A circle for bathing babies is not uncommon today. And, of course, preparing for the birth of my baby, I decided to study the topic thoroughly before buying a newfangled accessory.
I gained my first knowledge about circles for bathing babies from programs with the participation of famous pediatricians and neurologists. Agree, we trust experts much more readily than “experts” on the Internet.
After another specialist told us how useful it is to teach a baby to swim from birth and how a swimming circle makes life much easier for parents, the decision was made. We buy without further delay!
Well, for you, dear readers, I will try to retell in detail what I was able to glean from a million similar articles and dozens of different programs.
Baby bathing circle: why do we choose it?
Many babies suffer from muscle hypertonicity from the first days of life. This is caused by the baby's natural desire to assume the intrauterine position. Doctors recommend massages, physical therapy and various methods of restricting movement, such as loose swaddling. But in first place in terms of effectiveness in the fight against hypertonicity and increased excitability is swimming.
That’s right, swimming helps not only adults, but also the youngest children to overcome problems with nervous excitability and promotes the normal development of the spine.
Moms will say: “This is a real instrument of torture! Circle around the neck! How can my child not suffocate in it? The design of the bathing circle provides comfortable placement of the baby's chin on a special shelf. This not only prevents the risk of respiratory failure, but also allows you to fix the baby's neck in a physiological position.
How to bathe a child correctly?
Swimming with a circle is a very useful and exciting activity for a child. It is important to organize the procedures correctly so that the baby does not refuse, but rather enjoys spending time in the bathroom with a circle.
For the first time, don’t get too carried away—ten minutes will be enough. It is necessary to let the child get used to the bathing circle, because when bathing in it, he spends much more energy than in his mother’s arms.
Dangling arms and legs, trying to move independently, the child is exhausted. Such loads should be gradual.
Using a circle for bathing is not only safe for the baby’s health, but also beneficial for his development. Strengthening muscles and improving metabolic processes accelerate his physical development, and the child begins to take his first steps much earlier than his peers. Thanks to the circle, the child can move freely in the bathtub, and parents have their hands free, which allows them to increase the time allocated for water procedures.
It is no secret that manufacturers of a wide variety of products actively take advantage of the desire of parents to give their baby everything that will help him be healthy, beautiful and smart. Designer clothes, shoes made using space technology, educational games. And now a fashionable novelty: a newborn child prodigy swims with the help of a special inflatable ring placed around his neck. Are there any benefits from such bathing and how to properly organize swimming in the bathroom for children?
Pediatricians have been promoting early swimming training for infants for over 60 years. It is difficult to find a more suitable way for children to harden, strengthen the musculoskeletal system, develop the vestibular system and the ability to control their body. An inflatable circle for swimming babies will help normalize muscle tone, especially if the child’s muscular dystonia is not organic, but functional in nature. It often occurs when using a pillow to sleep, during the child’s first attempts to sit down or stand up, especially if he is “hurried” by his parents prematurely.
Hypertonicity in newborns may be a consequence of immaturity of the nervous system and excessive excitability. Regular swimming, not only in the pool, but also in the bathroom at home, will help relieve stress and improve sleep, even without medications.
What is the difference between an inflatable circle for bathing babies and the usual “rescue” ones?
Firstly, it is placed around the child's neck
. Thanks to this, no matter the position of the baby’s body, his head is always above the water.
Secondly, along the inner circumference of the circle there is a special wide platform for the chin, which does not allow the baby to press it to the chest, risking choking. This is very important, since in children up to at least three months of age, flexor hypertonicity is observed. That is, the baby is constantly trying to take the position in which he was in his mother’s womb: bending his legs, arms and head and bringing them to his tummy. Practical advice: Always ensure that splashing water does not accumulate on the chin rest.
Thirdly, the inflatable circle for bathing babies is securely fastened at the back with fasteners made of adhesive tape.
They can also be used to adjust the tightness of the neck coverage. But it is important to remember that the free ends of the circle must be pressed against each other, otherwise there is a risk that the child will choke when swimming in a supine position.
Contraindications
Yes, yes, ladies, they are. Despite the fact that on the Internet it is customary to just suffice and recommend, even this, in my opinion, excellent invention has its own characteristics.
A child is especially vulnerable in the first months of life. At this time, he begins to hold his head, which increases the load on the cervical vertebrae. And the entire spinal column is under tremendous pressure. The body gets stronger, becomes heavier and more active, and the bones have to pay for it.
Minor microtraumas during childbirth, invisible at first glance due to the lack of manifestations, can become more serious under special conditions. So, sudden movements and turns can easily aggravate the situation. Therefore, parents should always be present when bathing the baby in a circle around the neck.
There are also a number of contraindications for using the accessory:
- increased intracranial pressure;
- birth injuries with damage to the cervical vertebrae or collarbones (for the rehabilitation period);
- allergic reactions or increased skin sensitivity with risk of rashes and irritation;
- viral diseases (prolonged bathing is not recommended in principle).
