Baby and Your Back: Safe Lifting Babies can be hazardous to your
health—your back health. When it comes to parenting, back injury
is an occupational hazard. New mothers, whose backs have just
endured the stresses of pregnancy and birth, are particularly
vulnerable. So are taller fathers and mothers who must bend
farther than others to scoop up tots from playpens. And think
about this: When you place a baby in a car seat, you often break
every rule of back health by holding the child at arm's length
while bending and twisting. Then there's another problem: kids
that weigh as much as a large sack of flour—and won't sit still.
With more people in their 30s and 40s having children, the
likelihood of pre-existing "wear and tear" on the spine also
sets the stage for problems. New parents are especially at risk
because they are not conditioned for the physical rigors.
Experts say parents tend to feel the strain in the area between
their shoulders more than in their lower backs, especially when
doing repetitive activ