There are some wonderful baby chairs available on the market. The chairs allow even a young baby to sit fully supported in a nearly vertical position. Very often a mom can sit with her child in the chair right by her feet, so that she can touch the child or sooth them if they get fussy. How could these comfortable chairs cause any problems for a baby?
There are 2 major issues. The first is that the baby is so well supported that they do not need to use their own muscles to hold themselves up. The second problem is that when a baby is sitting in a chair, they are missing out on floor time, where development really happens. Floor time, especially tummy time, is critical for a baby to develop their motor skills.
My suggestion for the use of baby chairs is to minimize their use to 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Another idea is to use the chairs is during low energy periods for the baby, such as, when they are tired or not feeling well. Save high energy times for floor time.
I would love to hear any feedback from parents and therapists, pro and con on baby chairs and any other related topics.
Thank you,
Vickie
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