IN Peters Township August/September 2019 | Page 35

INDUSTRY INSIGHT
YOUR HEALTH
SPONSORED CONTENT
Baby
Baby Containers,
Containers,
Friend
Friend or or Foe?
Foe?
R
R
ecently, a good friend of mine invited me to her baby
shower. I went to a local store to buy a gift. There are
ecently, two
a good
of mine
invited
her I baby
things friend
you need
to know
about me
me. to First,
had my
shower.
I went
to a local
store ago.
to buy
a gift. I am
There
are
babies
almost
thirty years
Second,
a Pediatric
two things
you Therapist
need to and
know
about
I had
Physical
more
than me.
one First,
third of
the my
I treat
are ago.
infants.
As I walked
the
babies children
almost that
thirty
years
Second,
I am through
a Pediatric
baby section,
I was
overwhelmed
by the than
number
baby of containers:
Physical
Therapist
and more
one of third
the
strollers, children
car seats,
bouncers,
swings,
bumbos,
rockers, through
etc. There
were
that
I treat are
infants.
As I walked
the
hundreds
of
them.
They
never
had
all
of
these
gadgets
when
I
had
aby section, I was overwhelmed by the number of baby containers: my
children. While these products are designed to keep our babies safe,
trollers, they
car also
seats,
bouncers,
rockers,
etc. There were
keep
them from swings,
moving bumbos,
and exploring
their environment.
Used
undreds
of them.
never
all of
these
gadgets
when
I had
my
properly
they They
are our
best had
friend;
used
improperly
they
are our
worst
hildren. enemy.
While Imagine
these products
are more
designed
keep a day
our either
babies
safe, or
if you spent
than 17 to
hours
asleep,
hey also confined.
keep them from moving and exploring their environment. Used
roperly they are our best friend; used improperly they are our worst
Did you know
newborn
sleep12
a day?
nemy. Imagine
if you that
spent
more babies
than 17
hours to a 17
day hours
either
asleep, or
In
1992,
the
American
Academy
of
Pediatrics
recommended
that
onfined.
babies be placed on their backs to decrease the risk of Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome (SIDS). It worked, since then there has been a 50%
Did you decrease
know that in newborn
babies sleep12 to 17 hours a day?
SIDS. However, there has been a significant increase
n 1992, in the
American
Academy
recommended
that
Torticollis, which is a head of
tilt. Pediatrics
Sleeping on
the back can cause
abies be
placed
on
their
backs
to
decrease
the
risk
of
Sudden
Infant
flat spots on the back of the baby’s head, called Plagiocephaly and/
Death Syndrome
(SIDS). Cranial
It worked,
since
there
has therapy,
been a has
50%
or Brachycephaly.
orthosis,
also then
called
helmet
become
a $1
billion dollar
industry
in the U.S.
today. 1 in increase
5 babies will
ecrease
in SIDS.
However,
there
has been
a significant
be recommended
for helmet
therapy. This
occurs
the skull
n Torticollis,
which is a head
tilt. Sleeping
on the
back because
can cause
grow
wherever
there is head,
prolonged
pressure.
Once a flat
spot
at spots cannot
on the
back
of the baby’s
called
Plagiocephaly
and/
develops, the
head falls
to that also
position
at rest.
Without
helmet
therapy,
r Brachycephaly.
Cranial
orthosis,
called
helmet
therapy,
has
age of 18 month the normal infant cranial sutures fuse, and the
ecome after
a $1 the billion
dollar industry in the U.S. today. 1 in 5 babies will
flat spot on the back of the head will remain.
e recommended for helmet therapy. This occurs because the skull
annot grow
wherever
prolonged
spot
To make
matters there
worse, is 95%
of infants pressure.
under the Once
age of a 5 flat
months
evelops,
the head
falls to
position
at rest.
Without helmet
therapy,
spend
an average
of that
5.7 hours
per day
in a container.
There are
times
it is 18
appropriate
to normal
transport infant
your child
in a sutures
car seat fuse,
or stroller.
fter the when
age of
month the
cranial
and the
are back
other of times,
when will
it is remain.
more beneficial for you to hold your
at spot There
on the
the head
child in your arms. Containers confine an infant, decreasing sensory
and preventing
your baby
from the
moving
of the body.
o make experiences
matters worse,
95% of infants
under
age all
of parts
5 months
pend an average of 5.7 hours per day in a container. There are times
when it is appropriate to transport your child in a car seat or stroller.
here are other times, when it is more beneficial for you to hold your
Being placed in a container for prolonged periods can cause:
• Flat spots on the back of the head
Being
in a container for prolonged periods can cause:
• Facial placed
asymmetry
Flat spots on the back of the head
• • Torticollis
Facial asymmetry
• • Decreased
strength and coordination
• • Difficulty
seeing, hearing, thinking, and talking
Torticollis
• • Attention
deficit
hyperactivity
disorder
Decreased
strength
and coordination
• • Increased
obesity thinking, and talking
Difficulty weight
seeing, and
hearing,
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
There is a new term used to describe developmental delays from
• Increased
weight
obesity It is called Container Baby
spending
too much
time and
in a container.
Syndrome (CBS). 1 in 7 babies are affected by CBS. Once symptoms
There
is a new by term
used to describe
developmental
delays from
are
recognized
the Pediatrician,
infants are
referred to Physical
spending
too much
time in treatment.
a container.
is called
Container
Therapy
to ensure
successful
The It Physical
Therapist
will Baby
evaluate
each (CBS).
infant and
individualized
Plan
of Care
to symptoms
Syndrome
1 in prescribe
7 babies an are
affected by
CBS.
Once
increase
the child’s
coordination,
and symmetrical
motor
are recognized
by strength,
the Pediatrician,
infants
are referred gross
to Physical
skills.
The
good
news
is
that
with
early
referral
and
proper
intervention,
Therapy to ensure successful treatment. The Physical Therapist will
98%
of these
babies
achieve
age appropriate
gross motor
evaluate
each
infant will
and
prescribe
an individualized
Plan skills
of Care to
and have excellent outcomes.
increase the child’s strength, coordination, and symmetrical gross moto
skills. can
The you
good
is that your
with child’s
early development?
referral and proper intervention,
What
do news
to improve
98%
of
these
babies
will
achieve
age
appropriate
gross motor skills
• Carry your child in your arms whenever possible
and
excellent
outcomes.
• Try have
to increase
supervised
tummy time to a total of 80 minutes per day
• Limit the time in containers as much as you can
• Allow
your
infant
freely in your
a playpen
What
can
you
do to to play
improve
child’s development?
• • If Carry
you have
concerns
child’s development,
your any
child
in your about
arms your
whenever
possible discuss it
your
pediatrician
• with
Try to
increase
supervised tummy time to a total of 80 minutes per da
• Limit the time in containers as much as you can
If you have additional questions or would like to make an appointment
• Allow
infant Therapy
to play Center
freely in
playpen
with
WHS your
Children’s
call a (724)
942-6100. Locations
If you have and
any McMurray,
concerns PA.
about your child’s development, discuss it
in • Washington
with your pediatrician
Debra
Lawson,
PT, DPT, questions
Doctor of or
Physical
If you have
additional
would Therapy
like to make an appointment
Coordinator of Physical Therapy at Washington Health Systems
with
WHS
Children’s
Therapy
Center
call
[phone]. Locations
Children’s Therapy Center
in Washington and McMurray, PA.
PETERS TOWNSHIP
❘
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
33
Debra Lawson, PT, DPT, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Coordinator of Physical Therapy at Washington Health Systems