The baby jumper can benefit the baby in more ways than one. It aids in physical activity, cognitive development, as well as muscle development. However, your baby can get all of these benefits from a jumper up to a certain age.
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Have you ever wondered when to stop using baby jumper?
As a parent, it is essential to know this limit as well. Adhering to this limit will ensure that the baby jumper is entirely safe for your baby. We will answer this question today and help you understand how your baby can gain maximum benefits from the best baby jumper.
When to stop using baby jumper?
Two thresholds define when you should stop using the baby jumper. You should stop using the baby jumper when the baby is 12 months old. If the age limit of the jumper is even lower than that, you need to stick to the lower limit. Secondly, if the baby crosses the weight and height limit of the jumper before that, you should stop using the baby jumper. When you stick to these two limits, it is easy to stop using the baby jumper in time.
Of course, the next question is, what the usual limits of a baby jumper are?
We will go into the detailed answer to this question below.
What are the average jumper weight and height limits?
While the jumper weight and height limits vary from one manufacturer to another but generally speaking, the limit is around 25 lbs. The upper height limit can be anywhere from 30 inches up to 55 inches. Most jumpers have the height-adjustable setting, and therefore, the height limit can vary from one jumper to another.
Now that you are aware of the answer to the question when to stop using baby jumper, it is crucial to understand when it is most beneficial for the baby.
When is a jumper most beneficial for your baby?
Typically speaking, jumpers have a lower age limit of 4 months old. However, if you want to ensure that the baby can get the maximum benefit from the jumper, there are a few guidelines to follow.
• The baby should be able to hold his/her head without any support for a few minutes before you put him/her into the jumper. Even if this means that your baby can use the jumper after reaching six months of age, that is perfectly fine.
• The jumper can assist the physical development and cognitive development of the baby when the feet of the baby touch the ground. While being in the jumper, the feet balls should touch the ground. The baby should not be flat-footed. Also, the jumper is not suitable when the feet of the baby does not reach the ground.
The whole aim of using the jumper is to help the baby move and jump while being in the harness. If the feet of the baby do not touch the ground, jumping around would not be possible. On the other hand, if the baby is flat-footed, they would have to exert a lot of pressure. Both of these conditions are not ideal. They will not help the baby.
The maximum benefits can be retrieved from the jumper only when the feet balls of the baby touch the ground. In that case, the baby can jump around, leading to ample physical activity and muscle development. It usually happens around the 4-5 month mark. That is why; this is the lower age limit for most jumpers.
On the other hand, when the baby generally reaches the height limit or the 12 month age mark, they are flat-footed when in the jumper. As a result, they cannot jump around much.
Thus, the ages between 4 months to 12 months are the perfect time for your baby to use the jumper and get benefits from it.
Are there any disadvantages of using a baby jumper beyond a certain age?
Within the proper age, weight, and height limits, a baby jumper is very beneficial for your baby. However, if you use it beyond those limits, there can be a few disadvantages. It is one of the reasons why you need to adhere to the limits highlighted above strictly.
We will now share with you some disadvantages of a baby jumper if you use it beyond the intended age or weight or height limits. These disadvantages only exist when you use the jumper beyond its recommended limits.
Disadvantages of a baby jumper beyond the intended age or weight or height limits
1. Lack of activity:
The jumper aims to help your baby jump within the frame of the jumper. It is only possible when there is enough vertical space for the baby to jump around. While the space above the baby can be plenty even after the height limits, but the same cannot be said for the vertical space below.
If the baby is flat-footed while in the jumper, it would be difficult for the baby to jump around vertically. In such a case, when the baby is in the jumper, there will be almost no activity. It eliminates the entire purpose of using a jumper. It is one of the main advantages of using the jumper beyond the height limits.
2. Extra pressure on joints:
The standard design of the jumper is such that it can aid the development of the baby up to a certain height. Beyond that, if you’re baby tries to jump around, there will be comparatively higher pressure on the joints of the baby. While that might not result in pain or injury, but it is certainly not desirable. You have to aid your baby’s development rather than put extra pressure on his/ her joints.
3. Improper posture:
The entire design of the jumper is to support the baby up to a certain height. Once the baby goes beyond that height limit, it will not help your baby maintain proper posture. Keeping them in the jumper beyond the height and age limit of the jumper will not help you in doing so. It can lead to imbalance or slow development in the baby. That is why you have to play it safe and ensure that you use the baby jumper only up to the upper limits highlighted above.
Doing so will ensure that you can aid the physical development of your baby with the help of the baby jumper.
4. Outgrowing the harness:
A baby jumper is only safe for your baby as long as the harness fits in. It is the harness that keeps the baby in place. The harness restricts the movement of the baby. So, there is little to no probability of your baby bumping into the frame or any other surface. However, if your baby outgrows the harness, that security will not be present. The probability of accidents will go up.
Without a proper harness, it is risky for your baby to use the jumper. The manufacturers often keep in mind the limits of the harness while deciding the upper age and height limits of the jumper. That is why, once your baby outgrows those limits on the size of the harness, it is better to avoid using the baby jumper. It will ensure that your baby does not suffer from any injury while playing in a jumper.
5. Extra pressure on the jumper:
The entire construction of the jumper is such that it can support a certain amount of weight. As the baby jumps around, the actual pressure on the jumper is higher than the baby’s weight. Once it goes beyond the weight limit of the jumper, you are in the grey area. You never know whether the jumper can handle that extra pressure, or it will break down. In case the jumper breaks down, it can cause an injury, as well.
Due to this very reason, there is no point in putting any extra pressure on the jumper once your baby crosses the height and weight limits. There are other ways to keep your baby occupied and entertained once he/she outgrows the jumper.
6. The tendency to crawl out:
One more disadvantage of using the jumper beyond its intended limits is that the baby can crawl out of the jumper. While the harness does a decent job of keeping it in place, but once the baby outgrows the harness, you cannot be sure about that.
Do you remember one of the main conveniences the jumper has to offer?
One of the primary reasons why jumpers have become so famous is because parents can have some free time when the baby is in the jumper. You can relax while supervising the baby. However, you will not have this luxury if the baby tends to crawl out of the jumper since they have outgrown the harness. It can make the jumper quite a risky thing for the baby since the baby can crawl out. That is why, beyond the limits of the jumper manufacturer, you should not use it.
As you can see, there are a few disadvantages of using the baby jumper beyond the limits highlighted above. When using the baby jumper within the intended limits, all of these disadvantages cease to exist. Your baby can benefit from the jumper in more ways than one as long as you use it within the intended limits.
So, the right time to stop using the baby jumper is when your baby reaches the 12-month mark. Before that, if the baby crosses the weight or the height limit, then you need to stop using the baby jumper as long as you stick to these limits, the baby jumper will be entertaining, beneficial and useful for your baby.