When you are pregnant and making your baby registry you will notice a wide variety of products meant to hold infants. You may wonder: what should I be buying? And what do I need to know about these products to use them safely? In this post you will learn about prevention of container baby syndrome.
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, container baby syndrome is “the collection of conditions caused by an infant spending an excessive amount of time in devices that control movement, can result in a variety of delays”. These conditions are most often physical in nature, but decreased vision, hearing, social, and communication abilities are a possibility as well.
To prevent the negative effects of container use, only use for limits of 10-15 minutes at a time while maximizing floor play and tummy time. If babies need to be in car seats for extended periods of time, it is recommended they be taken out at least once every 2-3 hours to stretch beyond what the seat allows for.
While all containers time should be limited, choosing the correct device based on your child’s age is imperative to their safety and comfort. Use this chart to determine which product is developmentally appropriate for your child.
| Age | Ability | Developmental need | Product |
| 0-3 months | Learning to support head | Container should support head, back, and hips | Baby Bjorn Bouncer |
| 3-8 months | Learning to sit up | Container should support upright posture and healthy hip development* | The UpSeat |
| 8 months+ | Learning to stand | Container should support standing flat footed | Skip Hop Activity Center |
If you have any concerns about your child’s physical development, please contact their primary care physician.
*See above image or visit hipdysplasia.org to learn more about healthy hip development.
For more information:
Container Baby Syndrome: https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-container-baby-syndrome#:~:text=Container%20baby%20syndrome%20describes%20the,%2C%20or%20social%2Demotional%20delays
Car seat safety for long trips: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/Is-it-safe-for-my-baby-to-travel-in-a-car-seat-a-few-hours-at-a-time.aspx
Choosing a container: https://www.infantinsights.com/blog/container-must-knows-from-a-pediatric-occupational-therapist-ot