Are exersaucers bad?

lisa5 · January 2011

I was at BRU buying my DD an exersaucer when some lady came up to me and asked if I had researched the exersaucer. She informed me that they are bad because babies stand tip toed in them not flat footed. She told me her pedi told her not to use one. Anyone heard this before?

[Deleted User] · January 2011

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scoutkate · January 2011

I think they aren't the best if your kid isn't tall enough for them. B is a little short for her jumperoo so we fold a blanket and putit under her feet and she's fine.

argonne · January 2011

My friend is a pediatric physical therapist and she deals with a lot of "toe walking" cases. It's from things like the exersaucer, but she also ensured me that, in moderation, exersaucers were fine and actually helped with increasing strength. The problem she sees are due to too much exersaucer time.

ETA: Toe walking is caused by a shortened achilles tendon, which can happen when a baby sits with just his toes touching (like in an exersaucer or jumperoo).

CinemaGoddess · January 2011

SookieFrackhouse68:
lisa5:

I was at BRU buying my DD an exersaucer when some lady came up to me and asked if I had researched the exersaucer. She informed me that they are bad because babies stand tip toed in them not flat footed. She told me her pedi told her not to use one. Anyone heard this before?

Did you tell her to go fvck herself? Why the hell did she walk up to a random person and say that? Was she drunk?

I love you.

Also - we put a pillow under our exersaucer so the girls have something to push off from.

Geback723 · January 2011

I've heard that it can stunt the development of their achilles tendon if they aren't adjusted right (standing on their tip toes). As long as you put a box, pillow, etc under them to make sure they can be flat footed than they are fine.

floridakat · January 2011

Our ped said they were fine as long as their legs are either dangling or flat on the floor. He just said to throw a pillow under their feet if need be.

ETyorkin · January 2011

The tip-toed thing is relative to how tall your baby is.

What my pedi said, is that exersaucers, jumperoos and walkers are things he doesn't recommend because he says it messes with development and forces them to stand and walk before they're naturally ready to. If you think about it, back in the day, babies learned to stand and walk and sit on their own when they were ready, and not because there were toys that helped them to do it.

I don't know if I totally agree because I would love a jumperoo for my DS and I think he'll be too big if I wait until he can stand himself.

But I do what he's saying. Maybe that's what she meant?

[Deleted User] · January 2011

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girgirgir · January 2011

I've heard that, but never from a stranger at BRU. How fun for you!

There's a pretty comprehensive review of recommendations concerning exersaucers and walkers and jumpers here: https://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/745582.html

SparkleK · January 2011

SookieFrackhouse68:
lisa5:

I was at BRU buying my DD an exersaucer when some lady came up to me and asked if I had researched the exersaucer. She informed me that they are bad because babies stand tip toed in them not flat footed. She told me her pedi told her not to use one. Anyone heard this before?

Did you tell her to go fvck herself? Why the hell did she walk up to a random person and say that? Was she drunk?

Yes

VABride2008 · January 2011

We put a box under her jumperoo so her feet are flat. But some people say that they cause hip problems due to them "hanging" from their crotch. But the Moby is essentially the same concept, so I say screw it. My mom put me in a johnny door jumper thing and "I turned out just fine!" Stick out tongue

argonne · January 2011

VABride2008:
We put a box under her jumperoo so her feet are flat. But some people say that they cause hip problems due to them "hanging" from their crotch. But the Moby is essentially the same concept, so I say screw it. My mom put me in a johnny door jumper thing and "I turned out just fine!"

Actually, this is not true. A properly adjusted Moby should have LO's knees at the same level or higher than their hips so as not hang them from their crotch. The Baby Bjorn, however, is a crotch hanger.

wife1014 · January 2011

It makes sense. But I also feel using these in moderation isn't doing any harm. My pediatrician just asks that we not keep them in them for long periods. It's the walkers she really discourages.

Now as for the stranger giving you unsolicited advice on the care and development of your child...I definitely would've said something! People are unreal.

VABride2008 · January 2011

argonne:

VABride2008:
We put a box under her jumperoo so her feet are flat. But some people say that they cause hip problems due to them "hanging" from their crotch. But the Moby is essentially the same concept, so I say screw it. My mom put me in a johnny door jumper thing and "I turned out just fine!"

Actually, this is not true. A properly adjusted Moby should have LO's knees at the same level or higher than their hips so as not hang them from their crotch. The Baby Bjorn, however, is a crotch hanger.

What about when the baby is facing out in the Moby? I've read conflicting data on whether you are actually supposed to wear them facing out, but I did see someone at the mall wearing their baby facing out in the Moby and it looked like she was hanging.

argonne · January 2011

VABride2008:
argonne:

VABride2008:
We put a box under her jumperoo so her feet are flat. But some people say that they cause hip problems due to them "hanging" from their crotch. But the Moby is essentially the same concept, so I say screw it. My mom put me in a johnny door jumper thing and "I turned out just fine!"

