The birth list sometimes seems like a real puzzle. Between objects presented as essential and those supposed to simplify the daily life of young parents, expenses can quickly add up. In a video posted on Instagram, osteopath Charlotte Dumont shared her opinion on several very popular products. Its objective is simple: to help future parents distinguish equipment that truly supports the baby’s development and the mother’s comfort from that whose usefulness remains questionable, or even which raises safety questions.
Recommended purchases during pregnancy and after birth
Among the equipment she considers particularly useful is the nursing pillow. According to her, it allows “seats baby comfortably and is particularly useful for babies with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)“. Its use is not limited to the first weeks and can accompany the mother over a long period.
Another accessory highlighted: the pregnancy ball. Used during pregnancy to relieve the back and pelvis, it retains its interest after childbirth thanks to the bouncing movements which can help soothe an infant.
The osteopath also recommends choosing “the most contrasting games possible“. She recalls that “baby does not see the difference between white and yellow at all, but he will see very well between white and black, or red and yellow“. The marked contrasts thus contribute to the visual stimulation of the young child.
Finally, the sleeping bag is among the essentials. It helps maintain a suitable temperature during sleep while leaving the baby free to move.
Bed bumper, walker… Products that the osteopath does not recommend
Conversely, certain products very present in specialized stores do not find favor in its eyes. This is the case of the bed bumper, often chosen for its decorative aspect. Charlotte Dumont recalls that “the security recommendations are clear on this: we pass“, due to the choking hazard associated with this equipment.
The anti-flat head baby wedge is also one of the purchases that she invites people to question. According to her, “positioning baby passively does not solve the cause” plagiocephaly, often called flat head syndrome.
Same observation for trotters. Although they are sometimes seen as an aid to learning to walk, they “disrupt the natural acquisition of walking and trigger poor motor patterns“, she explains.
Blankets used in an infant’s bed are also not recommended. The specialist favors the sleeping bag, considered safer to limit the risks of suffocation and overheating during sleep.
Charlotte Dumont sums up her method with a simple question to ask yourself before each purchase: “Does it benefit mom’s body? Does it respect baby’s natural development? If the answer is yes – go. Otherwise – we ask the question before buying“.