holding baby upside down?

Soto Pop · July 2010

i must disclaimer this question. my brother and SIL told me this. i haven't done it. i've never heard of it. just curious if it's true.

they told me that it's good to hold a baby upside down (by their feet) for about 30 seconds a day. they said they pedi told them it was good for straightening out their back muscles and strengthening the muscles as well.

has anyone heard of this or anything similar? or are they (and their pedi) just crazy??

BabyLove987 · July 2010

I've never heard of it with a baby, but I have heard of it being recommended for teens/adults. There are even inversion tables, so you can hang upside down for a few minutes every day.

shortstuff15 · July 2010

I don't know about develpment, but when I pick my daughter up by her waist and hold her upside down she laughs.... so I do it a couple times a day

krystal0707 · July 2010

I personally have never heard this and would probably laugh at my pedi if he told me to do this. What would 30 seconds do for their muscles that tummy time and "normal" activity wouldn't do? CRAZY in my mind and unnecessary.

glasgow_girl · July 2010

My DH has done this a few times with DD, she seems to like it, although I've warned him he's in the danger zone, and I'm waiting for her to puke when she's upside down one day!

happilyhis · July 2010

My MIL suggested it, but I assumed it was a Jamaican thing. She said they hold them by one leg at a time. She is also big into head and nose shaping. I generally ignore these suggestions.

krystal0707 · July 2010

BabyLove987:
I've never heard of it with a baby, but I have heard of it being recommended for teens/adults. There are even inversion tables, so you can hang upside down for a few minutes every day.

I have done this a few times and my back feels so good afterwards. But for an infant?!? I guess the thought would have never crossed my mind.

valg927 · July 2010

dhviel:
I don't know about develpment, but when I pick my daughter up by her waist and hold her upside down she laughs.... so I do it a couple times a day

This. He laughs so hard that I just have to do as often as possible

carney09 · July 2010

happilyhis:
My MIL suggested it, but I assumed it was a Jamaican thing. She said they hold them by one leg at a time. She is also big into head and nose shaping. I generally ignore these suggestions.

How the....how can you shape a nose?

earthyaky · July 2010

I've held Baby D upside down by her pelvis every now and again, but not by her feet. And only for about 10 seconds. I was told it's great for their spine.

It looks like it feels so good - I want someone to hold me upside down!

Meli0604 · July 2010

valg927:

dhviel:
I don't know about develpment, but when I pick my daughter up by her waist and hold her upside down she laughs.... so I do it a couple times a day

This. He laughs so hard that I just have to do as often as possible

Same here. DD absolutely LOVES it!

Soto Pop · July 2010

thanks for the feedback, ladies!

my friend is a chiropractor and i just called him to ask him what he thought. and he said YES, it's great for baby's spine! he said he would only do it about 10-15 seconds at my DD's age (4 months).

CTri17 · July 2010

Our pediatric chiro told us if you hold her upside down and bend one leg, then straighten then bend the other it helps to re-align their spine.

Because their body WANTS to be in alignment. This helps it to do that.

But it isn't for any more than 30 seconds.

You also hold their ankles and keep their feet flexed.

I don't think it does anything to strengthen their muscles though.

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