At what age are jumpers used for children? Is this useful?

Modern manufacturers offer a huge selection of exercise equipment for the little ones. For example, jumpers are very popular, allowing children to push off the floor with their feet and jump easily.

This kind of entertainment delights many babies. However, it should be remembered that it is not suitable for all children.

Today we will tell you at what age you should use jumpers and how to choose them correctly.

The proper development and good health of a child largely depend on regular physical exercise and positive emotions. These two conditions are combined by jumpers. They help the baby actively explore the world around him, and help mommy carve out a little free time for household chores.

What are jumpers?

Over the past 20 years, the market for children's goods has expanded significantly, and it is sometimes difficult for parents to resist the temptation to buy something to please the baby. Moreover, the social standard that parents are guided by includes the presence of a variety of toys for the child and a focus on his early development.

Another important factor that significantly influences the decision to buy an exercise machine is that the child’s play allows the mother to free up her hands and give her some time for a break and household chores.

Jumpers for children are a training toy, which consists of a soft high chair-seat with an elastic fastening. There are 2 options for jumpers:

1. mobile, which are installed on the floor, and the seat is fixed using a special frame with an elastic fastening;
2. suspended, which are installed in the doorway on fastenings; the seats are fixed with elastic belts.

The principle of operation is that the seat is suspended at a height that allows the baby to push off the floor and jump on the elastic straps.

There are several models of jumpers that differ:

• the depth of the seat - it can be high, reaching the armpits, or in the form of a regular chair with a backrest.
• additional accessories - floor-standing and sometimes hanging models are distinguished by a variety of game consoles.

In addition to jumpers, the following are popular with parents:

• walkers, which are a structure made from a seat mounted on a support with wheels, which allows the baby to move around the room, pushing off the floor with his legs, or simply from a support that can be pushed in front of him;
• swings, which can be electric or mechanical. An electric swing uses either a cradle (for children who cannot sit) or a high chair.

The manufacturer's instructions indicate that babies can use jumpers at the age of three to four months, after the baby has begun to hold his head well. To guarantee the safety of the baby, a high soft chair is used that reaches up to the armpits.

Parents must understand that the baby grows very quickly, and his future health is laid in infancy. Any attempt to speed up or skip any phase of normal development will lead to dire consequences in the future.

When can it be used?

During the period when the baby is trying to move independently, you can use a jumper. Only when the child stands firmly on his feet without assistance will the device bring him positive emotions along with the acquisition of skills for general development.

The most acceptable age for buying jumpers for a child is 6 months, since at the stage of 4-5 months the vertebral bones are not strong enough, and the device can injure the back. At the 6th month, both boys and girls have a formed skeleton, their skeletal system is quite strong, they begin to squat and jump, their muscles are ready for minor loads. Therefore, from this age the baby can be placed in jumpers. But it is worth considering that the floor model is recommended if the child is 6 months old. Hanging models are safe if the baby is 9-12 months old.

The device is strictly contraindicated if the child has:

• neurological manifestations;
• coordination disorders, orthopedics;
• low tone of the muscular system;
• allergic reactions, skin irritations.

Age for jumpers

Parents, when thinking about buying jumpers, follow 2 main motives:

1. the desire to accelerate the development of the child in every possible way;
2. the desire to keep the baby occupied and give the mother a break.

At what age can a baby be placed in jumping chairs without harm to his health? The opinion of pediatricians is clear - for this, the baby must be able to sit well on his own.

The development of motor skills and strengthening of the baby’s skeleton and muscles comes from top to bottom - this is due to the need for his intellectual development and preservation of life.

The first independent motor skill that a baby learns when mastering the world is to hold his head. This allows the first curve of the spine to form.

The next stage in mastering the body is turning over from your back to your stomach. This depends on the formation of reflexes and the disappearance of hypertonicity of the legs. The baby begins to learn this from the age of one month (the timing varies from person to person), and by 6 months the child can roll over freely without making excessive efforts. During this period, the second, thoracic curve of the spine is formed; the child’s high motor activity stimulates muscle development.

Gradual development of a child is reasonable - he begins to master new movements after he brings the previous ones to automaticity and his muscles become stronger for a new skill. Lying on your stomach, supported by your arms and with your head well fixed, is already preparation for further exploration of the world.

If you put a bright toy in front of a child, he will try to crawl, but he will be able to do this only when his muscles become stronger and he learns to coordinate his movements. Quite purposefully, he will be able to move forward only by 7-8 months of life - first on his stomach, then on all fours. At this time, the third lumbar curve of the spine is formed.

The child tries to sit up independently from four months, and sit without assistance at 7-8 months. How parents can determine whether their baby is ready to sit:

1. the baby makes attempts to rise in an attempt to grab the offered toy;
2. tries to sit up, grasping the fingers of an adult;
3. lifts her body with ease, holding on to her mother’s finger.

