Jolly Jumpers are BAD for infant development

There is a lot of research coming out now that shows the harmful effects of Jolly Jumpers on the physical development of children. Chronic back pain is one such life-long crippling effect that we, as mothers, surely wouldn't want for our children.

The Jolly Jumper encourages tippy-toe bouncing which is counter productive for the development of good walking technique. They also encourage the strengthening of certain muscles out of balance with others which is what is now coming through in research as resulting in back problems in adult life.

I don't know if this has ever been raised on these forums before, but it seems to me that a good 75% of mothers that I speak to are using Jolly Jumpers as a convenient way to entertain their children while they get on with house work etc. I have to wonder if these mothers know about the current recommendations by child health professionals STRONGLY AGAINST using this equipment (as well as other bouncers and walkers that encourage use of the toes over weight balanced properly on feet).

Please, if your children are not able to bear weight on their feet yet, consider ceasing use of your jolly jumper or severely limit the time you place your baby in it. I am writing this note because it makes me sick to my stomach to think of our children growing up with chronic pain that will never go away and can not be fixed.

I understand where you are coming from but also if used correctly I dont see a problem with them jack was never in his longer than 15min at a time...which I beleive is the recomended timeframe I do ahve friends that leave their kids int hem for hr's on ends and I can/do see a problem with this

I was told by a physio and pead they are fine if used for maximum of 10 mins a day, in fact they are beneficial to them.

We have one must say not used much as to much of a hassle as we have exersaucer which DS is it for short periods at a time multiple times a day. He gets cranky if there too long.

Interesting!

I put Mason in one but only a couple of times as he hated it and I really didn't like it either. Kind of freaked me out a bit and then we lent it to BIL along with lots of other stuff that we never got back.

Both of my girls used them a few times a week when they were younger and have never had any issues walked and crawled fine never had a problem i actually recommend the jolly jumper to my friends.

It only encourages tippy toe bouncing if it hasn't been set at a correct height level.
My DS never bounced on his tippy toes in it. I think any problems that may be caused by a tippy toe bounce would be more likely now that he scoots along furniture on his tippy toes.
I don't see a problem if used correctly at all. And most babies get sick of it within 10 miniutes anyway...

yep have to agree with others in this thread.
Jack only lasts 10mins max in it...then gets the cranks...
if set at the right height/level tippy toe bouncing shouldn't occur...

I was told by MCN not to use one but I have and DS loves it...I did wait till he was 7 months and was very good on his feet. He is only in it for a maximum of 15 mins per day maybe 3 times per week and always supervised!!
I have a friend who's 2 children have used a jolly jumper and are perfectly fine. I have another friend who didn't use one and her child walks on tippy toes!!! So who really knows??? Just use common sense when using one!

I did some research on it before I put DS in it, and from what I found, a lot of the dangers could be significantly reduced by setting the height so that they were bouncing flat footed rather than on tippy toes, and by limiting time in it.

I was a little concerned that JJ's can place the hips in a position that is not "normal" for their stage of development, but my MCHN (who is, oddly, very concerned about hips) did not seem to think this was an issue.

I'm surprised to hear about backs. To me, it seems like what he is doing in the JJ is pretty much the same thing he is doing when I hold him upright- ie- bouncing like crazy- but without killing my arms! I suppose the different might be how long you do it for, and, as we've all said, foot position.

My DD uses it probably twice a day but never for more than 10 minutes at a time - as recommended by the store we bought it from.
We have the height set where her feet are flat on the floor and she just boings around happily.
My DS15, DD13 and DS10 all used walkers too and they are just fine and don't have any prob's at all.

Yeah I agree with Rach and Feeb. Ava used hers and her development is fine. She's just gone 10 months old and is already walking.

The problem is that research and information is only now emerging (because Jolly Jumpers haven't been around for that long) that there are long-term problems for adults related to their use.

The health professionals are advising against their use.

My DD's physio has warned me against using one but only because she is already behind in development and due to time in hospital as a baby and a chromosome deletion she is likely to struggle with her developmental milestones in the future so we don't need anything to hold her back more than needed.

I am a bit against walkers etc anyway so it didn't really bother me. When I did discuss it with the physio however she did say that if a baby is healthy and meeting milestones then a max of 10-15mins a day was fine.

