Warning: Babies can be hazardous to your health. Specifically, it's your back that's at risk, with all the lifting required when you have young children.

When it comes to parenting, back injury is an occupational hazard. New mothers whose backs have just endured the stresses of pregnancy and birth, are particularly vulnerable. So are taller fathers and mothers who must bend farther than others to scoop up tots from playpens.

And think about this: When you place a baby in a carseat you often break every rule of back health by holding the child at arm's length while bending and twisting.

Then there's another problem: kids that weigh as much as a large sack of flour - and won't sit still.

“If a child jumps into your arms and you're not expecting it, your risk for injury is greater because you aren't thinking about your movements,” says rehabilitation engineer Gerald Wiesman.

With more people having children in their 30s and 40s, the likelihood of preexisting “wear and tear” on the spine also sets the stage for problems. New parents are especially at risk because they are not conditioned for the physical rigors, says Helen Horstmann, M.D., an associate professor of orthopedic surgery.

“More than lower back pain, parents tend to feel the strain in the area between their shoulders...The pain comes from bending over and doing repetitive activities - lifting and placing the baby in a crib, high chair, or playpen,” says Dr. Horstmann, who has six children herself.

The fatigue that goes along with 2 a.m. feedings likewise contributes to injury. When parents are more tired than usual, their muscles don't respond the same way.

For both men and women, age is not nearly as important as fitness, Mr. Wiesmann emphasizes. “If you stay as fit as you can, avoid awkward or extreme postures, and hold heavy weight as close to your body as possible, you can avoid most problems.”

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