Active crawling strengthens the muscles of the whole body and allows the spine to form correctly. During this period, parents (often under the influence of others) make mistakes:

• they try to seat the baby prematurely using pillows or jumpers;
• restrict the movement of a child who has begun to crawl actively using a playpen.

Parents should know that there is no point in panicking because the baby holds his head up late or does not try to sit; the development of each baby is individual.

You need to review your baby’s diet with your doctor and discuss the prescription of therapeutic massage and gymnastics to strengthen his muscles in order to accelerate the development of motor skills. And remember – skipping any stage in a child’s development is dangerous.

At what age can a child be seated? This can only be done when he is ready for it. This can be determined by the following signs:

• the baby begins to crawl;
• enjoys sitting;
• fusses and cries when put in the crib.

As soon as the child's muscles and spine are able to support the weight of the child's head and body, and he begins to sit down, he can be placed in children's jumpers without risk to future health.

Komarovsky is against it!

In one of his programs, the famous doctor speaks quite categorically about jumpers and other “verticalizing” devices. Komarovsky is confident that for normal physical development and a healthy spine, a child needs to remain in a horizontal position for as long as possible.

Crawling – sitting – walking is the only correct scenario for the development of motor skills in the first year. Skipping and skipping these stages is fraught with serious health problems in the future, the doctor warns.

And Komarovsky is sure that walkers are not needed by the child, but by his mother, who is tired of entertaining her child in her arms.

What are the dangers of premature planting?

Large children often sit up later than their peers with low weights - they need a longer period of time to maintain large weights. Prematurely placing your baby even in pillows or jumpers with a high seat can lead to:

• excessive load on the fragile spine;
• overload of back muscles;
• impaired digestion and breathing due to improper position of internal organs;
• incorrect posture in the future;
• the development of pathologies due to incorrect posture.

There are prejudices about the age at which girls can be imprisoned. There is a widespread belief among people that early pregnancy for girls is dangerous - it will prevent them from getting pregnant normally in the future.

Doctors are skeptical about the sign that determines at how many months girls can be imprisoned, drawing the attention of mothers to the following:

• the bend of the uterus is a physiological pathology and is formed in intrauterine development;
• pathologies of the structure of the uterus are often caused by inflammatory processes.

What models are there?

Jumpers differ in the method of fastening, the seat for the child, and the spring elements.

• Differences in fastening: they are nailed into the doorway, attached to the door with clamps, and stand on legs.
• The differences are in the spring elements used: elastic band, metal spring.
• Differences in the seat structure: panty seat, seat with bumper.

The most inexpensive jumpers with seat panties, which are attached to the door frame with nails and spring with an elastic band. The only advantage of this model is its price.

Disadvantages include unreliability and unsafety (a child may fall out of them or hit the door frame while jumping). Disadvantages also include a hole in the jamb as a keepsake and the inability to move the jumpers to another place.

Walkers with legs and a door attachment can be moved from room to room. The disadvantage of the first model is its bulkiness, and the second cannot be attached to all doors.

When choosing between the type of spring elements, make sure that the elastic is not worn out (when buying used jumpers). If you decide to purchase a more durable model with steel springs, choose one where the springs are covered with covers.

Jumpers with a bumper are more expensive than regular models with a panty seat.

Additional educational toys are attached to the bumper. Thanks to the bumper, the likelihood that the baby will fall out of the device or hit a sharp corner is reduced to zero.

Doctors' opinion

Many pediatricians, including Dr. Komarovsky, are of the opinion that jumping and premature sitting creates an unbearable load on the spine of babies.

They believe that you can put a child in jumping chairs only when:

1. he sits steadily on his own;
2. costs;
3. tries to move with support.

A child is allowed to jump in the simulator for no more than 10 minutes at a time - this will minimize the load and develop muscles.

Prolonged stay in the jumpers is undesirable due to the strong pressure of the seat on the perineum, which is dangerous for both boys and girls - it leads to hypertonicity.

Dr. Komarovsky believes that the longer a child crawls, the healthier and stronger his spine will be in the future, fixed by healthy ligaments and strong muscles. And this, in turn, will protect the child from many problems - scoliosis, strangulation, radiculitis and intervertebral hernias with all the ensuing consequences.

Tips for care and use

• Choose the model that suits your apartment.
• Adequately assess your baby's development and decide whether he is ready to use jumpers.
• Adjust the jumpers to suit your child's height. The foot should be completely flat on the floor.
• Put your baby's shoes on or place a rubber mat under the jumpers that won't slip when the baby starts jumping.
• The time in jumping jacks increases gradually, starting from 3-5 minutes a day. The maximum time is 20 minutes per day.

Do not leave your baby unattended.

• Do not use jumpers after your baby has eaten.

Pros and cons of the simulator

Parents have already learned what jumpers are and at what age they can be used from the previous text. What benefit can they bring to a child?

The advantages of using the simulator include:

• strengthening the muscles of the baby’s legs and back;
• the child likes to jump, he gets sincere pleasure from it;
• the baby learns to coordinate his movements;
• the sense of balance and the vestibular apparatus are strengthened;
• The little one is given the opportunity to explore the world - the vertical position sees more.
• The device provides temporary safety for the child.

