Several areas of activities will necessitate a grandparent’s fitness. The level of fitness or involvement is influenced by just how involved the grandparent is in the grandchild’s life as well as by the age of the grandchildren.
Infants and Toddlers
Changing diapers is an absolute necessity. We all know that. It is not in one’s best interest to wait until the parents return from wherever they went. If the grandparent has gotten rid of a changing table decades ago or, in my case, the changing table is used for another purpose, then changing diapers on the floor is a safe position for the baby because there’s no place to fall. Due to my own back defect, I avoid sitting on the floor to change diapers, but kneel instead. If your knees do not tolerate this position, I would strongly recommend an FPT consult with any PT to find out why.
A grandparent must be careful in respect to changing a baby’s diaper while the baby lies on the bed. The risk to the grandparent is that if they bend over the baby while standing on the floor next to the bed, they could be moving their back into a risky position. If they sit on the bed and then twist their torso to change the diaper as the baby lies on the bed, the back is also very vulnerable because of the sitting position in combination with twisting. I purposely choose to change diapers with the baby positioned on the bathroom floor in case the baby has additional release of liquids or solids. Clean up is easy and can be more thorough.
A second potential compromising position is installing a child car seat or putting a screaming child into one. If you do not think about your spinal alignment, your back could easily flex and twist which is statistically the most common mechanism of disc herniation. I find it less risky to step into the car and face the child as the straps are connected. If the child is in a rear facing car seat such as infants and some young toddlers, squeeze your glutes vigorously! More recently I have seen a pedestal type car seat that swivels so the parent or grandparent can easily put the child in while the child is facing the adult at the open car door. Once secured, the child is swiveled and locked into place rear facing or front facing determined by age, weight, and the law.
Transfers of Babies
Squatting is an absolute necessity for picking up children! The most dangerous of these activities is trying to lay a sleeping child into a pack and play because you do not have a crib at your house any longer. The pack and play is almost at floor level and you are trying to not wake the child during this transfer. You must squeeze the glutes as the child is lowered to the mattress. When carrying children upstairs/downstairs I do not hesitate to use the handrail for either one of these activities for the safety of the child and myself. There is an added risk if the child makes a quick, unexpected move and throws you off balance.
Older Children at the Playground
With older children, I like to get them outside any day that we are in charge of them, which means going to a park frequently when the weather is cooler. In the summer playing in the pool on hot days is a good way to channel their energy so they sleep well at night. At least in the pool you are somewhat buoyant and at low risk of hurting yourself when playing with beginning swimmers in the shallow end. At the playground, flexibility becomes an issue when you are an adult climbing on jungle gyms and monkey bars that were fitted for children. You must have a level of flexibility in order to partake in such activities or to accompany them when they are gaining their confidence to be able to do these activities independently. Once they gain their confidence, you hope that some other kids show up at the playground and your grandchildren can go play with someone who is not as slow to move as you and me. If you cannot even consider this activity due to flexibility issues, this deficit can be addressed by any therapist at FPT.
Ball Games
You may have thrown well decades ago, but have not thrown in a long time. I suggest starting out with an underhand throw to warm-up. Be very careful when throwing overhead to make sure the distance is short and easy. Also be careful about throwing rocks into the river with your grandchildren, one of my favorite activities. You may not have the same ability to skip a rock that you once did 50 years ago. If you injure your shoulder throwing, any therapist at FPT can help you address the issue.
Godspeed for all involved grandparents,
Michael J Moore
