walkers!! yes or no!!

[2SPUNKRATZ]

i just bought a walker for my DS. he is so happy and smiley in it. i have 2 sisters. the eldest one says they are bad for the babys back cause they slouch in it and wont learn to stand/walk properly. the other has a walker and bot her DS and DD use/d it. they dont seem to have any problems.

so whats the verdict. does anyone know how good or bad they are fur bub? i figured if they are so bad for a baby why would they still be available for purchase!?

please help.

[Lunar]

They will sell anything as long as it sells!

Physio therapists HATE them along with Jolly Jumpers. It effects the spine more than anything else. It places unneccessary strain on the spain and CAN lead to further damage. I figure that if the professionals (therapists and CN's) do not condone thier use then I am not going to risk putting any of my children in one.

[Femme-Fetale]

I dont beleive the walker themselves are bad, i beleive its some of the parents who buy them that are.
You shouldnt leave your child in them for long periods of time, regardless of how much the child likes it. It can be damaging to the spin and the ligaments around the ankles and back of calves.
I had one for my DS, and he loved it. We also had tiled floors throughout the house, which made it that more easier and fun!
I would only let him have about 20 mins a day in it. If it was a really bad grizzly day, i would let him have 40, so 20 in morning and 20 in the later arvo's.
Just make sure the one you buy is safe, as in make sure the base where the wheels are is much wider then the top so bubs cant run into a wall and jam fingers etc. Make sure its sturdy and adheir to any weight restrictions. Close off dangerous areas such as a step and make sure all dangerous things, such as in the kitchen are placed well out of reach. being in a walker brings a whole new level of things kids can reach, so be aware of that.
I think if your responsible about it, then a walker is a good thing, both for mum and bubs :thumbsup:

[natasha]

I had one for DD but straight after i bought it i learnt a few of the things you have just pointed out about them slouching and walking on their tip toes or bow legged so I gave it away. DD never went in it.

[Niki]

ds has one but doesnt like being in it, he loves his jolley jumper thou but he only goes in it for 10mins every few days

[~EmsMum~]

i say they are fine aslong as they arn't in there for long periods of time

[Melo]

I dont have one for DS, as the physio pointed out it allows them to walk when there body isnt physically ready too (When there ready to walk, their obviously going to walk!!).

I wont get one for the next bub either :no:

[sam's mum]

i figured if they are so bad for a baby why would they still be available for purchase!?

they are not available for purchase still in every country. Canada is an example of one country that has banned them. At various times Australia has talked about it, but nothing has ever come of it here.

I personally wouldn't have one for my kids.

[Missus S]

They are not only quite dangerous............but they do interfere with bub's natural development of learning to walk.

You are better off buying a stationary activity centre to keep your bub occupied.

[Angelmist♥]

All 3 of my kids have had one, they all love/loved it and they have had no drama with walking.The new walkers are alot better stability wise and as long as bubs isn't in it all day everyday, I can't see a hassle:thumbsup:

[dannii]

i have just got one for indy recently, and she loves it.. she doesnt stay in there all that long but we have floorboards type thing so its heaps easy for her to get a roll around in it.
i was actually thinking of posting the same question myself, and i also bought a jolly jumper and on the box i read that it helps develop them and yet on the other hand ive heard everyone say its bad for them :banghead: so i really had no idea.
she was never keen on the jolly jumper anyways so it got scrapped.

My other kids had walkers but they didnt use them much coz we had carpet them and all they seemed to be able to do was go backwards for most of the time.
Indy gets quite a speed up.. its so cute :p

[the_queen]

I don't like them, for the physical developmental reasons already mentioned, but also - why give a not-yet-mobile baby wheels??? Seriously, once a bubs starts crawling, and then walking, you will long for the days where they weren't mobile. I am enjoying these pre-mobile days with my bubba, and there is no way in hell I will ever put him in a walker. :D

[KarniF00l]

My DD1 was in a walker for a long time being (premmie and very tiny) and i swear to this day that that's the reason as to why she walks on her toes now :thumbsdown: I didn't put DS2 in one and i will be doing the same with DD2

[Mum&bubs]

My DD loved her walker. I think they are o.k as long as the parents dont leave them in there for long periods at a time or unattended.

