Thursday, March 15, 2018

Ultrarunning Boy Takes on the World( of biking with a baby)?

As you may or may not know, I am pretty excited about Baby Ferreira's arrival. I have been doing some research on bike trailers and seeing if there are ones that are compatible with infant car seats so I can take her out for rides(we already have a infant jogging stroller). I started doing some research and found out that it might not be such a good idea. 


Here's a synopsis of a pediatrician's concerns:





“It’s not about crashes at all, it’s about the potential for repeated mild trauma to the brain because of bumps associated with everyday road conditions. What is undocumented is what is happening to the brain during the bumps. Think of the movement of a bobble head doll in slow motion — that’s what may be happening to the brain in the skull inside the infant’s head after some big bumps. Neurodevelopment is critical during the younger years. An infant’s brain is a bunch of neurons, uninsulated wires, if you will. During the first year the infant is developing the myelin sheath, which insulates the neurons and sets the stage for all the development and learning that the brain does next. If you had to pick a time when it is most important to protect the brain from excess vibration or bumps and jostling about it would be during that first year after birth.

So it looks like I will not be getting a bike trailer, at least not for the first year. And any running we do will be only on the smoothest pavement around. We cannot help what brains she was born with but we can help her keep the ones she has:) 

Until next time,


Danny