![]() This is especially noticeable when they are put on a flat, hard surface. Children can have difficulty bringing their hands closer to the center of their bodies, loosening their grip, or grasping toys. When lying down, the child will also give the impression of being “stuck” to a surface. In this situation, babies, instead of building tension in their torsos, shift bodily tension outward causing their fists to become clenched. The soft surface envelopes the child’s torso, providing artificial stabilization. When babies lie in bouncers (which prop up their backs), they do not have the opportunity to learn how to stabilize their torsos and fully control their bodies on their own. In sum, the center of the body becomes stabilized, which allows the arms and legs to move more freely. With this core stability, babies can start to “organize” activity at the center of their bodies - joining their hands in front of their chests, lifting their bent legs above the ground, putting their fists into their mouths, and, eventually, loosening their grip and reaching for toys with their hands. When babies lie on a stable and somewhat challenging surface (like a mat), they begin to build up tension along the main axis of their bodies: The torso muscles strengthen and provide them with solid support. Nevertheless, baby bouncers can have a negative impact on a child’s development… So how can you tell if your little one is OK with this? After all, there are children who use bouncers and still develop normally. I could say this type of equipment is bad for your baby, as I’m not a big fan of it - but that’s not the point here.
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