Is your child a ‘container baby’? This is an often-heard term internationally but less so in India. But the recent pandemic and associated lockdowns have given rise to this concern in Indian households having toddlers. A survey by Early Childhood Association (ECA) has found that even as 33 per cent parents are using any type of container for their babies for more than three to six hours a day, 63 per cent started doing this only in the past one year. However, 82 per cent parents are unaware of the term ‘container babies.’

Container baby refers to when a child is kept cooped up in feeding chairs or playpens or couch seats or anything that limits its movement. A total of 67 per cent parents said that they use high chairs for their children to sit in, 65 per cent use bumbo or other seats, 52 per cent use playpens and 35 per cent use walkers. Overall, 73 per cent use a combination of two or more options from these.