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Expert Q&A:
Is roughhousing harmful to our 6-month-old?

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Suzanne Dixon
Answered by Suzanne Dixon M.D., M.P.H.
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"There is nothing so amazing as the development of a child," says Suzanne Dixon, M.D., a behavioral and developmental pediatrician who was one of the founding members of the Pampers Parenting Network. "Every day is a new adventure when you have a child around you. I never get tired of learning from the children who have been a part of my life, professionally and personally."Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. She did her pediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then completed a fellowship in Child Development at Boston's Children's Hospital. Dr. Dixon joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego, and did patient care, teaching, and research for 20 years. She ran a large newborn service, performed research in early child development, and was involved in many community outreach activities in maternal child health. Throughout her entire professional life she has maintained an interest in cross-cultural activities, living and working in many parts of the world, including Mexico, India, Kenya, Indonesia, and several countries from the former U.S.S.R. Dr. Dixon is the author of numerous research articles, review articles, and textbook chapters in pediatrics, child and family development, and public health. Her textbook, written with Dr. Martin Stein, Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, has become a classic in child health education and is in its fourth edition. She is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, an international journal of high standing in the professional world. She also has served as an associate editor for Infant Mental Health and currently reviews for several major pediatric journals. Dr. Dixon is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served in national positions in that organization. She is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, and the Executive Council of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She serves as consultant to several national and international organizations and has received an award from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.Dr. Dixon continues to lecture and consult worldwide on aspects of maternal, child, and family health. She practices behavioral and developmental pediatrics in Montana and works with local advocacy groups on education and women''s health. Dr. Dixon has been married for over 30 years and has three sons. She and her husband travel frequently, are outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy being amateur anthropologists.
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Question


Is roughhousing harmful to our 6-month-old?

Answer


Gender differences in how we play with kids are there from the beginning-how dads play with boys versus girls and how moms play with boys and girls differently. So don't expect that your style of play will be or even should be the same as Dad's. And don't be surprised that he treats his son in a manner different than his style with his daughter. Study after study has shown that we show these different patterns and expectations for play. That's another reason why two parents are a good thing-we get different kinds of experiences from each of our parents. And we learn something different about ourselves in these interactions.

Now, how much is too rough? Babies generally like frolic play beginning at about 5 or 6 months, responding by smiling, giggling, and generally signaling that they are having a good time and want more. If they look fearful or unhappy or try to get away, we can say for sure that it's gotten to be too much. Brief somersaults are fun; more than a few seconds upside down usually is uncomfortable and may increase head pressure. So, think of ups and downs as part of normal play, but watch the baby's response and back off if it seems to be getting a negative review from him.-- Suzanne D. Dixon, M.D., M.P.H.

I asked another of our panel, Dr. Angela Rosas, an expert in child injury, about what she thought of the upside-down baby play. Here's her response:
Certainly, shaking the infant or high speed "airplane rides" could be dangerous. The greatest risk is probably from dropping the infant accidentally, which could result in a skull fracture, closed head injury, or fracture of the collarbone, arms, or legs. In general, PUT THE BABY DOWN! Roughhousing is NOT for young infants.
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