ST+Ms-still lifting kids?

mistresscox · November 2012

I took DD to gymnastics tonight and at the end I reached down for her so I could pick her up and one of the mom's asked me "you're not still picking her up are you?" It actually stopped me in my tracks. Honestly, it hadn't occurred to me NOT to be lifting DD. She's pretty light (27 lbs), and I guess with as physical of a job as I have it never crossed my mind to not pick her up. I just told the mom that-that my job has WAY more physical demands than picking up a 27 lb kid and I'm still doing that, so I guess so and laughed it off.

But am I totally alone here? How do you manage to NOT pick up a 3 year old from time to time? I pick her up for hugs and kisses several times a day, mostly because at this point it's easier than me going to her level lol! Did I miss the memo that I'm not supposed to be doing that? (No PTL or complications this pg)

bearkatjen · November 2012

DS is about 33 lbs, I avoid picking him up if I can. He's right at the edge of what I feel I can handle. He can climb into his carseat and walk on his two feet so it's not that hard to avoid. I'd rather bend down for a hug and kiss than pick him up for one. Usually I just take a quick seat for snuggles.

hasenpheffer86 · November 2012

I still pick up my kids and they are both 20+ pounds. I suppose if you were having problems it would be an issue, but I was never told at any point to NOT pick my my kids.

ta78 · November 2012

My 2.5 year old is about 35lbs and I pick him up fairly often. I am a SAHM.. I can't imagine not being able to lift him. My dr knows he is a big boy and has never said anything about lifting him either. If it were bothering me I wouldn't do it though.

ilenegrace · November 2012

I still lift DS 32lbs but it is getting much more difficult and painful when I do so I try to limit it.

velazquezk1 · November 2012

I picked up my 4 year old SD when I had her here. She's chunk, too. I didn't do it often and it was mainly from the floor to my lap to brush hair or out of the tub.
My husband seemed to think that was okay but wants me to have someone at the grocery store lift my case of water into my cart and then he wants me to load each individual bottle into the backseat of the car so he can bring it inside.
Anyway, my MW gave me a 25 lb okay.

AimeeL85 · November 2012

I still pick up my 27-28 lb. DS but minimally because my back has been hurting. I mostly do it when I have to (high chair, carseat, crib) but he gets into my lap easily for cuddles.

MrsCarroll.6-10-07 · November 2012

My oldest is 38 pounds and my youngest is 28 pounds. I lift both of them multiple times a day, I couldn't get away from it, no way no how.

I'm a believer in "listen to your body" (so are my doctors really) and I do. If I am feeling pain from something I stop or will slow down.

choppinbroccoli22 · November 2012

If your doctor has said to you that you're at risk if you do, then don't do it, but I can't imagine not picking up my daughter. She NEEDS me to pick her up. She's 27 lb. I bend my knees, and swing her between my legs slightly before pulling her upwards to get momentum up. I don't just dead-lift her. But yeah, it's unavoidable.

rnfromtn · November 2012

Working in the area I am, lifting, pushing and turning patients is unavoidable. My MD is well aware of the physical exertion that takes and just tells me to not push my limits. The way I understand it is that you shouldn't lift beyond what you lifted on a regular basis prior to pregnancy. DS is also 30 pounds, but I don't think anything of lifting him.

mjs_pmk · November 2012

I pick up my 31 lb DS all the time. He is big into hugs right now and I am not going to pass up that opportunity because who knows how long it will last. One day as I was dropping him off at daycare they made a comment about being shocked that I still pick him up and it didn't even occur to me that I probably shouldn't. I guess it hasn't bothered me yet, but I would probably stop if it was causing me pain. Actually at this point it is more painful for me to crouch down to his level than it is for me to just pick him up to mine.

peacelove&mama · November 2012

If its something you would typically do, and you're not feeling any pain from it, you're fine to keep picking her up.

BrittanyDoesDerby · November 2012

Not a STM, but I was a nanny to an almost two year old and I still pick her up when I see her... and was picking her up multiple times a day while I was working.

osirismama · November 2012

My DS is about 26 or so pounds. I still pick him up, unless my Back is killing me. But I pick him up to help him in his car seat,to help him get out, sometimes to carry him down the stairs to the lower apartment. I am very careful though. Lifting has been an issue for me. Now I have my brother or H with me to help. I have had days where DS was sleeping in the car and I couldn't pick him up so I had to ask a friend to do it for me. I am lucky to live above my SIL, Brother and some of SIL's family that are good friends with me.

