Is it safe to carry a child on your shoulders?

[Anonymous]

Since you ask, here's a recommendation from the Australian "Children, Youth and Women's Health Service"! ...

Ceiling fans
If you have a ceiling fan it is important to check that children cannot hit it if they jump off any furniture (especially bunk beds). Also be aware that such activities as carrying children on your shoulders can bring them within reach of the fan. Having 'impeller guards' on fans in children’s rooms is a further safety measure to consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH carried my 4 y.o. DD last weekend while RUNNING on an uneven mountain trail.

If I showed him this thread he would tell me, as he has about 500,000 times, to get off DCUM and get a life.

My DD did fall, btw. But she fell when she was running down the same trail on her own. I told my DH I predicted that she would fall from running races with her sister on that trail. He said that falling down is part of playing outside - go figure.

Honestly that's just foolish. Walking with a kid on an adult's shoulders - not a big deal in my book. But running on an uneven trail. Foolish.

Falling is a part of life. But falling 6 feet from dad's shoulders b/c of a foolish decision on dad's part - not "a part of playing outside."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Before everyone gets all upset, can anyone point to a single article or study or recommendation from a reputable parenting website on this issue? I searched and found absolutely zero cautions or warnings. I've carried several kids on my shoulders and never even come close to dropping one. I've never even heard of anyone dropping one until I saw the comment that caused me to start this thread.

I understand the thought of a child falling is frightening, but I suspect it just doesn't happen too often. It's sort of like how people are very afraid of shark attacks or collapsing sidewalk grates, understandably from a gut level, but out-of-proportion with the actual risk.

You'd think a transplant surgeon saying that children who fall off of their parents' shoulders are referred to in the business as "donors" would be enough for you....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DH carried my 4 y.o. DD last weekend while RUNNING on an uneven mountain trail.

If I showed him this thread he would tell me, as he has about 500,000 times, to get off DCUM and get a life.

My DD did fall, btw. But she fell when she was running down the same trail on her own. I told my DH I predicted that she would fall from running races with her sister on that trail. He said that falling down is part of playing outside - go figure.

Honestly that's just foolish. Walking with a kid on an adult's shoulders - not a big deal in my book. But running on an uneven trail. Foolish.

Falling is a part of life. But falling 6 feet from dad's shoulders b/c of a foolish decision on dad's part - not "a part of playing outside."

My DH has spent thousands of hours in the woods and on that very trail (we own it). He has run in the mountains all his life. He is a very agile athlete, nationally ranked in his youth, and is not at all klutzy. He has an ability to keep his feet equal to a billy goat's. Plus, he is less than 6 feet tall. I am not at all worried, nor do I think he is foolish. I would think I was foolish if I started yelling to put the kid down off of his shoulders because she might fall. If we raise a generation of kids scared of their own shadows, what good have we done?

[Anonymous]

Scared of shadows compared to uber-awesome-athlete dad's shoulders. Sorry - apples and oranges.

In that case, even with your DH's description, I still would say put her down.

Yes, falling is a part of life. But again, off Dad's shoulders - no. God forbid something happened.

[Anonymous]

DH and I tend to be overly cautious and never carry the kids on our shoulders. But the kids I see on their parents' shoulders sure seem to love it!

[Anonymous]

I carry my kid on my shoulders. Call CPS. Then get off DCUM and get a life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I carry my kid on my shoulders. Call CPS. Then get off DCUM and get a life.

Agreed. You people really need to get a life. If I had friends like you, CPS would be on your speed dial.

[Anonymous]

I am reminded of that line from Finding Nemo, when Marlin says something like how he promised Nemo he would never let anything happen to him, and Dory says how stupid that is because if you never let anything happen to him, nothing would ever happen to him.

It's not verbatim; perhaps those of you with DCs currently addicted to Nemo can correct the quote.

Off to do something really radical like let the kids play in the sprinkler on the deck!!! Gosh, hope they don't slip on the wet wood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I carry my kid on my shoulders. Call CPS. Then get off DCUM and get a life.