Negative aspects of using the device:

• restriction of the infant’s freedom of action;
• there is no support on the full foot - the baby pushes off with his fingers and toes;
• excessive time spent in the simulator causes excessive stress on the skeleton and large joints of the legs;
• the brain records monotonous vertical movements, which complicates the process of learning to walk.

A child should not be placed in a jumper or walker if:

1. rashes or redness are found on his legs or buttocks;
2. a developmental disorder of the hip joints was diagnosed;
3. neurological diseases were recorded;
4. the child suffered a lower body injury;
5. The baby cannot sit up independently.

Contraindications

Like any device, jumpers also have contraindications for use and arguments against their use.

So, jumpers cannot be used:

• in early childhood, when the baby still holds his head unsteadily and cannot keep his spine straight in an upright position;
• any neurological diseases and/or disorders of the baby’s musculoskeletal system prohibit jumping;
• damage to the baby's skin in places of contact with the jumper's seat.

Arguments against jumpers

• For full development, the baby must go through certain successive stages. One of the important stages is crawling , and the use of jumpers helps to skip it. In addition, when crawling, many more muscles are involved, the development of which is important for the start of independent walking. While jumping may appear to be more active, far fewer muscles are used than crawling.
• Jumpers can be dangerous. The baby may fall out of them or hit the support on which the jumpers are attached.
• Incorrect distribution of the load in jumping leads to curvature of the spine and improper development of the lower extremities. Jumpers are dangerous if you have dysplasia.
• Repeated repetition of pushing movements leads to the fact that the baby remembers this type of movement. This can affect the formation of correct walking.
• While in jumping shoes, the child experiences joy, and a “jumping” addiction may appear.

Rules for using the simulator

Before placing your little one in the jumpers, you should check their strength and reliability of fastening. If everything is ok, do the following:

• put shoes on your feet, this helps the correct formation of the foot;
• sit the child down;
• secure the baby with belts;
• check whether his arms are free;
• the baby should stand on the floor with his feet freely;
• you should show the child how to push off with his feet and jump;
• At the first sign of fatigue, the child is removed from the exercise machine.

Walkers and jumpers are convenient and functional devices that should be used carefully, for a short amount of time, not earlier than the child begins to sit well.

How to plant correctly?

No matter how many months you decide to put your baby in a jumper, it is important to do it correctly. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. Place your baby on the seat.
2. Place your hands on the cushions.
3. Fasten the seat belts and tighten them enough so that your child's full feet are on the floor with their knees slightly bent.
4. Be sure to lay out a mat and put shoes on your baby.
5. Make sure that the child sits upright and does not tilt to one side.
6. Give your child toys or tie them to a table.
7. There is no need to insist on the baby being in the device, or to persuade him when he resists, arches or cries.
8. When your baby is tired, take him out of the jumpers.

From the age of 11 months, the baby may no longer be interested in jumping jacks. If he doesn't show interest in the toy, don't insist that he play with it. At the age of one, the child is already fascinated by moving on his feet, and jumping can only irritate him.

The time spent in the jumpers should not exceed 15-20 minutes. It is especially undesirable for boys to spend a long time in jumpers, since the device puts pressure on the perineum and interferes with the development of the genital organs. In addition, the baby may not develop muscle tone properly.

When the child has already learned to crawl and is trying to stand up while holding onto a support, Dr. Komarovsky considers it the best time to test the device. This happens for about 7-8 months. This is the best time to be in the jumpers.

Reviews from parents

Olga, 32 years old, Moscow

We didn’t buy jumpers for ourselves, we didn’t have a chance, but our friends had them. Their child wasn’t particularly interested in jumping jacks, but mine just couldn’t put it down.

My friend said that she was not happy with the choice, since their baby (he is quite large) was uncomfortable sitting in it. They gave us that model, we use it for our pleasure.

The jumper itself is in the shape of panties and hangs on a special clip. The fastenings are strong, we have no complaints about the material. True, ours is already 8 months old and interest in the jumper is disappearing. I like the jumping swing better.

Alena, 45 years old, Rostov-on-Don

I don’t know, maybe it’s a coincidence, but my nephews and children started at 9-10 months. Everyone used jumpers. The eldest nephew did not buy jumpers and went after a year.

Fairy was always chosen among the producers. The first time we took a chance, we liked it, so we decided not to change it. They took both floor and hanging ones. 15 minutes of rest, and the child will have strengthened legs.

Denis, 39 years old, Samara

My wife bought jumpers. I wasn't impressed at all. The child often overweighted himself and sat crookedly. And he was sitting, not jumping.

The hole in the jamb pleased me least of all. When the jumpers were thrown away, the hole remained. The choice was based on cost. Maybe that's the issue. But we are waiting for the second one, I am categorically against the purchase - a waste of money.