Toddlers are funny creatures. One minute they are trying to assert their independence by insisting on doing everything themselves, and the next minute their arms are stretched upwards demanding to be carried. The toddler years can be very tough on a mum's back due to the extra bending and lifting of a heavy weight (your toddler). There are a number of ways, however, that you can keep the pain levels from soaring out of control.
Upgrade Your Car
If you have been considering replacing your car for a while, now is a great time to do so. Upgrading to an SUV type vehicle is going to have a noticeable difference in the pain you experience in your lower back.
The reason for this is that the seats of an SUV are higher than the seats of a standard sedan car. This means each time you put your toddler into their car seat in an SUV, you are not going to have to bend as low as you do when you buckle them into a car. Likewise, when you lift them out of the car seat at the end of each trip, the amount of pressure you will put on your back muscles will be reduced.
If upgrading your car is not an option, place your child in their car seat by kneeling on the back seat first. By kneeling or sitting on the car seat beside your toddler, your body does not have to move as far to get them strapped into their seat.
Check Your Posture When Lifting
Bad lifting posture is another reason why mums suffer from back pain after their daily dealings with toddlers. The next time you bend down to pick up your toddler, stop and think about how your body is placed. Are you bending at your knees or are you bending at your waist?
If you are bending at your waist, then you are putting your lower back muscles under stress. Instead, squat down, pick up your toddler and straighten back up using your knees. This movement puts the stress of the lift on your knees rather than your back.
If you are experiencing back pain because of your constant toddler lifting activities, contact your local chiropractor to see whether massage or manipulation is needed to put your spine back into its right position. When your back is out of sorts because you have been lifting your toddler wrong for a while, a chiropractor will fix the pain and then teach you exercises to stop the pain from coming back.
Share6 April 2016
My kids get really sore backs from all the time they spend sitting down at school at their desk. It's really hard on growing bodies to always be confined like that. I take them to the chiropractor to get regular adjustments, and it really helps relieve their sore their as well as helping them to sleep better at night. I love that they have so much more energy and vitality after their treatments. Our chiropractor is a total genius! This blog is all about how great chiropractic treatment can be for kids and teenagers. It should be really useful for parents and caretakers who want to help their kids.