Mom's Guide to Baby Safety

Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 June 2010 14:14 Written by Sandra Gordon

When I became a parent, nobody told me how hard it would be—especially on my wrists, elbows, back and neck. In a word—ow! All the lifting, bending and twisting I do without thinking countless times a day to get my 8-month-old and my 3-year-old in and out of strollers, cribs, car seats and on and off changing tables is taking a physical toll in the form of creaky knees, achy elbows and a rebellious back.

Sulkess, who has been practicing physical therapy for 16 years, says the biggest complaint she gets from new moms is upper-shoulder pain. She cites feeding, lifting your tot out of the crib and car seat as the causes of the pain. “Poor mechanics while doing all these activities can cause this,” Sulkess says.

Such poor body mechanics place too much force on ligaments, muscles, joints, tendons and spinal discs and can be harmful if you do them often. Women are especially prone to RSIs because, unlike men, they naturally lack upper-body strength.

Luckily, having good posture and learning how to lift and carry your child properly can reduce your risk of injury. With that in mind, here are five body-breaking moves and how to fix them.

Lugging an Infant Car Seat

Don't: Lean to the side and carry it on your forearm like a purse. This position stresses your back, shoulder, and especially that arm, experts say. Indeed, "after my youngest child was born, I developed pain in my shoulders that wouldn't go away," says Sandy Cummings, a mother of three. "The doctor diagnosed it as bursitis." The culprit: lugging around a 15-pound car seat with a baby inside. Experts say carrying an infant car seat on your arm is equivalent to walking around with three or four full paint cans in one hand, something most people wouldn't do, but yet, they'll carry a car seat that way.

Do: Put both hands on the handle, bend your elbows, and carry the car seat in front of you. The less distance between your torso and what you're carrying, the better for your back. Using both hands also helps distribute the weight evenly.

Lifting Your Baby From the Crib

Don't: Lock your knees or hold your baby at arms-length as you pick him up. This puts extreme pressure on your spinal discs, experts say.

Do: Plant your feet shoulder-width apart, lower the crib railing, and bend your knees. Then bring your baby as close to your body as possible before lifting him up.

Carrying a Toddler

Don't: Balance your child on one hip. This can strain your back and the ligaments on that side of the body. In addition, as your arm presses against your child, your muscles continually contract, reducing blood flow. Over time, this can lead to trauma of the tissues in your arm and shoulder.
Do: Hold her in front of you with her legs wrapped around your waist. Keeping your child centered will help you stand upright—your spine's natural position. Another option: Use a stroller (or encourage your child to walk) as often as possible.
 
Putting Your Child on Your Lap

Don't: Lean forward while you remain seated. Why? As you lift, the pressure on your spinal discs multiples to three to 10 times the weight of your child, experts says. If you're tall, for example, lifting a 20-pound toddler from the floor could put as much as 200 pounds of pressure on your back.
Do: Get down on one knee with the other foot planted in front of you, and hold her as you move back into your seat. Or have your child climb into your lap.

Lifting Your Toddler from a Car Seat

Don't: Do the twisted car seat lift. Worst-case scenario: With both your feet on the ground, you twist and lean into the car seat with your arms extended, your toddler at the end of them. Lifting your toddler that way can do a number on your knees, lower back, neck, shoulder, elbows and wrists.
Do: Put one leg into the car and face the car seat as you're putting your child in it, experts say. You'll take pressure off your back. If your car seat is in the middle of the back seat, climb in and face the car seat as you lift your child into it. Of course, positioning yourself properly can take a few extra seconds that you don't always have with a feisty toddler in tow. Still, it doesn't have to be perfect all the time. But the more often you lift correctly, the better you're able to tolerate it when you don't, experts say.

 Safety Quiz

Answer: A. As many as 80 percent of infant car seats may be installed or used improperly, which dramatically increases a child’s risk of injury in a crash. Reading the car seat manual and watching the installation video certainly couldn’t hurt. But your best bet is to visit a free safety seat inspection station near you before your baby is born and have a certified car seat technician install the car seat you’ve selected. You can find child safety seat inspection stations through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm to find one near you.

2) When are kids old enough to ride in the front seat of a vehicle?
A. age 8.
B. age 11.
C. age 13.
D. When they’re big enough to no longer need a booster seat.

Answer: C, age 13. Even with a seat belt, all kids under age 13 should ride in the back seat. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash statistics, children under age 13 were up to 35 percent less likely to be fatally injured in a crash when riding in the back seat. And by that age, they’re less likely to be injured in a front seat equipped with an air bag. When deployed, the bag can harm younger children.

3) At pool parties with your kids, you should:
A. Suit up and always be within an arm’s reach of your child when she’s in the water.
B. Assign a supervisor instead of assuming that somebody else is watching your child, whether it be a lifeguard or your spouse.
C. Both A and B.

Answer: C. If your child is a beginning swimmer, you need to stay within an arm’s reach of her when she’s in the water. If you don’t suit up, make sure one of you—either you or your spouse--is officially “on duty” and concentrating on your child, even if there’s a lifeguard on duty.

4) True or False: Using a sleep positioner in your baby’s crib or bassinet helps protect her from SIDS.

Answer: False. Sleep positioners don’t protect babies from SIDS and they’re a suffocation hazard. A bare crib or bassinet is best. That means no sleep positioners, bumpers, blankets, pillows or stuffed animals should be in your baby’s crib or bassinet. Dress your baby in a swaddle or sleep sack for warmth instead of using a blanket.

Get Strong!

Did you know that strengthening your abdominal, back, pelvic and hip muscles can reduce your risk of developing a repetitive-stress injury? Physical therapist Peggy Brill, author of “The Core Program,” recommends practicing this simple exercise at least three times a week.

Step 1: Lie on your back with your arms straight up toward the ceiling. Keeping your back flat against the floor, lift your legs over your pelvis and bend your knees at a 90-degree angle.
Step 2:  In one slow, smooth motion, bring your left knee toward your chest as you extend your right leg. Keep alternating legs as you incorporate your arms: When your left leg moves toward your chest, extend your left arm over your head, and vice versa. Repeat up to a count of 60.