Wondering if it is bad that my baby likes hanging her head upsidedown, and she likes daddy flipping her around real fast. Her little head is still developing, is this bad for her?????
He had stopped when I asked him to. But we talked about how fragile they are, and he will try to be a lil more careful. He loves them very, very much. Thanks for all your help!
It is bad for their brain to be bumped around like that. Have you heard of shaken baby syndrome. It is the same.
Trust your gut. When you are watching them, does it look like he is being overly-violent? Does your daughter ever look scared or like she is no longer having fun? My oldest daughter was the same way, she LOVED being twirled around and hung upside down and flipped around again. My husband had a game he played with her that he called 'upside-down baby'! But he was always careful and gentle and she never ever cried or asked him to stop. She was always laughing and smiling the whole time. She is now 12 and is fine. My middle and youngest daughters never liked to play that way. If my husband attempted even the mildest of movements with them they would get 'roller coaster face' and he would stop. Each child is so different! If she is happy and you don't think it is 'too much,' I'd say let daddy play! But if you ever start feeling like he is over-doing it then definitely step in. Trust your motherly instincts!
Motion is very important for brain development. Toddlers often want to spin, hang upside down, run in circles, because this is a natural desire creating stronger brains. (We eventually outgrow this when it no longer benefits the brain which is why you do not see adults running in circles!) I would always be sure they are safe when doing this, and if someone is holding them, the movements should be gentle due to the developing neck muscles.
I have a 6 year old girl and 3 year old boy. My husband is very physical with them. He's been trhowing them around since they could barely hold their heads up. While I have sometimes been terrified that they would be hurt they loved it then and still do now. I'm sure you are constantly reminding him that he needs to be careful and that she can "break". I wouldn't worry about it too much as long as they're both having fun and aren't being too rough!
Spinning and going upside down is great for her vestibular system. Just make sure she's not snapping her neck.
i was the same way. if it is making you uncomfortable better safe than sorry. i cannot see what type of rough housing is going on. and just because they think its fun dose not mean its safe. even if they are laughing ... i think this age is past the shaken baby syndrome...which can still happen durring play time. tell him to be a bit gentler with her till she is older, since it is bothering you.
Our daughter was exactly like this!.. She always wanted to be upside down.. She walked very early also (6 months, no kidding), so she was contently pushing her feet against our bodies and trying to flip herself upside down.. Scared the bejeezus out of us sometimes.. Once she go older she loved that hanging doorway jumper, she learned to spin that thing so fast and she was not even 10 months old.. Once she was 3 we purchased an "Air Pogo" and a "Twizzler". Both of these items hang from trees and they can spin super fast.. She was amazing.. Never seemed dizzy either...I thought she would grow up to be an ice skater or a ballerina, but she didn't...
Hi P.,
I understand that your DD likes the thrill of playing with her daddy flipping her around. I expect that he is handling her carefully and the child probably shrieks with joy. The problem is that her brain is banging around in her skull and it is being bruised and swells as any body part does when bumped. Blood vessels breaking and swelling in the brain especially in an immature baby's brain can cause brain damage. When I was a child, it was considered good fun for daddys to toss their children in the air and catch them. It was not known at the time that roughhousing could be injurious to childrens brains. Many people think that if their parents did it to them, it must be okay. Google shaken baby syndrome. Please know that I am not suggesting that there has been some injury to your baby, only to gain information. Peace, C.
PS> Thank you to Cherie's post!
my daughter is rougher than the boys are. let her play with her daddy--that is their special bond--i'm sure he won't hurt her. it probably is like a roller coaster ride.
This is so dangerous. Surprise... Kids like to do things that can hurt them like sticking keys in a socket. ;-) Yes she likes it but at her young age her brain has not grown to fit snug in her skull yet. That kind of fast motion can cause her to get Shaken Baby Syndrome. When he plays with her tell him to slow down. He can still flip her but not so fast.
You do have a good point to worry. Playtime should be safe and fun.
Hope this helps!
I've read about Shaken Baby Syndrome and understand your concern. However, from what I've read there must be repetitive VIOLENT shaking for it to occur. Your husband is probably not even close to what that requires. However, if you are uncomfortable with it, explain why and that he should consider your concern seriously. While the brain my not be bruised or otherwise damaged... her neck could be. He body is not fully developed...that is one of the reasons we have all these safety measures like car seats, baby gates, and other devices. And what happens if he were to catch her awkwardly? What other part of her body could be broken or injured? I'm all for giving a child that little thrill, but sometimes I do think that men just don't realize how rough they can be. Sometimes my husband will grab my arm too roughly when he wants my attention or tap my "hiney" when I'm cooking or washing dishes and it hurts because he doesn't realize his strength behind the action. And you cannot necessarily go by your child's reaction...plenty of children get hurt while enjoying seemingly innocent play. My children are 2 and 4 now and my husband does do a little mild "roughhousing" with them...and I do still remind him to be careful. He accepts it and usually does temper his play.
I haven't seen or heard of a baby yet that doesn't absolutely love hanging with their head upsidedown. As long as her daddy isn't making her neck jerk when he flips her she should be ok. Explain to daddy that flipping her around is ok AS LONG AS HE IS SUPPORTING HER NECK AND HEAD. Enjoy your baby's laughter because it is a special gift that is sure to lighten anyone's heart.