Reviews from parents
Despite the fact that there is a contradictory opinion about circles on the Internet, they are gaining more and more popularity every day. We can say that at least every second mother bathed her child in a circle and was satisfied. This is clearly confirmed by the results of a survey conducted on the ROXY-KIDS Instagram account.
2200 people took part in the survey
Many famous mothers leave positive reviews on their blogs about the Flipper neck circles, noting that such bathing gives the baby positive emotions and after it the child sleeps sweetly.
Ekaterina Kolisnichenko, @kolisnichenko_official, more than 800 thousand subscribers: “Baby was so happy, frolicking - I’m absolutely delighted!”
Ekaterina Lantseva, @lan.keti, more than 500 thousand subscribers: “Amelie was exactly one month old when we tried the circle! She was delighted! I swam for half an hour, and then ate with such appetite and fell asleep very quickly... The circle is very coolly made: two air chambers, rattle balls inside, an anatomical recess for the chin, non-slip handles, two whole fasteners for fixing, a smoothed seam on the inside so that do not put pressure on the neck and do not injure the vertebrae.”
Ekaterina Tanasienko, @rina_sara, more than 500 thousand subscribers: “One of the advantages of such swimming: the child swims on his own!!! This is very, very cool! Especially after four months, it turns into real fun! And he gets to know the world even better and learns to trust it. He looks, feels freedom, but at the same time under the control of his mother.”
What to look for when choosing a circle?
Of course, the main role is played by the safety of the design and materials of the circle. You should choose a bathing aid responsibly to avoid disappointment from future use. Here are the key points:
- Give preference to two-chamber circles. Even if one of the chambers begins to deflate, the circle will keep the child afloat.
- The fastener should be double, top and bottom. It is better if it is two carabiners or a carabiner and Velcro; circles with two Velcro provide less reliable fixation.
- Particular attention should be paid to the inner seam, which is adjacent to the baby’s neck. It should be absolutely smooth, without any protrusions that can rub and injure the delicate baby skin.
- It is necessary to have a recess under the chin: this helps the child take a physiologically correct position during bathing and prevents water from entering the ears and respiratory tract.
- Pay attention to the smell - for PVC products it is present in any case after unpacking, but if the smell is too strong and pungent, this may indicate the toxicity of the material.
- Having handles at the bottom of the circle is an added advantage. They have two functions. Firstly, the child will be able to hold on to them when he gets tired. Secondly, it will be convenient for you to set the baby’s movement using these handles.
- Choose a circle from a trusted brand that can provide the appropriate quality and safety certificates. Thus, Flipper circles have a confirmed safety certificate from the German TÜV laboratory.
Use this guide when choosing a model
Basic rules for bathing a child in a circle
- Do not leave your child unattended for even a minute. The circle is not a life-saving device!
- Pay attention to the characteristics of the circle and choose the one that suits you according to size and age.
- Inflate the circle using your own breath. The pump can overinflate the circle, which can lead to its damage and deflation.
- Do not use the circle in baby baths. There should be enough water in the bath so that the child floats and does not push his legs off the bottom.
- Wear the ring when your child is not in the water.
- Do not use the circle at a depth of more than one meter.
- Monitor your child's reactions and stop bathing if there is discomfort.
- Do not use the circle without consulting a doctor if your baby has developmental disorders.
Follow the recommendations and you are guaranteed a fun swim! roxy-kids heroes flipper swimming circles flipper heroes baby bathing
How long can my baby swim with a circle?
Swimming is a very important condition for the proper development of a baby. Already in the womb, the child gets used to the feeling of weightlessness and is born with the skills of a swimmer. However, by four months they are lost if there is no appropriate training.
Therefore, it is recommended to bathe the baby in a circle around the neck according to the general rules for bathing. That is, from two to three weeks with a gradual increase in time. Start with 5-10 minutes. Your baby will tell you when it's time to go out. Experts allow water procedures lasting up to 40-60 minutes. This is useful not only for the child, but also for his tired parents.
After bathing, the baby needs to be fed and put to bed. And he will do all this with pleasure.
How to choose the right neck circle for a newborn
When purchasing a product, it is recommended to pay attention to the method of fixation, material, shape, size and the presence of the eco-friedly mark. This mark distinguishes the product from others by its higher quality. You should give preference to large children's stores so that in case of defects you can return the product back.
It is better to buy a circle for a baby in a large children's store.
There should be no damage or strong odor. The seams must be soft, otherwise the accessory will put pressure on the neck.
Popular models
The following brands are popular among parents:
- Flipper . Manufacturer: Russia. Weight: 18 kg. Age: up to 2 years.
- Baby-Krug . Age: up to 2 years. A distinctive feature is that the product has not only Velcro, but also fasteners with a lock.
- Baby Swimmer . Age: up to 2 years. Weight: up to 12 kg. Complies with all sanitary standards.
The Flipper circle model is popular among parents.