Actually, this is not true. A properly adjusted Moby should have LO's knees at the same level or higher than their hips so as not hang them from their crotch. The Baby Bjorn, however, is a crotch hanger.

What about when the baby is facing out in the Moby? I've read conflicting data on whether you are actually supposed to wear them facing out, but I did see someone at the mall wearing their baby facing out in the Moby and it looked like she was hanging.

Yeah...the facing out does dangle them. If you haven't noticed, Moby's site no longer has instructions for the outward facing, lrg-dangling hold. The only out facing one they have instructions for is the lotus hold, where the baby's legs are tucked in.

lisa5 · January 2011

Thanks for all the info, ladies! Glad I didn't listen to that idiot and bought the exersaucer! Looking back I should have told her STFU. It is amazing how people feel compelled to tell strangers what to do!

VABride2008 · January 2011

argonne:
VABride2008:
argonne:

VABride2008:
We put a box under her jumperoo so her feet are flat. But some people say that they cause hip problems due to them "hanging" from their crotch. But the Moby is essentially the same concept, so I say screw it. My mom put me in a johnny door jumper thing and "I turned out just fine!"

Actually, this is not true. A properly adjusted Moby should have LO's knees at the same level or higher than their hips so as not hang them from their crotch. The Baby Bjorn, however, is a crotch hanger.

What about when the baby is facing out in the Moby? I've read conflicting data on whether you are actually supposed to wear them facing out, but I did see someone at the mall wearing their baby facing out in the Moby and it looked like she was hanging.

Yeah...the facing out does dangle them. If you haven't noticed, Moby's site no longer has instructions for the outward facing, lrg-dangling hold. The only out facing one they have instructions for is the lotus hold, where the baby's legs are tucked in.

Yep, they sure have changed their instructions since I last checked! Thanks for the info.

ames71 · January 2011

SookieFrackhouse68:
lisa5:

I was at BRU buying my DD an exersaucer when some lady came up to me and asked if I had researched the exersaucer. She informed me that they are bad because babies stand tip toed in them not flat footed. She told me her pedi told her not to use one. Anyone heard this before?
Did you tell her to go fvck herself? Why the hell did she walk up to a random person and say that? Was she drunk?

Amen (to Sookie).

OP: I just used a box until Max was able to reach the ground better. You should have told the whack-a-doodle that you had your heart set on DD being a ballerina when she grew up and you wanted to get her used to standing on her toes.

tct1219 · January 2011

regardless of whether you agree with her advice, she was just informing you of something that she thought would be in the best interest of your child. there's no reason to be rude to people who think they're helping you. especially since most people don't seem to do extensive research on everything before exposing their children to it.

RavensMOM · January 2011

tct1219:
regardless of whether you agree with her advice, she was just informing you of something that she thought would be in the best interest of your child. there's no reason to be rude to people who think they're helping you. especially since most people don't seem to do extensive research on everything before exposing their children to it.

This.

[Deleted User] · January 2011

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MissyNY · January 2011

Jesus H.

MissyNY · January 2011

girgirgir:
I've heard that, but never from a stranger at BRU. How fun for you!
There's a pretty comprehensive review of recommendations concerning exersaucers and walkers and jumpers here: https://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/745582.html

OMG! I LOVE Your SIG!!!!!!!!!!!

nikipau144 · January 2011

Since C is super tall (95 percentile) she can reach the bottom on the lowest level and stand flat footed. If she were on her toes, I would do what the others suggest and put a towel/blanket down to push off of.

kimtritz · January 2011

ETyorkin:

The tip-toed thing is relative to how tall your baby is.

What my pedi said, is that exersaucers, jumperoos and walkers are things he doesn't recommend because he says it messes with development and forces them to stand and walk before they're naturally ready to. If you think about it, back in the day, babies learned to stand and walk and sit on their own when they were ready, and not because there were toys that helped them to do it.

I don't know if I totally agree because I would love a jumperoo for my DS and I think he'll be too big if I wait until he can stand himself.

But I do what he's saying. Maybe that's what she meant?

I think if you put LO in the exersaucer at 3 months old as opposed to 5 months old, then yes, bc they're probly not ready for it...I feel the same way about those Bumbo seat things. But if they're developmentally ready, I don't really see what the big deal is - if they're not in it all day long.

My LO was standing up on our laps if we held her up and loved it, and she started getting extremely tired of laying on the floor, couch, being held or being in the swing... the poor girl needed some excitement in her life. So we got an exersaucer & her feet touch the bottom, and she loves it. We surely don't leave her in it all day, but 20 minutes at a time a few times a day, is fabulous. She gets a different view, develops different muscles and plays with the toys. I feel the same way about a Jumperoo.

Personally, I think if you wait too long for certain toys, they're beyond them developmentally, and then there's really no point in it.

kimtritz · January 2011

tct1219:
regardless of whether you agree with her advice, she was just informing you of something that she thought would be in the best interest of your child. there's no reason to be rude to people who think they're helping you. especially since most people don't seem to do extensive research on everything before exposing their children to it.

So she would believe some strangers advice based on her research because why?

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