I'm a sports scientist – here's why dad-shamed Joe Wicks WASN'T doing anything wrong in shock photo | The Sun
WHEN fitness influencer Joe Wicks shared a photo of his baby daughter hanging from a pull-up bar on the beach, the internet erupted.
We're used to seeing the 37-year-old showing off his skills, flexing his muscles on Instagram but the post prompted followers to question if his baby girl should be following in his footsteps.
In the photo, seven-month-old Leni can be seen dangling from a metal bar all on her own, while the fitness guru, proudly looks on.
The image prompted Joe’s fans to rush to comment on it, with many questioning the dad-of-three.
One person asked: “Is that safe for her shoulders and joints to hang onto bars supporting her own weight like that?”
A second commented: “Please don’t do that to your baby he would be frightened.”
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But a group of experts, including a GP, sports scientist and physiotherapist has suggested the snap might not be as concerning as it seems.
West Yorkshire based NHS GP, Doctor Sophie Newton told The Sun Leni is demonstrating a common and involuntary reflex that causes babies to grip their fingers around an object.
"Babies are actually born with a reflex called the palmar grasp reflex, which is an automatic response, causing their hands to close tightly when their palms are stimulated," she told the Sun.
"This grasping reflex is present as soon as they’re born, and then starts to fade as they grow up," she added.
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Babies first start to make the involuntary movements in the womb, and continue to do so until they are around six months old.
It's the same reflex that's at play when your newborn wraps their tiny fingers around one of yours.
There are two steps to the reflex: finger closure and then clinging – which is typically strong enough to hold your baby's weight.
Scientists believe there are two main reasons for the palmar grasp reflex.
Firstly, most babies younger than four months old are unable to voluntarily control their muscles.
Between four and six months a baby will start to reach for things, and the reflex is thought to be the brain laying the foundation for voluntary movements as they get older.
The involuntary reflex fires the neurons in the brain, helping to teach the brain what to do.
The second reason for the reflex is the bonding component, helping you to bond with your little one.
While it is totally normal, it is important to keep an eye out and if you notice your baby isn't displaying the reflex properly, it's important to speak to your GP or midwife, who can check their development.
IS IT SAFE TO LET A BABY HANG LIKE THAT?
While followers were quick to dad-shame Wicks, Dr Richard Blagrove, a senior lecturer in physiology and an expert in strength and conditioning at Loughborough University, said The Body Coach is not doing anything wrong.
“Hanging from a bar is a natural reflexive action for a baby, and is nothing to worry about if just for a few seconds while a photo is taken," he told The Times.
"If a child was being forced to do pull-ups or repeated hanging that would not be sensible, but I very much doubt that's the case here."
Physiotherapist Paul Hoborough, told the paper: "There are a lot of variables and it isn't right for every young child to swing from the arms, but I can say all my children loved being swung from the arms at a young age with no harm incurred."
However, this is not to say the activity comes with no risk.
GP Dr Rachel Ward of Woodlands Medical Centre, Didcot, warned of the dangers involved in letting your baby hang from monkey bars.
"If your baby doesn’t have strong enough head control their head can flop back from this position and cause pain," she told The Sun.
"Children are also prone to a condition called 'pulled elbow' when the elbow joint partially dislocates when strain is put through the joint.
"A baby's own body weight could cause this needs to be put back into position," she added.
WHO IS JOE WICKS?
Joe, who is known as The Body Coach, and model wife Rosie are also parents to Indie and Marley.
He was one of the first influencers to find mainstream fame thanks to fitness and food posts on Instagram.
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Joe was catapulted to national treasure status via his PE With Joe workouts during the Covid lockdowns.
His YouTube exercise classes — aimed at kids but loved by parents too — drew record-breaking numbers of viewers, saw him donate £600,000 to NHS charities and secured him an MBE.
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