Baby walker

[FuzzyBunny55]

Hi All,

What is the appropriate age to stop using a sit in baby walker?

[LIZS]

When they can walk and cruise on furniture. tbh they have such a short life span that I've always felt a waste, safety aside.

[FuzzyBunny55]

I'm asking for a friend really. Her DD has just turned one. She doesn't crawl, stand or cruise and is still using baby walker? Her DD also couldn't sit unaided until 9 months. Could it be effecting development?

[Kelly1814]

we are one in two weeks and we love ours! DD beetles around the house in it at top speed. if anything it's helpng her development, she has only really started crusing from being in it, ithink it taught her what her feet and toes are for!

[LIZS]

what does hv say ? Could there be development issues, even without walker ? Does she roll etc?

[FuzzyBunny55]

My friend seems in denial about it and doesn't think there's an issue. Hoc said nothing at 12 month review. Her DD can only roll on to tummy but then gets stuck.

I was going to try and talk to her about it nice way. I don't mean to be interfering but thought it might be worth giving up the walker for a little while to see if it helps.

My friend has no issue with her DD not walking as everyone tells her "some babies don't crawl" "my baby didn't walk until.. Etc"

I think she spends most of the time in the walker?

[murphy36]

Those sit in walkers can delay walking development

www.babycenter.com/404_will-baby-walkers-and-jumpers-help-my-baby-learn-to-walk_6878.bc

No idea how you carefully raise it with your friend

[Kelly1814]

Why are you so very interested In your friends child? Why not get on with your own life and leave her to it?

[hilbobaggins]

I think it's fair enough to attempt a gentle intervention if you suspect a child's healthy development may be at stake. There's overwhelming evidence that those walkers can delay development at best and be pretty dangerous at worst. It's worth a tactful try, OP.

[Borttagen]

Hi, my DS is nearly 15 months. He can roll onto his front, not reliably sit unaided, doesn't crawl or walk or anything but has great fine motor skills and chats and seems ahead of his peers intellectually. We bought him a walker at 11 months so he could move but I was unsure if it would help or hinder. He loves it and flies about the place in it.
But - it transpired that he has cerebral palsy affecting his legs, which is why his gross motor skills are delayed. We have been given a walker for him by the hospital as he outgrew the other one (too tall for it).
So it might not be the walker there could be an underlying issue and your friend should get her DC checked out - by a doctor. We have seen paediatricians and neurologists.
In my son's case the physios all recommend the walker as it allows him to develop more as he can move, access more things and just explore.
I really doubt the issue here is the walker - I know people thought my sons delays were down to me not putting him on the floor enough or other things.

[Kelly1814]

lord, it's hardly like she's feeding the baby 20 marlboro lights for breakfast! if she's a friend mention in passing, then move on.

it's precisely this sort of nosiness and interfering that has driven me mad since having a baby!

[ColdTeaAgain]

I don't think walkers used a lot are likely cause any major long term problems (although was advised against using them for prolonged periods by paediatrician for hip development), but I do wonder if when babies are in them for too much of the time (plus door bouncers, jumperoos etc) then they are not getting enough opportunity to experiment with their own natural movement and could put them behind slightly.

You could try asking if she has ever tried going a day without the walker to see how her DD gets on? you would have to tread v carefully though!