In conversation with: Pediatric Physio Growth

We are Daniëlle and Maayke, 2 enthusiastic pediatric physiotherapists at
Pediatric physiotherapy Growth! in Zoetermeer. In our practice, we see many parents with their newborn baby, with a variety of care needs. As more and more is known about the many benefits of ergonomically carrying your child, we have both been trained as babywearing consultants. In doing so, we use carrying as a means of influencing the demand for care.
How wonderful then, that with the Womboo ergonomic carrying is made even easier!

The benefits of carrying in some care cases

• Wearing and preferential posture: With preferential posture, the baby lies most of the time with his or her head turned 1 way. Regularly, this preferred posture is also present in the entire posture of the body. As a result of lying on 1 side for long periods of time, there is a chance of a flattening of the skull, making it even more difficult to turn the head to the other side.
  To break the preferred posture, one of the important things is that muscle strength and head balance begin to develop symmetrically. And to get the shape of the head round again, it is important that there is no pressure on the back of the head at the site of the flattening.
  Carrying your child, as in the Womboo, gives your child a chance to exercise head balance at the same time. Thereby, by using the head support flap, you can ensure that your child will look at the non-preferred side. And also there is no pressure on the back of the head while wearing. Win-win-win, in other words.
• Wearing and a restless or crying baby: With restless babies or crying babies, it is always important to find out what is causing their behavior. There may be overstimulation. Babies still have little to no ability to regulate their own stimulus processing, for which they need their parent’s help. Regulation of alertness and stimulus processing is primarily through the senses. When using the Womboo, multiple senses work together to provide calmness and thus regulation.
  * Through touch, warmth and firm, deep pressure are perceived.
  * The ear hears the familiar sound of mother’s heartbeat and voice.
  * Mother’s scent is also still familiar to the child from the womb.
  * Baby’s vision is still developing; at a short distance from mother, he can already distinguish her face well and thus seek peace with her.
  * Through the rhythmic movements, the balance system also experiences peace and familiarity.

Some tips for using the Womboo

In order to carry your child as comfortably as possible, for both yourself and your child, here are some tips that can help in this regard, as far as we are concerned.
* Once your baby is in the Womboo, make sure you take good care of the M position of the legs. By tilting your baby’s pelvis with your hands, where the buttocks sink a little lower, so to speak, you can manage this quite easily.
* Once your child is in the Womboo, make sure you can easily give a kiss on the head. If your baby sits lower, carrying ends up being less ergonomic for yourself, and also maintaining the M position can be more difficult.
* Especially with young babies under 3 months of age, make good use of the head support flap. The head balance is not yet developed and support at the rear is needed continuously. What can be very pleasant is to roll up a small cloth, such as a (clean) spit swab, and then roll it into the head support flap. This way, the cap can provide a little more support. In doing so, make sure the distance between your child’s head and your chest is small. Your child then has enough opportunity to exercise head balance but at the same time enough support when they want to rest or sleep.
* Does your child have a preferred posture? Then try using the head support flap to shield the preferred side so that the distraction is visible on the other side.

Do you have a request for help or care? Does your baby have preferential posture, problems in stimulus processing or another problem and want to use the Womboo? If so, feel free to contact us for advice focused on carrying in conjunction with your child’s care needs.

Interested in learning more about Pediatric Physio Growth? Check out their website here: www.kinderfysiotherapiegroei.nl