[Hedda]

I have not ever in my lifetime met anyone that had difficulty walking because of using one of these products. I used them and had no difficulty and bought a Jolly Jumper for my son. I think it is great for people to have their opinions and beliefs provided that don't try to force them on others. I had a similar experience with a sister. I think it is fine to offer your opinion once but when family try to force their beliefs upon you its not fair.

[Tam-I-Am]

i got a handout on this at my first mum's group. Here's what it says:



Babies walk when they are ready - when all postural responses and reactions have developed sufficiently to allow walking in a cooridated and safe manner. Babies acheive this trhough rolling, sitting, crawling and pulling to stand, losing and regaining balance and cruising sideways along walls and furniture. This is all a normal part of development.

NORMAL ACTIVITIES ARE NOT POSSIBLE IN A baby WALKER because the child is restricted. A child who becomes used to a walker becomes very frustrated when he is 'grounded', as normal movement does not come easily.

Putting a baby in a walker upsets his normal developmental sequence, it keeps a baby upright too long and often too early in its life. This intereferes with the normal muscle development, which is necessary for coordianation. Even the slow developer is much better to make progress walking without an mechanical aide.

In a walker, the child may learn an abnormal walking pattern, ie makies progress by walking with toes pointed in and downwards. This leads to inwadly rotated limbs and children who toe walk. These abnormalities can be long, hard and costly to correct.

When a baby is learning a new activity she/he works and rests, works and rests etc. the baby seldom keeps any activity going for longer than a few minutes. In a walker she/he is unable to take frequent little rests that are neceassary. In a walker they are unable to change positions, turn, and roll or rest their back muscles.

Babies in walkers can't always reach and feel objects so they are denied hand grasp activities

In a word, walkers are bad news - don't waste your money!

The best thing you can do is get rid of the walker

BUT if your baby is used to the walker and demading to go in it:

-Remove the walker out of the baby's sight;
-Remove one wheel so that it doesn't move well;
-Put soem grease and sand in the wheels so it won't move well - the baby will stop making demands if the walker is too hard to push
-Take all the wheels off and let the baby walk on the outside and use it as a push along toy
-Find some other interesting toy/activity for baby to do, ie use distraction techniques

Remember its all up to you! Because the baby needs you to put him or her in the device.

BTW I don't necessarily agree with all of this, its just what the handout said!

[2SPUNKRATZ]

thanks for that. i was actually going to look them up and see if there was any info on them to feel better informed. but you just gave it to me so now i dont need to. lol.

im thinking i might return it. when i put him in it his feet were about 2 inches off the floor in the lowest setting. theres kinda no point ot it if thats the case. the main thing i liked about it is that he liked the toys on it. so i think i might look at high chairs that you can attatch toys to instead. that wya i have something for him to sit in and play without damaging his feet.

thanks everyone.

[bearsmummy]

all my 3 boys have had a walker and i think they are great. My boys didnt spend all day everyday in it so therfore didnt hinder their development at all.
Plus along with proper supervision they are safe, like most things we use these days :D

[Missus S]

My neighbour is a midwife and she has told me about all the horrific accidents they have heard about with both baby walkers and Jolly Jumpers.

So that is enough information for me to never use these products with my child - it's not worth the risk when there are plenty of other options for your baby.

[NZMama]

all my 3 boys have had a walker and i think they are great. My boys didnt spend all day everyday in it so therfore didnt hinder their development at all.
Plus along with proper supervision they are safe, like most things we use these days :D

I agree. As long as you watch the child and not use the walker as a sitter it should be fine. Everything in moderation as well.
The majority of children I know have used them and are fine.
There are always going to be for's and against's in these sorts of things. Midwives, Dr's all have different opinions depending on which ones you speak to. Go with your instinct Im sure your child will be fine.

[2SPUNKRATZ]

my instincts obviously dont agree with it or i wouldnt have got so worried to begin with. lol. im going to return it.

[bearsmummy]

fair enough hun :D

[SassyMummy]

I'm still unsure about walkers...

When I was baby, I was in one...and I fell down the stairs (Mum didn't close the back door properly...and so I pushed it open and fell). If I hadn't have been in a walker...I might not have fell (though I may have still managed to get outside and fall anyway...who knows...)...

But at the same time, it was the walker which prevented me from actually hurting myself (the tray around it hit hte ground...not me).

I didn't get DD one though...because I figured she'd walk in her own time. Everyone also kept telling me how I should cherish the time I have when she CAN'T walk...and what do you know...they were SO right! :rolleyes: :D