with you.
SOURCES
Filisetti M, Cattarelli D, Bonomi S. Positional plagiocephaly from structure to function: Clinical experience of the service of pediatric osteopathy in Italy. Early Hum Dev. 2020 Jul;146:105028. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105028. Epub 2020 May 23. PMID: 32450443.