My nephew practically lived in his jolly jumper and walker and he was walking independantly at 10 months and is a healthy active 10 year old now, hmm, I find that strange that I have seen that it did not 'harm' him yet I am still a bit unsure about them, I too just cannot see it being all that good for there back.

All that said, my DD was given one as a Xmas gift, she does enjoy it but I am very concious of her develpment so she gets one 10 minute bounce every 2 weeks (in between each physio appointment)

Good on you for informing others on something they may not have known or simply not have thought of :D

Charlotte loved hers, was in it every day and has no problems with her back, her hips, her feet or walking. in fact she was standing and chair walking at 8 months and walking at 10 months. She has never had an issue at all, ever.

Most of the problems people seem to have can be resolved by common sense and following the instructions. WRT to studies showing problems in adults directly due to the use of JJ as babies, I find this very hard to believe - how on earth would they prove that the problems were caused soley by the JJ?? Did they leave people in traction for their lives except to put them in a JJ? It would be the only way to conclusively prove that it was JJ that caused any such damage.

I rave about JJ they are fabulous, and are very good for encouraging balance, coordination and muscle control. They are also fun!! Thanks for posting though :) Nice to know people care

I think like many things there is a potential risk. Just because you use a jolly jumper doean't mean your child will definately walk on tippee toes, have back issues etc. But, there are associated risks, particulalry if it is not used correctly. It is good to be aware. ;)

Kuriaza- Thanks for pointing out the current research. It is always good to be informed. I have heard a bit about it, and was always cautious to only use it for short periods and at the correct hight.

I agree, thanks for putting the research out there - it's not meant for people to take it personally - just information for you to do with what you will.

i think also when new research comes out about a popular item, often it is met with scepticism because we all like the said item.
but its this info that once its really our there then we can make informed desicions about it rather then assume the marketting company for these products have our childrens best interests at heart.

yes i own and have used the JJ

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Kuriaza- Thanks for pointing out the current research. It is always good to be informed. I have heard a bit about it, and was always cautious to only use it for short periods and at the correct hight.

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We always used a jolly jumper for our babies but after reading more and more things coming out about the potential damage, we sadly resigned ourselves to not using it any more.

Like a previous poster said, there's nothing wrong with being informed and you just do with the information what you see as appropriate.

My mum used one for us, I used one for all 3 of my boys, my sister used one for her son, my friends all used one for their kids... guess what... noone has any issues with walking on their tip toes, chronic pain or any of the other so called side effects of using one. I even used a walker with my first, and those play centres for the other 2. In fact Ashton has a tigger jolly jumper and 2 play centres. Am I worried? No!

My opinion is it is absolute rubbish that it will harm your child. What will harm your child is not using these things appropriately, it is people who leave their kids in them for hours and hours daily. It is parents who use them as a baby sitter. When used appropriately I don't see how they can be bad. My children were certainly not behind in walking or having any issues with their walking, in fact the opposite when my 8.5 month old started walking.

I think you would be hard pressed to find someone who has had a problem for every person that hasn't. I am yet to meet someone IRL who has had issues with them, yet I know more people than I can count on my hands who haven't.

Just MY opinion of course.

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The problem is that research and information is only now emerging (because Jolly Jumpers haven't been around for that long) that there are long-term problems for adults related to their use.

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The first Jolly Jumper was invented by Susan Olivia Poole in 1910 and produced for the retail market in 1948.

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They have actually been out for a while :)

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They have actually been out for a while :)

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The picture on the box proves how long they have been around Lol looks very at least 1960s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well that is interestin!

Our DD LOVED her JJ and went in it most days from about 4.5months. SHe already had a lot of back and neck strength and I think it helped her gain leg strength too. I was always careful to have it at the right height and when she learned about timing she was boinging away happily on bended knees and flat feet. She was completely manic about it! There is no way she wanted to come out after only 10mins, she wanted about 30mins most days.

I wonder when this information came out as our JJ was bought new about 1year ago and there is quite a lot written onthe box about researchers saying how GOOD they are for child development etc.

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My mum used one for us, I used one for all 3 of my boys, my sister used one for her son, my friends all used one for their kids... guess what... noone has any issues with walking on their tip toes, chronic pain or any of the other so called side effects of using one. I even used a walker with my first, and those play centres for the other 2. In fact Ashton has a tigger jolly jumper and 2 play centres. Am I worried? No!

