A Hands On Hold On Approach to Parenting
Help Your Baby Develop Naturally
With Minimal Equipment*

Parents often ask:
What is the best way to use baby equipment to ensure my baby is safe, positioned properly, content, maintaining a properly rounded head, and meeting major milestones?

The answer is:
Babies are unique in their own abilities and timing for developmental skills.  Positioning infants in the variety of equipment that is available today can be very helpful to the parent and enjoyable for the baby but, if used improperly, can detract from natural development.  Too much time with the baby’s head lying in the same position can cause a misshapen head.  The occurrence of flattened areas of the head and most situations of tight neck muscles is completely preventable. 

This pamphlet describes:
1.   Most situations of equipment use that can detract from natural development.
2.   Methods that will promote natural development.
3.   Safe use of equipment.
4.   How to know if your baby’s head is becoming misshapen.
5.  A Hands On, Hold On approach that suggests the use of wraps, slings or harnesses that holds your baby close while keeping your hands free.

 Dr. Richard Kanoff, Pediatric Neurologist, Duluth Children’s Hospital, says:

"Torticollis [tight neck muscles] untreated, can delay a child’s ability to roll, sit, and use one side. Tummy time and adaptive seating that gives a baby’s skull time away from resting in the same position, will allow mother nature the time and opportunity to reshape the skull as the baby’s head continues to grow normally."

Quote from Chicago Tribune, June 8, 2010

Mistakes Parents Make and Easy-Does-It Remedies

The mistake: Parking an infant in a car seat. "Being held on Mom's hip or in Dad's arms requires a lot more balance and coordination than lying semi-reclined in a car- or bouncy seat," said Dr. Lise Eliot, associate professor of neuroscience at Chicago Medical School, a college within the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. "Babies can work on holding up their heads and strengthening their abdominal muscles while being held. Babies also need tummy time to strengthen their necks and upper arms and promote crawling."  A better way: Leave the car seat in the car.

*Equipment is anything that holds the baby in one position, such as; car seat, stroller, swing, and bouncer.