18 Aug 😬Is your baby constantly arching when you carry them that you feel like they will flip out of your arms? Is your baby 👶🏻unable to sit by themselves because they are arching so much they fall over backwards?
Arching is an extensor pattern where baby is throwing their head backwards causing their spine and whole body to curve backwards. Newborns are seen to arch their back gently when they are stretching which only lasts for a few seconds. Arching becomes a concern when baby is arching for prolonged periods or arching to the point that it is difficult to hold baby in any other positions.
There are 3 possible reasons why a baby is constantly arching:
😳 1. Baby is arching because he is experiencing physical discomfort due to issues such as gas, colic, acid reflux, or digestive problems. Often such arching is accompanied by painful crying and can come in “waves” of pain when baby has gas or reflux. To stop baby arching, the underlying digestive problem needs to be addressed.
😳 2. Baby is arching because he has been spending a lot of time in a Jolly Jumper and has learnt to arch and jump in it. Jolly Jumpers encourage baby to jump with their tip toes causing an extensor pattern of arching their body. Often babies develop such strong extensor patterns that they are unable to sit independently or stand with their feet flat and body upright. To stop baby arching, the Jolly Jumper should be put away.
😳 3. Baby is arching because of the way he is handled which encourages arching patterns. A common example is when babies are carrying over parents’s shoulders, so whenever baby wants to look at their parents he has to arch his back to look at them. Another example is when baby is held and bounced on grandparents’ legs which encourages baby to squat and bounce by arching their bodies. To stop baby arching, carers need to change the way they handle baby.
If you are concerned about your baby constantly arching, ring My Favourite Physio on 📱(02) 9790 4233 or DM us @myfavouritephysio to speak to one of our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists today! 🤓
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