Viral Hack Could Save Your Back as Baby Gains Confidence Walking

From lugging car seats in and out of the house to lifting baby in and out of their crib, parenthood is bound to come with some back pain. Just when you think those aches might ease as your baby becomes more independent, many parents find themselves dealing with the ‘toddler tilt’—the next culprit for back strain.

The ‘toddler tilt’ sets in as your little one gains confidence in walking but still needs a steady hand from Mom or Dad. What follows is often hours of bending over, following baby around the house, and offering support when needed, leading to some serious back discomfort. But before you reach for the heating pad and icy hot, one pediatric occupational therapist has a simple hack that might just save your back.

In a now viral post, boy mom Mallory Riddaugh touts the helpful hula hoop hack originally shared by neonatal occupational therapist Laura Kromhout for saving her back and helping her son Harris become confident in his steps. “My aunt sent me a reel by @loccilu showing this hula hoop trick, and I immediately ran to Target and got a one lol. It was seriously a game changer for my back, and for Harris,” Riddaugh captioned a video of her little one excitedly walking around first with her hands for help and then using a hula hoop.

Kromhout explains in her video that using a hula hoop to help support your little one as they gain confidence in walking can provide big benefits for both you and baby. “When babies reach that stage of wanting to walk around but they still need handheld support, it can be very straining on your back,” she explains. “It’s easy to hold baby’s hands above their head level so that it’s more comfortable for you; BUT this makes it much more difficult for baby to find their stability and develop normal walking patterns.”

The key a low-hanging hula hoop! “Babies’ hands need to be in front of them around the level of their waist for optimal positioning and stability, and to allow them to develop their balance and weight shifting for later independent walking,” she notes. “Try using a hula hoop to give them stability and support while allowing you to stand upright and protect your back.”

Parents flooded the comments to praise Riddaugh and Kromhout for this back-saving hack. “Don’t make me have another kid so I can try this,” joked one parent. “I noticed the other day that I don’t have to bend down to hold my daughter’s hand anymore. This is such a fun idea though! I love it,” added another. “Standing ovation from this pediatric PT,” chimed in a physical therapist. “My girl currently thinks she can let go and she cannot yet. I need to do this,” wrote a grateful mom.

Some in the comments expressed concern that the use of the hula hoop could impact baby’s posture or walking development. Riddaugh addressed these concerns explaining that she wasn’t using the hula hoop to accelerate her son’s development from crawling to walking but that he was already walking himself and could just use the reassurance along the way. “He had been furniture surfing a long time before this. He was begging to hold my hand and walk,” she explained. “This stage lasted like a week, and then he was walking all by himself with no help! Wasn’t my prompting or pushing, he was determined.”

Kromhout also reassured parents about developmental concerns, emphasizing that the hula hoop isn’t meant to replace crawling or any other important milestones. “Don’t worry, as an OT the importance of crawling is not lost on me. But that doesn’t mean we can’t give baby opportunities to experience other developmental play positions. This activity is providing opportunities for babies to use the skills they are developing during this developmental stage and it has not been presented to replace any other play positions but rather to be used alongside them.”

The takeaway? While the hula hoop hack isn’t a tool to speed up walking, it’s a handy way to support your little one as they gain confidence—while giving parents a much-needed break. Plus, unlike walkers, which have been discouraged by the AAP, this hula hoop hack ensures a parent is always supervising exploration and baby is moving at a natural pace.

If you have any concerns about your baby’s physical development or progression from crawling to walking, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor. And remember, milestones aren’t one-size-fits-all—every baby is different. Focus on what works best for your family and your pediatrician’s advice.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.