5 Common Mistakes To Avoid For Optimal Baby Development
Welcome to my blog post “5 Common Mistakes To Avoid For Optimal Baby Development.” As parents, we all want the best for our baby, and ensuring their healthy growth and development is a top priority. However, sometimes we make mistakes unknowingly that can hinder their progress. In this blog post I go over 5 common mistakes to avoid for optimal baby development.
By being aware of these mistakes and making adjustments, you can create an environment that promotes optimal baby development. Let’s dive in and discover 5 common mistakes that you can avoid for your baby’s growth and well-being.
Incorrect Baby Wearing
Baby wearing has been done for centuries, and for good reason. It promotes bonding and emotional connection between you and your baby. When your newborn is facing you, they can see your face, smell you, hear your voice, and feel your warmth. This close proximity makes your baby feel safe and secure, which helps build a strong parent-child bond.
After I had my 2nd baby, my 1st was 13 months old and still depended on me for almost everything. Baby wearing was a great way to keep my daughter close to me while having free range of my hands, a lifesaver at that time in my life! I loved pushing my son in his stroller while baby wearing my newborn daughter.
A common mistake new parents do is incorrect baby wearing. Making sure you are properly using your baby carrier is key. The vital part about baby wearing is the posture and position of the baby. You must keep newborns facing you for the first few months of their life to support head, neck, spine and hip development. Having your newborn forward facing in a carrier leads to poor hip and spine support, strain on baby’s next which can lead to restricted airflow, a risk of suffocation, overstimulation, and a lack of bonding.
Forward facing too soon also creates immense pressure on baby’s hips, which can lead to hip dysplasia.
You want your baby facing towards you with their legs and hips in an M shape. The M-position is a natural clinging position for infants. This is recommended with the thighs spread around the mother’s torso, while the hips bend so the knees are slightly higher than the buttocks with the thighs supported. Their legs should not be dangling straight down as this creates a lot of strain on the pelvis. We want to keep our babies joints protected as they are developing for optimal growth and development.
Here is a great blog post that goes more into proper ways to baby wear.
Using Activity Centers, Jumpers, Or Walkers Too Early & Too Often
Using activity centers, jumpers, or walkers too early and too often can pose several risks for baby development including:
- Delayed motor development: when babies are placed in activity centers, jumpers or walkers before they have developed their necessary strength and coordination, it can hinder their natural progression of motor development. Most of these devices restrict or have limited movement which provide baby with less opportunities to learn how to roll, crawl, or even pull up.
Babies don’t need much! Placing your baby on the floor on an activity center, on the bed with you (always supervised), won’t restrict your baby and can help promote movement and development. - Incorrect posture and muscle imbalances: activity centers, jumpers, walkers, often force babies in unnatural positions that can strain their developing muscles and joints. Spending excessive time in these devices can lead to muscle imbalances, postural issues, and potentially affect their overall musculoskeletal development.
- Increased risk of accidents and falls: walkers in particularly can be dangerous are they allow babies to move around before they are developmentally ready. This increases the risk of accidents, falls, and collision with objects.
- Delayed cognitive sensory development: babies learn by exploring their environment. Being confined to a jumper or activity center for too long can limit their opportunities for sensory exploration and cognitive development.
Disclaimer: using activity centers, jumpers and walkers can be used safely and appropriately when your baby is developmentally ready. Always use these with supervision. It is imperative to ensure that your baby has reached necessary motor skills, strength, and coordination before introducing these devices.
When using activity centers, jumpers and walkers it is recommended to do so for short periods of time and in moderation. Extended or excessive use of these devices is not recommended.
Here is an article on safety standard for stationary activity centers.
Developmentally Inappropriate Baby Gear
Continuing from the above topic of using baby activity centers, jumpers and walkers too soon for hindering your newborn’s development. There are also certain products that have been shown to hinder your baby’s development.
While some manufacturers claim that devices like theirs allow a baby to sit safely, they in fact, do the opposite. ‘Baby seats’ like the Bumbo actually position babies in a very unnatural posture. They force a baby into a leg-hugging, pelvis tilting, bottom sitting position.
Read this article to understand the use of inappropriate baby gear.
Instead of placing your baby into an unnatural sitting position before they are developmentally ready, try things like correct baby wearing, a lot of tummy time for baby, walks in the stroller where baby is recline and has more range of motion than a car seat. Avoid baby seats’ like the Bumbo, that are marketed to keep non-sitting babies in a sitting position.
Check out more on the Bumbo seat, and why you should avoid it here.
If you’re looking for a safer way to sit your baby up, an alternative to the Bumbo would be the Upseat.
Babies learn by exploring, and the best place for your baby to learn about their surroundings and environment is by floor play. By using developmentally appropriate toys and play mats, your baby has a free range of motion to practice all the necessary skills they need for development!
Baby Shoes
Walking barefoot can help develop muscles and ligaments in the foot, and strengthen the foot’s arch. When toddlers walk barefoot, it also helps improve their proprioception (their awareness of their position in relation to the space around them), which is extremely beneficial for their motor development.
Babies’ feet are still growing and developing, and they benefit from being barefoot by allowing their feet to move and flex naturally. This strengthens the muscles and ligaments in their feet which promotes proper foot development.
This article dives into why babies should go barefoot while learning how to walk.
Of course, always keep your baby safe first, and use shoes when it’s appropriate. Make sure the shoes have support, stability, and balance. You want your baby’s arch supported, while also keeping the foot properly aligned, ensuring the weight is distributed evenly across the foot.
Baby Mittens
Baby mittens stop babies from being able to use their hands to explore. By using mittens on your baby, it directly cuts off one of their main sources of sensory. Babies begin to explore their hands from inside the utero, by placing their hands into their mouths, feeling hands on their faces, etc. This is crucial for babies development.
And yes, those little fingernails are so, so sharp. Which is why we often use those baby mittens to help protect our babies precious face and soft skin. Try using a baby nail file or electric nail file to keep their nails smooth and short, so no mittens will be needed.
Be Mindful of Products You’re Using
In conclusion of “5 Common Mistakes To Avoid For Optimal Baby Development,” ensuring optimal baby development requires us to be mindful of the common mistakes that can hinder our babies growth and development. Let us create an environment that nurtures their physical, cognitive, and emotional development.
Check out my other blog posts: Unlock The Secrets To Get Your Baby Sleeping Longer
& 12 Genius Baby Products That Make New Parents Life Easier