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I understand you aren't concerned, and that's fine, that's your prerogative, but that kind of rebuttal to research ("I used to do it and I was fine") was used by people who objected to car seats and smoke free environments, too. And it's part of the alcohol in pregnancy debate. Note, I'm not saying Jolly Jumpers are like tobacco and alcohol :)

Maybe the OP can post some links to the actual research - I'm certainly looking for some - so that we can have a discussion that's informed by more than anecdote. :) I'm certainly interested in exploring it :) It's interesting that there are no Australian standards relating to this equipment and many children's hospitals advise against using them.

LOL Feeb I know, the mum looking at the baby smiling while she is cooking or whatever is a riot.

I saw this piece of footage on the telly the other day that had this room with like 30 babies in JJ equivalents from "ye olden days" (well, it was black and white....so a little while ago at least)- actually, it might have been on Bringing Up Baby. So I guess the concept has been around a while.

But I am glad that the OP put this post up- DS adores his jumper, so it reminds me to make sure he is not in it for tooooo long.

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by people who objected to car seats and smoke free environments, too. And it's part of the alcohol in pregnancy debate. Note, I'm not saying Jolly Jumpers are like tobacco and alcohol :)

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I was actually thinking of listeria! Many say they eat this and that and their babies were fine - but if you were the unlucky one - just not worth it.

But i digress .... sorry :redface::redface::redface:

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My mum used one for us, I used one for all 3 of my boys, my sister used one for her son, my friends all used one for their kids... guess what... noone has any issues with walking on their tip toes, chronic pain or any of the other so called side effects of using one. I even used a walker with my first, and those play centres for the other 2. In fact Ashton has a tigger jolly jumper and 2 play centres. Am I worried? No!

My opinion is it is absolute rubbish that it will harm your child.

I think you would be hard pressed to find someone who has had a problem for every person that hasn't. I am yet to meet someone IRL who has had issues with them, yet I know more people than I can count on my hands who haven't.

Just MY opinion of course.

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Hun, the OP wasn't attacking anyone who uses a Jolly Jumper. She is pointing out that there has been research on the effects of using a Jolly Jumper. Perhaps dont dismiss something as "absolute rubbish" until you have read the research being spoken of. Thats fantastic that you're not worried, but others may still find the information useful. ;)

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The picture on the box proves how long they have been around Lol looks very at least 1960s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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thats what i was gonna say :lol:

i use mine rarely , infact only when im not feeling lazy ..
DD has a fisher price rainforest jumperoo .. its sorta like a JJ as it has springs and she bounces , atm DD jumps flat footed in it , and she has been usuing it for about 2 months , and just like JJ she gets sick of it after a while ..

everything in moderation .. be wise, and dont use it as a babysitter , thats what a TV is for , oh they are bad too , well give them food .. oh eating esp in front off the telly is bad too , in a way "researchers" will tell us everything is bad for our kids ..


BUT now that i know it can cause back pain .. as a long term back pain sufferer i will be care ful of how often i put her in the jumperoo . as shes in it about 3 times a day ... !!
so id hate for my kids to have to go through it .. both DH and I have chronic back pain , so not matter what we do its prolly in there genes anywya :(

i also used to put DS in the JJ for way too long , i didnt know better ... but he loved it ... in the end every time you got him to stand on your lap he would bounce like he was in the JJ... he bounced everywhere :lol: but his development was fine .. i think 3 mths was the earliset he was in it .. i put dd in th JJ at 3 mths but its was clear she wasnt ready for it .. thanks for letting us see the flip side on a prduct we all thought was a good thing for our kids !

I think any product can be damaging if not used smartly...

I mean, chidren have drowned in bath seats, but that doesn't mean not to use them, just use them smartly KWIM?

We just had one bought for us (Jazz was 6 months). of course it would do damage if people used them as a babysitter, and I am too scared of leaving Jazz alone when she's in it just in case something happens, and we follow the recommendations from the manufacturer so... yeah...

Anything can cause damage if not used right, but I can't see what harm it would do for not even 20 minutes a day...


