Why do grandchildren and sore joints go together?
Because minding a child is physical work. A toddler weighs more every month, wants to be carried, and lives at floor level. The grandparent lifts, bends, squats and chases all day, with joints that already ache.
In Ipoh, grandparents mind the children while parents are at work, and this is a gift. It does not need to come at the price of your own health.
Which joint takes the strain, and what helps?
- Wrist and thumb: lift with two flat palms under the child, not with the thumbs pulled out. Keep the wrists straight.
- Knees: sit on a chair or low stool for play, and use a cushion if you must kneel.
- Lower back: keep the child close, bend the knees, and avoid twisting at the cot.
- Shoulder: switch arms when you carry, and use a pram or trolley for outings.
- Hips: avoid holding the child on one hip for long.
Our page on carrying grandchildren and back pain goes into the back in detail.
What about the floor, the stairs and the bath?
Floor play is a joy but hard on knees, and getting up is the real problem. Bring the play up to a low table, and learn a safe way to rise from getting up from the floor.
On the terrace-house stairs, hold the rail and never carry a child if you feel unsteady. At bath time, use a bath seat at a good height and do not bend over the tub for long.
How do I plan the school or kindergarten pick-up?
Walking to the school gate or kindergarten is good exercise, and the wet-weather rule applies: slippery porch, slippery shoes. Wear shoes with grip and carry an umbrella, not a bag in each hand.
If the child wants to be carried at the end of a long day, offer a rest on a bench first. Ask parents to arrange a stroller for longer walks.
How do I talk to the parents?
Start with love, since you want to keep helping, then say what hurts and what would make the job safer. A high chair, a changing mat on the table and a child who climbs into the car seat alone cost the parents little. So does less lifting when you are tired.
If it feels awkward, a physiotherapist can say it for you, with specific advice for your joints.
When should I see a physiotherapist?
If pain lasts more than a couple of weeks, wakes you at night, causes numbness or weakness, or limits your day, ask for a check. A physiotherapist looks at the joint, shows safer ways to lift and gives exercises to strengthen the muscles that support it.
See our pages on lifting safely at home and De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, and how home physiotherapy in Ipoh works. Our Canning Garden centre is opening soon.