But since it started snowing and the driveway is getting icy, I have to make him walk by himself and just hold hands, hoping neither of us take a spill.... It is coming soon, I know it.

saturdaynightdoubletree · November 2012

It's not out of your normal every day, so I'd say go for it unless you experience a lot of pain. I still pick up DS a lot (28lbs), DD occasionally (33lbs), and have also picked them both up at the same time Tongue Tied

we live on the second floor and sometimes it's necessary. I also broke the rules after DS was born (c-section) and often carried DD because she was still so young and I'm a SAHM, there was no other way to get her in and out of her crib. Do what feels comfortable. LO's don't understand and it can throw them off if all of a sudden you just stop picking them up (IMO).

sbevmc09 · November 2012

I still pick up DS (34lbs) just as much as I did pre-pregnancy. He's 2 1/2. There's really not much way I can avoid it. I can say it's getting rather difficult at this point, but... :shrug: I'm a SAHM, it's not like I can have the dog help me.

As far as the safety of it, I've always heard that if it's something you're used to doing it's nothing that is harmful. I don't worry about it hurting anything, it's just uncomfortable and harder to do at this point.

ericalee27 · November 2012

Yep, DS1 is 28 lbs and still lifting. It is getting to be a little harder though I doubt I will stop at any point before DS2 is here.

GigiFairy · November 2012

DS is 32lbs and try to avoid picking him up, but I still do on ocassion, like if I'm in a rush, I'll pick him up to his car seat. I think it's near impossible not to do it with little kids.

mistresscox · November 2012

MrsCarroll.6-10-07:
I'm a believer in "listen to your body" (so are my doctors really) and I do. If I am feeling pain from something I stop or will slow down.

That's been my approach. Some days I am extra tired or sore (usually after a really rough night at work) and I don't lift her-I make her come to me. But most days I still feel fine and don't see a reason not to lift her.

I'm glad I'm not alone in this! I just couldn't fathom that other pregnant women were just flat out not lifting kids. Seemed odd to me for sure.

eSynergy · November 2012

I'm still lifting our 2.5-year-old. Mostly for hugs or it's him coming up on my lap on the couch. At the end of the day, I leave a lot of lifting (in/out of the bathtub) to DH b/c I'm sore & tired by that point. I just listen to my body and what I think I can handle.

wifeofadam · November 2012

Um. I couldn't function day to day without doing heavy lifting. My kids range in weight from 36 - 21 pounds and I have to lift them all throughout the day at different points. That's life.

I was used to heavy lifting before I got pregnant, so I continue to do it now. Last week I carried four boxes of Christmas decorations up from our basement and two days age I carried the boxes containing our half frozen beef in from the car and down into our basement freezer. ::shrugs::

101Mims · November 2012

Yup - still lifting our big little guy all the time. He?s only 14mths, but a rather impressive 33lbs, and there?s just no way to avoid it.

It?s a bit of a delicate opperation getting off the couch and transitioning him to his crib, when he?s asleep on my lap. But I just take it slowly so I keep my balance and lift from my knees.

Other than that it?s not a problem picking him up from the floor as he?s walking/toddling now so I dont have to reach down as far.

Saying that - I can?t carry him about for more than a few minutes at a time, but even DH has to make an effort, if the boy isnt in the carrier.

onlymeggan · November 2012

My DS is almost 2 and 33lbs. If my baby wants "up, up, mama" then darnit I'm lifting him up. Someone at daycare asked me "what are you going to do when they tell you not to pick him up?" My answer was "ignore them". I have to lift him to get him into his high chair and his carseat and when he wants to be carried and held I do it. If my H is around I have to hand DS over after a few minutes because that boy is HEAVY or I throw him in a cart if I'm by myself. Either way, I have to lift him to get him where he's going. DH said try not to let DS2 fall out in the process of picking up DS1. At least DS2 comes with his own bungee cord right? LOL

Mrs.DeliaMarieP · November 2012

My DS is about 33lbs. My OB has never given me a weight lifting restriction (that I am aware of), so if I need to, I pick him up, but I don't carry him for any length of time, or walk around. The most I'll do for him on a rare occasion now is bring him up the stairs. Otherwise, it's usually to pick him up and put him on the counter so I can brush his teeth, or just to give him a hug. If he wants to stay up longer, then I sit down on the couch and we snuggle that way.

He rarely asks me to lift him, so when he does, I do it if I can, because he has been regressing a bit, so I'm going to play into it during this phase, as he has enough changes going on in his little life right now.

LoveBeingAWife33008 · November 2012

I pick up my 33 pounder daily.

newly_naugler · November 2012

DS is about 35 lbs and I still pick him up. No complications and I can't bear for him to come to me to cuddle and not lift him. I say as long as your well and your back can handle it, you should be fine. I have a c-section coming in 11 days and won't be able to lift him for 6 weeks. It's going to be hard for me scoop him up.