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Journalism of Courage
Actor Keith Sequeira recently came under fire for sharing a video of his and actor-host Rochelle Rao’s 7½ month-old baby girl Josephine Sequiera doing gymnastics — a few hanging exercises and flips — claiming it is good for muscle development. “Girls are the toughest and can do anything!” he captioned the post.
However, it did not go down too well with netizens who criticised the former model saying that babies do not need to exercise. One wrote, “Bt y?…let her grow, let her motor system develop first”. Another shared, “It’s your …wtever you want to do with her…but there is a certain age for doing certain activity…”, as one more user wrote, “Torturing baby from birth”. (sic)
Responding to the comments, Keith wrote: “It’s been scientifically proven that post 6 months, hanging in bits under supervision is great for muscle, joint, and bone development of the infant depending on the baby’s inherent ability and progression. Have seen a marked improvement in her happiness and intellect, too, with the physical interaction. She loves it.” He added that their daughter started doing such exercises as soon as she turned 6 months old.
The celebrity couple further shared a live interaction with their pediatrician Dr Nihar Parekh on whether toddlers can do gymnastics. “We decided to get an expert’s opinion on the reel we made about our daughter’s gymnastics class after the amazing response and many questions we received from you all,” Keith wrote.
In the video, Dr Parekh said that whenever something different is done, it certainly ruffles some feathers. “There is no worry as long as you go to the right place. Picking an activity for your child needs a thorough background check, seeing the benefits, and talking to parents who have been through it, and should be done post 6 months after their core strength is good — when the child flips from tummy to back and even back to tummy, their grip strength is strong, and the depth of perception (baby grabs things in the vicinity) starts to develop,” said Dr Parekh, adding that at no time the baby was left unattended.
So, we decided to find out more and reached out to turned to Dr Jagdish Kathwate, consultant neonatologist and paediatrician, Motherhood Hospital Kharadi Pune, who said that supported gymnastics for muscle development in babies can be beneficial when done appropriately and safely. “Hanging exercises, through the use of a baby gym or supervised play on a pull-up bar, can help strengthen the muscles in a baby’s arms, shoulders, and core. These activities can also contribute to the development of fine and gross motor skills,” Dr Kathwate told indianexpress.com.
Watch the video here
It is important to note that hanging activities should always be supervised by a caregiver to ensure safety. “Inappropriate or excessive hanging can lead to strain on the baby’s joints and muscles, so it is crucial to approach such activities with caution,” asserted Dr Kathwate.
Parents and caregivers should also be mindful of the baby’s age and physical development when engaging in hanging exercises. “Babies have varying levels of strength and coordination based on their age and individual development, so exercises should be appropriate for their stage of development,” mentioned Dr Kathwate.
Here’s the live interaction video with Dr Nihar Parekh
In addition to hanging exercises, it is important to incorporate a variety of activities to promote overall muscle development in babies. “Tummy time, crawling, reaching for objects, and gentle stretching exercises can all contribute to building strength and coordination in a baby’s muscles. Overall, a balanced approach to physical activity and play can support healthy muscle development in babies who are 6 months and older,” said Dr Kathwate.
