We have been in Belgium for 6 days now and I think Auro is finally over his jetlag. The flight from Beijing to Brussels was long and Auro didn't sleep very well. He woke up screaming almost every 30 minutes, so by the time we arrived in Belgium, both Auro and I (I breastfed him maybe 10 times!) were pretty exhausted. The time difference between China and Belgium (6 hours) made it extra difficult to recover from the trip, but after a couple of 'irregular' nights, Auro is himself again.After 2 days of nonstop whining and crying, however, I caved and went out to buy him a baby walker. It's just like the one he has (and loves) in China, but a bit more sophisticated with lots of buttons to push and rings to pull. Now, Auro is 'independent' again and has a whole house (and garden) to explore. Also, a friend of mine lent me some extra toys that belonged to her boys, so Auro really shouldn't get bored! After 4 days of seeing Auro 'unhappy', I'm relieved to have him smiling, talking and (unfortunately also) screaming again!!
Our flight to Japan also wasnt good, but on our way back, Maria was a good girl))
ReplyDeleteAnd she hated baby walker)))
BTW, if you were wondering, why Auro doesn't crawl or stand up, here's the answer... First, he doesn't need to :)
ReplyDeleteBut second... Hate to say it, but baby walkers damage the hips of the child (because they always use one foot more than the other, while when crawling they develop both in equal measure), it exerts the spine and inhibits the normal gradual muscular development, putting too much pressure on the spine and hips prematurely. They are banned for example in Canada. But more than anything - if a child normally starts to turn, then gradually sit up or pull himself along, gradually developing back, abdominal and side muscles so that they can sustain an erect posture, baby walkers put him upright before his pelvis muscles are strong enough for that. And he doesn't develop the rest of the muscles that he'd need for crawling in equal measure.
He will crawl off the nice blanket in your yard very soon of course :) But I just couldn't shut up. Sorry---
I have read the same things about those baby walkers and I am aware of the dangers, but ... he likes it so much! And I just can't always sit next to him (which I have to do, because we have a dog here...). Thanks for the advice, though ;-)
ReplyDeleteJust a brief quotation to give you a peace of mind.
ReplyDelete"Crawling...is considered only an optional skill and not one by which overall development can be gauged....More babies are crawling later these days, and significant minority never crawll at all. Neither is cause for concern as long as other important developmental milestones are being reached(such as sitting - a skill babies must master before they can even tackle crawling)." (Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg & Sandee Hathaway. 2004. "What to expect the first year".)
Actually, Phil has never crawled, but bottom-shuffled instead!
Thanks, Marina!
ReplyDeleteI'm not worried about Auro crawling or not. When he is on his tummy, he tries very hard to push his bottom in the air and with his hands he pushes himself backwards, so I think he will crawl when he is ready.
I got him a baby box (here he stays clean and safe from the dog who otherwise constantly comes to lick his face) in which he spends most of the morning playing with his toys. In the afternoon I sit with him in the garden (swimmingpool - blanket - swimmingpool- blanket), so actually he doesn't spend that much time in his baby walker.... only when I'm in the kitchen cooking and he doesn't want to be by himself in his box. So, while I'm preparing dinner he is usually right behind me pulling my skirt ;-)