How to prevent container baby syndrome

With all the baby products saturating the market container baby syndrome is on the rise.

What is Container Baby Syndrome?

Container Baby Syndrome (CBS) is a term describing babies who spend too much time in devices that restrict free movement who have developed a set of issues such as delayed development with milestones, head flattening, and torticollis. Containers include devices that typically involve strapping a baby in like bouncers, swings, strollers, car seats, jumpers, and exersaucers. Extremely soft or pillowy surfaces like baby loungers can also be considered containers because they do not allow full range free movement of the neck and body.  Although excessive use of containers can lead to CBS, this post won’t tell you to ditch your beloved baby swings and bouncers. Instead, we will explain how babies develop and give you alternative solutions, so you can be mindful of container use. 

How do babies develop?

It’s not surprising that CBS has increased with the surplus of baby products on the market. Baby products often advertise promoting motor development, making it seem like they are necessary to gain new milestones, but this is a myth. For example, a floor seat will not teach your baby how to sit. Babies develop strength and motor skills through free unrestricted movement by playing on the floor or flat surface in a variety of positions (back, belly, side). Motor development occurs in a head-to-toe pattern, with babies gaining skills such as head control first. If you think about the progression of major milestones (rolling, sitting, crawling walking), each skill requires more advanced use of a new body part. Babies are meant to freely wiggle, squirm, and work against gravity to explore how to move, which they cannot do in containers. Additionally, it is the lack of neck and trunk movement in containers that contributes to torticollis and head flattening. 

Optimal play areas:

So, if you’re not putting your baby down in a device when they’re awake then where do you put them? It’s simple, really! Your baby can be placed on a blanket on a floor from day 1! We prefer to use blankets on a floor mat or carpet for a little cushion. If you are worried about safety from other children or pets, you can use an enclosed area such as a pack ‘n play, play pen, or gated space. These options don’t count as containers because the baby can still move their body freely in this space. The more a baby gets puts on the floor, the more they will be comfortable playing here. A few toys laid out in the space is enough to entertain your baby and encourage them to explore their environment. 

When to use containers:

We like to think of containers as assets for parents. If you need to cook dinner, take a shower, or use the restroom, then absolutely use your container as a safe space for your baby. Sometimes, containers are necessary, such as using a car seat during car rides. There is no magic number for how short or long to use a container. However, be mindful of how much awake time is being spent in a container vs. in a space with free unrestricted movement. You can incorporate goals like trying to give floor time to container time in a 2:1 ratio or trying to limit container use to 20-minute periods a few times throughout the day. Think about taking your baby out of the car seat when you arrive to your destination or providing more floor play one day if container use was heavier the day before.