Dr. Robin Armstrong [Langley Chiropractor]

We see it over and over in our practice … A new parent with low back pain, navigating the world of lifting car seats, putting a sleeping baby in a crib without waking them, or wrestling a thrashing toddler into their stroller. Or Grandparents with shoulder blade pain, caring for your 2-year-old grandchild a few times a week, wondering when the “Up, up, Gramma!” phase will be over. Lifting and caring for children can take a toll on our backs, here are the tips we give to our patients:

One Last Thought: Get Low, Stay Low

Repetitive bending and stooping can be another aggravating factor for back pain related to caring for little ones. Try to squat or kneel when interacting with the child vs bending over. When cleaning up toys, stay on the floor or stay low rather than repeatedly bending over to pick things up. If sitting to play with a young one, try to sit against the wall or a piece of furniture for back support.

You are not always going to be able to have perfect posture when wrestling a toddler into a car seat, or feeding a baby in the early hours, but the more aware we are of how we lift and interact with our little ones, the more your spine will thank you.

Of course, despite your best intentions sometimes we still get back pain. We are always here to help you get rid of your pain and fine tune some of your lifting techniques.