Lifting Little Ones: Back Tips for Parents and Grandparents
Carrying a toddler on one hip, leaning into a car seat, scooping a child off the floor twenty times a day. For parents, and for the many grandparents in north Broward who help with childcare, these small lifts add up. They are rarely heavy on their own, but they are frequent, awkward and often done while twisting.
Why childcare strains the back
A child does not hold still like a box. They wiggle, lean and suddenly shift their weight. Lifts often happen from the floor, from a low crib or across the back seat of a car, which pulls the load far from your body. Over weeks, that repetition can leave the low back, neck or shoulders sore.
Small changes that make a difference
- Get close first. Kneel or squat down to the child's level before lifting, instead of bending over from standing.
- Switch sides. Alternate which hip you carry on, or use a carrier that spreads the weight.
- Climb in for the car seat. Put one knee on the seat so you are not reaching across at arm's length.
- Raise the changing surface. A table at waist height saves a lot of bending.
- Let older kids climb. A small step stool lets them get into the car or onto your lap without a full lift.
When soreness sticks around
If an ache is still there after a week or two, or pain travels into a leg or arm, it is worth having it evaluated. At mcnamarachirocenter.com in Lighthouse Point, a first visit includes a detailed history and an exam focused on how your spine and joints are moving. Dr. McNamara-Krauss explains her findings and whether she thinks chiropractic care can help. A plan might include adjustments, massage therapy or advice on movement at home, and she will say so if another type of provider is a better fit.
No referral is needed. Patients come from Lighthouse Point, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton.
Seek urgent care if
You notice numbness in the groin area, loss of bladder or bowel control, or progressive leg weakness. Those symptoms need emergency evaluation.
McNamara Chiropractic Center
3320 North Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064(954) 902-6371 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ-EP1Vhr0sEducational content only. It is not a diagnosis or treatment recommendation, and no specific outcome can be guaranteed.