The Baby Exercise Book
Levy
1973
I really do worry about baby muscle definition and if they look “ripped”. I would hate to have another baby kick sand in my baby’s face. Well worry no more! This is your book. (Humorless person alert: I am being sarcastic) Actually it isn’t too bad, just dated and from the ideas presented it sounds like more work than necessary. First, you need to build/make the gym equipment and then structure some time. Great, if you have the time and energy after having a newborn. Most parents I know were totally exhausted and were hardly in a position to have structured gym time with the baby. In the dark ages, when I had my babies, it was put them down on a blanket and let them kick around. Done.
Anyway, baby stuff seems to change every few years. Are newborns supposed to sleep on the back, side or on the stomach? Swaddle or no swaddle? I can’t remember, but I do know that the wrong choice is possibly life threatening. New parents, feel free to educate me here. My mother and I talked many times on how the “correct” method for a baby to sleep seems to change over time. As a library I think a 1970’s era book on baby care needs to be updated. Infant massage or exercise is a good topic for a public library collection too. Currency in baby information counts and I would treat it like health information and use 5 years as a rule of thumb.
Mary
Current practice is definitely not to let the baby sleep on his or her tummy. Apparently, it’s been linked with SIDS (“crib death”). So I was told when I became a father eight-plus years ago, anyway!
The cover makes it look more like she’s trying to keep the baby from escaping.
So, you asked for it, Mary! I am a new mom. This book is incorrect on every front. Nowadays your baby will die of SIDS if she sleeps on anything but her back. Nothing hanging in the crib, because of the strangulation hazard. Swaddle until she gets her first college acceptance letter. No sushi for nursing mothers!!!
In fairness, I never had a drop of breastmilk until I made my own; I slept on my belly from day one; and I smoked two packs a day in utero. I turned out fine! (ish)
…and you don’t need to make your own baby gym equipment anymore. Just walk into Babys R’ Us and you’ll be blown away by the selection and costs. Because of the sleeping-on-back-only mandate, parents are encouraged to do “tummy time” with their baby, to help strengthen their neck and abdominal muscles – or maybe it just gives baby a different perspective on the world.
I’m blown away by placing the baby on the ball naked. Not for freedom or tactile stimulation, but for “necessary adherence.” Duct tape anyone.
I slept on my tummy when I wasn’t chewing the lead paint off my cribs rails. Today babies gotta have tummy time to combat flat spots on back of head caused by Back to Sleep method.
Exercise my baby? I thought they did that to me….seriously, my kids did enough on their own! My kids were walking before 15 months! They were both moving by 5 months…I think they got plenty of exercise without my help!
And definitely I agree with Heather (my youngest is 14 months) – my ped DR would disagree with all this!
I did “tummy time” with them, as suggested, but they both rolled over really early on their own and then it was moot.
Do they take infants at Gymboree? I really don’t know, but I’d take one there rather than build equipment or even buy it.
Didn’t I just read that to combat obesity, babies should start exercising in the crib? There should be a new bunch of books out like this any day.