Agreed. You people really need to get a life. If I had friends like you, CPS would be on your speed dial.

Then why are you both here?

The OPer asked a sincere question. People replied with their opinions. And the big deal is where?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DH carried my 4 y.o. DD last weekend while RUNNING on an uneven mountain trail.

If I showed him this thread he would tell me, as he has about 500,000 times, to get off DCUM and get a life.

My DD did fall, btw. But she fell when she was running down the same trail on her own. I told my DH I predicted that she would fall from running races with her sister on that trail. He said that falling down is part of playing outside - go figure.

Honestly that's just foolish. Walking with a kid on an adult's shoulders - not a big deal in my book. But running on an uneven trail. Foolish.

Falling is a part of life. But falling 6 feet from dad's shoulders b/c of a foolish decision on dad's part - not "a part of playing outside."

My DH has spent thousands of hours in the woods and on that very trail (we own it). He has run in the mountains all his life. He is a very agile athlete, nationally ranked in his youth, and is not at all klutzy. He has an ability to keep his feet equal to a billy goat's. Plus, he is less than 6 feet tall. I am not at all worried, nor do I think he is foolish. I would think I was foolish if I started yelling to put the kid down off of his shoulders because she might fall. If we raise a generation of kids scared of their own shadows, what good have we done?

Did this defense make anyone else chuckle or is it just me?
Is this a medical test I'm missing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I was the poster that you mentioned. It is just that we in hospitals hear the same story a couple of times and it sticks.
What seems to be the problem is that if the parent trips, the child comes flying down head first because the parent is holding the child's feet. When you carry your child on your back, the child has some chance of breaking the fall with something other than the head.
Head injuries unfortunately make folks transplant candidates because the other organs are fine.
Sorry if I upset you, but I don't carry my kids like that. Piggy back rides suffice.

OK, thanks for your thoughts. Your comment didn't upset me -- you just got me curious. While I appreciate your thoughts, and have no interest in arguing, I haven't read anything here that makes me see this as unsafe. To each her own, and safe travels to all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DH carried my 4 y.o. DD last weekend while RUNNING on an uneven mountain trail.

If I showed him this thread he would tell me, as he has about 500,000 times, to get off DCUM and get a life.

My DD did fall, btw. But she fell when she was running down the same trail on her own. I told my DH I predicted that she would fall from running races with her sister on that trail. He said that falling down is part of playing outside - go figure.

Honestly that's just foolish. Walking with a kid on an adult's shoulders - not a big deal in my book. But running on an uneven trail. Foolish.

Falling is a part of life. But falling 6 feet from dad's shoulders b/c of a foolish decision on dad's part - not "a part of playing outside."

My DH has spent thousands of hours in the woods and on that very trail (we own it). He has run in the mountains all his life. He is a very agile athlete, nationally ranked in his youth, and is not at all klutzy. He has an ability to keep his feet equal to a billy goat's. Plus, he is less than 6 feet tall. I am not at all worried, nor do I think he is foolish. I would think I was foolish if I started yelling to put the kid down off of his shoulders because she might fall. If we raise a generation of kids scared of their own shadows, what good have we done?

Did this defense make anyone else chuckle or is it just me?
Is this a medical test I'm missing?

Oh no, I loved it. Perhaps she's married to Bear Grylls. I wonder if they have evidence to back up that statement, and if they do, I'd really, really enjoy watching it.

[Anonymous]

21:15 - I'll bring the popcorn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since you ask, here's a recommendation from the Australian "Children, Youth and Women's Health Service"! ...

Ceiling fans
If you have a ceiling fan it is important to check that children cannot hit it if they jump off any furniture (especially bunk beds). Also be aware that such activities as carrying children on your shoulders can bring them within reach of the fan. Having 'impeller guards' on fans in children’s rooms is a further safety measure to consider.

You're joking, right? Australian ceiling fans are the biggest danger to kids riding on shoulders?