Oh, and there was jolly jumpers on some of the "Bringing UP Baby" show, and it was showing 1960's bubs so obviously they have been around for a fair amount of time...

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everything in moderation .. be wise, and dont use it as a babysitter , thats what a TV is for , oh they are bad too , well give them food .. oh eating esp in front off the telly is bad too , in a way "researchers" will tell us everything is bad for our kids ..

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:rofl:

As for dismissing things and saying it's a load of rubbish, I think it is, I did say it was MY opinion, and it still is MY opinion. I never said the OP was attacking me, I just said what MY OPINION was.

If we listened to every bit of research that has come out we wouldn't do anything but sit in a corner of a dark room and starved ourselves... because everything we eat, are surrounded by and do is dangerous, can cause cancer, allergies, infertillity and early death...

With both kids I found it way to much hassle to set-up for only 10 minutes of use, I know others do not find it a hassle, but I did so please respect that. Also IMO there are just too many warnings with it with fully trust it. I have managed to survive with out using one on a daily basis, I would never buy one for a gift and if someone ask me a direct opinion about one, I would tell them not to bother.

I think it is great that there is more information getting out there about them so parents can make informed decisions.

I was given one but only put DD in it once ever. It just didn't seem appropriate to me to put a baby incapable of getting into a position to bear weight in a position where they were bearing their weight. Does that make sense? Like i can imagine the human body having evolved to the point that it can withstand the amount of time one would be able to hold a baby in that position or it would be able to hold itself (DD loved to "stand" on my lap and bounce but could only do it for a few moments, NEVER 10! and when she sat down between standings she sat on her tush on my lap, rather than having her weight suspended from her crotch). I don't see how i can rely on her body being able to cope with the artificial set-up of a JJ or similar (didn't use walkers, baby bjorn-style carriers or anything else that held her weight by her crotch for this reason). We surely haven't evolved that much since 1948! LOL!

I don't know anyone who's had problems with them though, but all the babies i know who were in them are still kids. I have back pain from a tilted pelvis which i've had since birth - i was 24 before i started experiencing related pain!

Bx

My understanding is that the concern relating to JJs is the same as that relating to Baby Bjorn type carriers - in that the baby's weight is supported by the crotch which is thought to contribute to spine compression (spondylolisthesis).

One of the key sources of evidence to support the recommendation against excessive use of devices that support babies by the crotch is the significantly high occurrence of spondylolisthesis in native Eskimo populations (as high as 60%, compared to only 5% average in other cultures), who regularly use crotch supporting papoose carriers to carry their babies. Reference here.

Hence a flat footed stance in a jolly jumper is favourable, as it means that the baby is supporting more of its own weight and is not being supported directly by the jumper.

Kuriaza would you mind please referring me/us to the research? I would like to read it myself. Cheers :)

When I did my anti-natal classes last year the occupational therapist there advised us against using them as she has seen many children with compressed spines and damage to knee joints and bowed legs from using the JJ and baby walkers. When I googled JJ a few months ago I found that they are actually on the Choice '10 Things Not to buy for your children' list along with baby walkers. I wouldn't use on for Olive because of the potential risk and my 12yr old niece has bad ankles and was in a JJ as a baby so there could be a link.. The dangers with JJ and BW are also about the safety of door frames holding children and babies walking themselves into dangerous things or down stairs etc.
It's a parents decision to use these products but the way they are marketed is very misleading and anyone can be paid to give their expert opinion on the box of any product.
I also think it's abit premature to say "I used it and they were fine" because how do you really know until it's too late?
I also wonder what OT's and phyios have to gain by saying they aren't good for babies, they are the experts.

Wow that's interesting that they were invented so long ago, I had no idea. I started watching that TV show (bringing up baby) but I couldn't watch it, it made me so angry to see the vacant, neglected eyes, and hear the desperate cries, of the babies being subjected to the 1950s style of parenting, any way I digress.

I can't point you to any articles online (partly because I take fairly lightly what I read online and partly because I always get in trouble for posting links), but Olive'smummy has said the same things I've heard about and the information about Eskimos that Suse presented is also interesting (I didn't know about that particular study).

As already mentioned, Choice magazine lists it amongst the top ten things not to buy for your child, but that's for safety reasons (JJ collapsing on top of babies and cracking their skulls).

