Exersaucer ??, why not for preemies?

clyoungsey · October 2009

My first son was a FTer and he loved his exersaucer and jumperoo (in moderation of course) but I was wondering, as we don't have any PT or OT, what your resources are telling you in terms of them. Our pedi hasn't mentioned it or cautioned against it. Your advice would be appreciated. TIA

FutureMrsCuoghi · October 2009

The OT told us that anything where baby's legs hang (like exersaucer, jumperoo) are bad for their legs. She said that the seat forces their legs apart wider than they should be and when it comes time to walk they may have a harder time. But she said she doesn't recommend them for any baby, not just preemies.

I'm thinking about getting DD a jumperoo. They look like fun and 10-15 min each day won't hurt in my opinion.

TriciaJoy · October 2009

our PT said the same thing. They're bad for all children. Studies have shown that kids that use them walk later than those who don't. That being said, we have a jumperoo. She said we can use it up to 20 minutes/day.

Honestly, we probably only use it an hour/month, but I still love it. It's my "nothing else is working, please God, I need 20 minutes of peace" machine.

lemen99 · October 2009

TriciaJoy:

Honestly, we probably only use it an hour/month, but I still love it. It's my "nothing else is working, please God, I need 20 minutes of peace" machine.

This is what I'm getting at

lemen99 · October 2009

ditto the others and our OT said that they should develop in a certain "order" - so their upper body, then crawling, then work towards legs/standing, etc....

clyoungsey · October 2009

I appreciate all the help. My first, who was FT, walked at 10 months, literally taking his first steps on the day before he turned 10 months. So he walked early despite the time he spent (again, it was in moderation) in the jumper or saucer. He loved the jumperoo and would spend more time in it, but that was well after he was walking. So I get what they are saying. It makes sense, but 20 minutes here or there shouldn't hurt them.

I am noticing some delay in my son's rolling over (at least in comparison to my first) but I think it is because he sleeps so much he doesn't get as much floor time as my first did.

jehprb · October 2009

We used the exersaucer with our 32wkr starting around 5 months - he loved it, we loved it. We just made sure to put pillows or books or something on the bottom so his legs weren't dangling...he really liked pushing with his legs and scooting up in the seat a bit. He never had any hip or leg problems and took his first unassisted steps at 9 months adjusted/11 months actual so I dunno about the whole "late walking" thing since that's early even by full term norms.

I think like any "container" so long as use is limited it's fine.

ijack · October 2009

Our OT told us that it's a very natural, comfortable position for preemies to be totally straight (because of them not being cramped in the womb) and that you don't want to encourage them to be in that position too much because it isn't good for their muscles at an early age. That said she did ok about 20 minutes per day in an exersaucer.

jlc071903 · October 2009

We used ours starting around 6 months...we had an exersaucer and a jumperoo....our pedi said it was fine as long as their feet touched the ground and for no longer than 20 min a day. BOTH of my girls were walking by 13 months.

LisaandBryan · October 2009

I was told the smae thing but seriously moderation is the key. There's only so many things a baby can do during the day and I honestely get bored with them all dayon the floor and so do they I'm sure. I mean floor time is great and all but are they going to do 3 hours of tummy time a day? no

Sometimes they are in them for 20 minutes a day sometimes I don't put them in at all , but they do like it .

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