Caution: Johnny Jump Up/Jolly Jumper/Etc.

musicalmama5

My DS loves his Johnny Jump Up, so it is with a heavy heart that I bring you this piece of info.

I have a good friend who is an occupational therapist. She also watches DS one afternoon a week and knows how crazy he is about jumping. But she just told me that OT's are preaching against Johnny Jump Ups and the like because it's more likely that a baby will skip crawling (which is very important for proper development in a lot of areas) if his legs get stronger before his hips/core do. The hips will not learn stability if the legs get too strong, thus the core suffers.

Bummer, but I thought it was important info to share. We will probably still let him use the JJU, just not nearly as much as before. And I'll have to be more proactive about tummy time. 

wifeofadam

My babies have all loved it except for DD2.  We got rid of it a few weeks ago because it was becoming a hazard in the house - if DD2 was in it, the other kids wanted to push her like a swing and if DD2 wasn't in it the older kids were trying to crawl in it and swing.  I was worried the door frame was going to come down on someone.  Total bummer because we used it a lot with the first three babies.

If it makes you feel better, all of my babies used it, DS2 especially loved it, and they all crawled/developed normally.  I think that there may be some parents who use it too often.  Everything in moderation!

kleigh926

Yeah, I agree with the PP's. I don't see how this could become an issue unless the baby is in it for long periods of time everyday. I don't really think you need to worry.

wifeofadam

Sterling13 said:

Question: how can kids use it without hitting the door frame? I'm worried my kid needs to wear a helmet when he's bouncing around...

Haha.  I think that's part of the fun for them.

When my kids started getting really crazy in it I would change the setting so their feet barely touched the floor.  Then they couldn't get it going as rapidly.

kleigh926

Sterling13 said:

Question: how can kids use it without hitting the door frame? I'm worried my kid needs to wear a helmet when he's bouncing around...

The one we have has bumpers all around so that there's no way her body/head can hit the door frame. Or I guess maybe her head could hit it, but she'd seriously have to be going nuts and have her head hanging way out, haha. She only learned how to actually jump a little bit in it this week, so I'm not too worried about that happening.

musicalmama5

I think if your LO is already crawling, it's totally fine. The worry is if he/she isn't crawling yet like my DS. 

Like I said, I'll probably still let him use it sometimes, but it made me realize that he was in it a LOT, since it's the easiest way to keep him occupied to get something done in the kitchen. And since he has super super crazy strong legs, but doesn't even lift himself up off his tummy, I think I better chill out on the JJU.

musicalmama5

musicalmama5 said:

I think if your LO is already crawling, it's totally fine. The worry is if he/she isn't crawling yet like my DS. 

Like I said, I'll probably still let him use it sometimes, but it made me realize that he was in it a LOT, since it's the easiest way to keep him occupied to get something done in the kitchen. And since he has super super crazy strong legs, but doesn't even lift himself up off his tummy, I think I better chill out on the JJU.

I highly recommend the floor and the tupperware drawer in the kitchen to help keep him occupied. :-)

Exactly what I did tonight!