The Child Occupational Therapist who gave a talk at the community health centre recently told us quite a bit of information about it, including the information about back problems. She was clearly against their use but acknowledged that some parents won't give them up and so asked that "we" use them minimally and not before a child can support their own weight.

If you do want to research it further, there is quite a bit of information about Vertebral Subluxations (for example) and the use of Jolly Jumpers available on the internet.

Cheers for that. I think the same issues apply for Baby Bjorns, with respect to Vertebral Subluxation....

Sounds like its another one of those things that, as mothers, we are going to have to weigh up the pros and cons and make a call for whatever we are comfortable with. BPA in plastic bottles is my thing, hence my boys use glass bottles.

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I can't point you to any articles online ... and partly because I always get in trouble for posting links)

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Kuraiza, you are allowed to post links provided that they are to non-commercial sites, so links to articles are fine.

I have a colleague who said and I quote "I drank two pints of beer everyday when I was pregnant and my daughter is fine" and no one wanted to point out to her that her daughter is not fine! Anyway I digress.

Child: Care, Health and Development
Volume 27 Issue 3, Pages 295 - 306
Published Online: 12 Jan 2002

Infant motor development and equipment use in the home
A.L. Abbott and D. J. Bartlett
School of Physical Therapy, Elborn College, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

"Statistically significant correlations were found for the relationships between total equipment use and infant motor development"
"These findings suggest that infants who have high equipment use tend to score lower on infant motor development or that infants who have low equipment use tend to score higher on infant motor development".

Jolly Jumpers do not help babies to walk better or have better balance. The American Academy of Pediatrics says "Infant walkers and jumpers and car safety seats
should not be used as positioning devices in
the home."
(http://brightfutures.aap.org/pdfs/Gu...l_Activity.pdf)

So once again, the notion of everything in moderation comes into play.
They didn't say the compared to children who NEVER used the equipment, they said low use of equipment.
It also doesn't state the parameters of the testing, how many children were used and what their definitions of use were. It also doesn't say anything about a control group, to measure the 'normal' progress of children who don't use any of the said equipment.
From my personal experience, a JJ (not a walker) did have a significant positive impact on Charlotte's balance and walking, and many other kids I know benefited too.

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"Infant walkers and jumpers and car safety seats
should not be used as positioning devices in
the home."

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is a great little sound byte to prove a point, but you have used it completely out of its intended context. the FULL statement was actually about allowing a child to explore the environment, and not leave a child in a restrictive device for excessive periods of time in place of full unrestricted `movement like tummy time. and not a comment on their intended use, as prescribed by the mufacturers.

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Infants need parents and other caregivers to
provide consistent, lively, and developmentally
appropriate physical activity. Without ade-
quate physical stimulation, infants adopt
more sedentary behaviors and tend to roll
over, crawl, and walk later than babies who
enjoy physical activity with a parent or
caregiver.

Giving infants freedom of movement
encourages them to explore their environ-
ment and learn about their surroundings.
Playpens, swings, and infant seats may be
appropriate at certain times, but parents
should be encouraged to let the infant move
around freely with close supervision. Infant
walkers and jumpers and car safety seats
should not be used as positioning devices in
the home. Consideration should be given to
families who live in environments where they
do not feel it is safe for their child to explore,
such as in shelters or substandard housing.
Discussions with parents who live in these
environments can help them identify appro-
priate activities so that their child can meet
the daily physical activity recommendations.

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Again, statistics and studies are great sources of information, but they MUST be taken entirely in context. Their parameters must be clearly explained - otherwise they are easily adaptable to prove both the pro and con of the one argument.

... but playpens, swings and infant seats are not the same as walkers, jumpers and car safety seats, they would have used the same words if they meant the same things. They are differentiating between them. The quote was not altered by being taken out of context.

I can't help but notice how defensive people are about this issue. What if you're wrong and your children end up with back problems? Is it worth the risk?

But what if the health professionals are wrong and there's no connection between JJs and developmental delays and back problems in adult life and you don't use a jolly jumper for your child ... nothing.

I also can't stand the argument that your mother did it so it's ok. Was it OK for generations of Chinese women to bind their daughter's feet because their mothers had done it to them? It's an extreme example but I use it to illustrate the point that your argument is simply invalid.