A chiropractor comments on carrying a baby in an infant car seat

The other day a prospective customer into Crocodile Baby Store to look at a stroller and car seat for her first, as-yet-unborn, child. This is her reaction.

"Hi Gerry,

WOW!!! I was really impressed with your service, knowledge and advice! Particularly when you informed me what I really needed, not what you wanted to sell me.

I was especially impressed with your knowledge on the infant cars seats that detach and travel as a single unit. I am very concerned with this product and was worried I needed to purchase one because I have seen first hand the damage they can cause parents and babies.

Being a Chiropractor for over 10 years and specializing in pediatrics and pregnancy, I have become increasingly alarmed at the possible long term damage that can occur from these mobile seats. On a daily basis I see parents who struggle to carry these mobile car seats, and strain their bodies. I have also observed new babies who have been left in these seats for too long with their heads becoming flat on one side, dropped over to one side or forwards.

Neck, shoulder, rib cage, pelvis, knee and ankle problems can arise or aggravate old injuries from lifting a heavy load on only one side of your body repetitively. Similar strains occur when struggling to get the infant car seats in and out of cars.

Babies are very susceptible in early days of molding to their environment and a lack of movement results in decreased brain stimulation causing several long term effects. Basic neurology states that the Motor movement of the body drives the Sensory system which in turn develops the cerebral cortex(smart part of your brain). With the weight of a newborn's head on such a weak neck, lack of proper head support is very stressful on the nervous, skeletal and circulatory system. A newborn's cranium or head is sensitive to flattening when left for too long in one position. This is not just an aesthetic point, the brain is resting within this cavity and the cranial bone movement determines how well cerebral spinal fluid circulates and bathes the brain and cord. A flattened occiput (back of the head) has been linked to SID's, nervous system, respiratory, digestive, cardiac and behavioural problems. I work with babies with colic, sleep issues, ear aches, breast-feeding problems and more and they always have cranial and upper cervical problems.

It makes complete sense why we should be encouraged to keep babies moving and to lay them flat in a bassinet or cradled in a sling.

With all of the Physical, Chemical and Emotional stress that is on parents and babies these days it is nice to know that we don't all have to subscribe to the same products.

Products that are introduced to our western society may be very convenient or look good but what is the long term cost to us and our environment? We are now the sickest species on the planet.

Thank you for your time and insight!

Dr Amber Kirk"

Crocodile Baby has now received the Orbit Stroller and Car seat system after a three year wait caused, not only by Canada's stringent - and expensive - safety regulations, but also by its popularity in the USA - the owners have been to busy to open another market in Canada. Cruising the net I have found a long and useful comment from a consumer, which I have edited, that highlights his view of the Orbit Stroller ( he was comparing the Orbit to another stroller which I have chosen to exclude from here):
" Right out of the box the Orbit was dead easy because it was already pre assembled-no tools- no watching a DVD or reading assembly instructions.Things we were unsure of were well laid out in the photo handbook that neatly zips away in the baby seat.
" Immediately, the Orbit's unexpected strength other than the simple twist and stroller fold out launch, was the rotating hub. During my first walk, I must have rotated Maya 15 times; she just loved the rotating perspectives I was able to show her during our walk whether is was getting her eyes out of the bright sun light or away from cold winter breeze, just squeeze and rotate...simple.
" The Orbit's rotating hub innovation is truly a big leap in parent / toddler stroller ease of interaction. For anyone who has ever tried to strong arm a 20lb baby seat [ie Graco Snugride] into a car will attest- the task becomes a chore because you need to align the car seat at a 90 degree to your body [basically put the seat in over the base locking latches then relift over the latches till everything aligns and then locks in place. The sideways lifting and fiddling can be hard on the arms or back.
With the Orbit, the seat goes into the car head first, pull up on the handle straps to gently guide the seat over the rotating base hub till unit clicks in place. Once secure the base carries all the weight as you simply rotate the seat until it locks into the travel position. If your baby cries or fidgets[especially waking up from a nap while the car is parked], simply rotate the seat to get easier access to her. Rotate the seat again when you are ready to take her out. What we love is this..as the seat rotates in any direction we can take her in and out from the passenger side or driver side with ease.
"Superior build and wow factor. Being a Dad, I like cool well built things and the Orbit comes thru! Every detail is so well designed, I even enjoy using the sliding pod bag because its so easy to load and unload.
"With the Orbit, the pod is a carry bag that closes up so nothing falls out + it tucks up neatly when you collapse the unit.
The difference in trunk area between these two strollers side by side in our 4 door sedan?
The Orbit takes up 1/3 the trunk area and will fold up with a one handed lever twist= easy.
"The Orbit comes with an integrated infant car seat with rock solid all metal locking base station that installs easily into vehicles with or with out infant seat latches. This design clearly surpasses our old Graco Snugride in every way except weight. The Orbit infant is about 4-5 lbs heavier due to the extra padding & lateral protection. The shape of the shell is like a protective cocoon around our baby/ the Graco is more open and exposed."

This consumer had not tried the stroller seat because his daughter was younger than 1 year at the time. We will post commentaries on that in the near future.