Container Must Knows from a Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT)

Containers are a VERY popular registry item these days and there are so many things to know about this particular type of baby gear. If you are a new or expecting parent, you are probably wondering a few things: which of these items are best for your baby, and how often should you use them. In this article I want to define what an infant container is and discuss Container Must Knows From a Pediatric Occupational Therapist.

First, let’s chat about what a container is. A container is anything that “contains” your baby. When thinking of containers think bouncers, seats, jumpers, docking stations, etc. These items keep your baby contained to one area of the room and often serve as a “place holder” for your baby. Containers are not all bad. In fact, I used containers with my son, now 13 months as he grew through his first year if life. But, there are some things that we need to keep in mind when using these containers.

Type of Container Used

This is so important because the type of container used should be based on the developmental level and age of your baby. We want to avoid placing our baby in positions that our baby isn’t ready for. For example, we want to avoid placing a newborn in a seated container because they do not have head control and stability to maintain that seated position yet.

When your baby is very young, you want to avoid placing stress on their joints that are not developed quite yet. For example, you want to avoid placing your baby in an upright container before they have established head control because this can place unnecessary stress on your baby’s neck region. In the same way, you want to make sure your baby’s trunk is ready for a sitting or upright position by making sure they can maintain a nice posture when placed in this seated position. When evaluating to see if your baby is ready for an upright container, like a seated device or standing activity center, evaluate their head position and if they exhibit any excessive leaning to the sides or front/back. If they do, then it’s better to wait until they are more stable and strong to use these types of containers.

Here is a guide for choosing the type of container per age ⬇️

• Newborn to 3 months — choose a container that supports baby’s head, back, and hips. A good option is a Bjorn Bouncer, infant swing, and bouncy seat. These options will be supportive for baby and keep your baby’s joints protected.

• 3 to 8 months — choose a seated container around this age once baby has established head control. When placing your baby in a seated container like the UPSEAT, Bumbo multi-seat, or Fisher Price sit me up chair, be sure that baby exhibits a strong, upright position. If your baby has difficulty keeping their head up in these seats, I advise waiting until baby is more stable before using.

• 8 months and over — Once your baby is sitting and rolling independently, I recommend introducing a more upright container if you desire to do so. These containers are usually standing containers that you place your baby in and their feet touch a surface below. They often have a swivel seat and baby is standing to play in these containers. The Skip Hop Activity center is a great option if you desire to use a container of this sort.

Want a more detailed container guide? Download that here!

You want to be conscious of how often you use these items because you do not want container usage to hinder your baby’s milestone development. Let’s discuss frequency of usage further ⬇️

Frequency of Usage:

Container usage is not always bad, like stated above. A matter of fact, it’s very convienent at times when a parent needs to place baby in a safe space to go to the restroom, tidy up the area, etc. Although containers are not always bad, I do recommended limiting usage. This is because a container does “contain” your baby and limits their free movement and exploration.

A good rule of thumb is a 1:2 ratio with the goal of not exceeding 30 minutes of container usage per day. For example, when placing your baby in a Baby Bjorn bouncer, try to limit this time and double the amount of time baby spends on the floor. In this example, maybe your baby is in the bouncer for 15 minutes during their wake window. That is totally fine, but be sure to give your baby 30 minutes or more of free play during their wake window if possible.

Free play encourages your baby to explore their body and movements helping them reach various milestones like rolling over, crawling, walking, and others. This is why limiting the usage of containers is so important because containers limit our babies ability to explore those movements. Our babies development their muscle strength and coordination through movement, so need to make sure they have lot of time to do so!

It’s very important to be mindful of how often your baby is using a container and how much time they spend in that container. There is no mom guilt here. So, if you evaluate yourself and feel like your baby may spend too much time in these items, just make some shifts in your daily routines!

Head position and baby cues matter

Frequency of usage of one thing to be aware of with container usage but there are many more! When thinking about containers, I want you to always be aware of your baby’s head position and their movement cues. Head head position is important to monitor if your baby is in a container that allows them to be semi-recliner and we will discuss that further below ⬇️

You want to be aware of the head position while your baby is in a container, particularly a container where their head makes contact with a surface. I am a pediatric OT specializing in head shape correction and prevention, so I can’t stress enough how important it is to monitor your baby’s head position and shape. When placing your baby in a container, be sure that you are alternating the sides of the head they are laying on. If your baby consistently sleeps with their head to one particular way at night, then you should be sure they are on the opposite side of the head while in the swing or bouncer. You can use a towel or blanket to prop your baby to one side if needed, but always supervise if there is ever anything beside your baby’s head.

Additionally, be sure to take note of your baby’s movement when they are in the container. Is your baby excessively kicking? If your baby squirming a lot? Fussy? They may be telling you that they want to be on the floor.

If you see your baby exhibiting these signs and their amount of movement has increased in the container, trying placing your baby in a safe area on the floor. This will allow your baby to move and explore and meet their developmental milestones. Our babies are fascinated with the world around them and constantly learning new things about their surroundings, so we want their enviornment encourage that. When our babies are in containers, their exploration is very limited so it’s important to take note of their body language and respond to your baby’s actions accordingly.

Floor is best

The last “must know” about container usage is that the floor is best! I know I have mentioned this above, but I can’t express the importance of free floor play. Our babies are meant for movement! They LOVE noticing a nearby objects and figuring out how to move their body to reach that desired object. These movements can only be achieved when they are unrestricted. Placing your baby on the floor often will encourage strength because as our babies move they build muscle. It’s like adults going to the gym and lifting weights - floor time serves the same purpose for our babies. Be sure to prioritize free floor play with your baby and introduce developmentally appropriate toys for them to explore. Need some tips on toy recommendations for your baby? Find several options for all ages here!

In conclusion, containers can be a nice, convenient item as a parent but there are many things to keep in mind if you do use these devices. With the increase in consumer products in our world today, comes an increase in need for education regarding these products. I am so happy I can be a trusted source in educating you on these types of things and as always I am always here to help in anyway!

Thanks for reading,

Brooke, OTR/L