RE: preemie-l Preemie Legs -Reply
Susan Yusishen (SYUSISHE@city.winnipeg.mb.ca)
Thu, 20 Jun 1996 08:07:30 -0500
I've heard the same recommendations re walkers and "johnny jumpups".
We didn't use a walker as I don't feel they are safe (too many stairs in
our house) and I limited the jumper. Robert has no problems.
However, my niece who was full-term and is now 9 years old used
both lots and has always walked on her toes. Her parents "finally"
decided they should ask the doctor about it (as I said, she's 9!) and now
it looks like she might need surgery and/or braces and special shoes.
They are also doing tests for possible back problems that may have
been caused by so many years of this. I guess the point is, if your child
does seem to walk on their toes a lot, ask the doctor. It's much easier to
correct via therapy in a toddler than to have to have surgery, etc. and
back problems as an older child.
Susan (Mum to Robert 11/24/94 28-weeker now 19 months)
syusishe@city.winnipeg.mb.ca
>>> Tracy Peters <0005386491@mcimail.com> 06/19/96 02:44pm >>>
Sara never did the tippy toe thing though we were told in our discharge
meeting by the NICU PT that she probably would. We were given the
following orders!!
*** Never put her in a walker (not only can they be dangerous but
because children are often put in walkers before they can walk, no
kidding, kids tend to push with their toes to achieve motion - backwards
though it may be. According to the PT, this can promote tippy toes)
*** Don't let her stand, even on our laps, until she pulls to stand by
herself.
*** Absolutely no "johnny jump ups" (the thing that hangs from a
doorway).
Again, causes them to push with their toes but also, and even more
worrisom, if the kids get to rambunctious, they can actually fracture the
bones in their feet.
Anyway, could be luck on our part but we followed these instructions
to the letter. I never even held her hands to let her walk or stand until
the day I found her standing in her crib - on her 1st b-day (8.5 months
corrected).
Good luck to all you new parents out there. My only bit of advice is to
follow the advice based on fact and be choosy about advice based on
opinion.
Tracy
Mom to Sara (25 weeks, 15oz)