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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

wanting to get 4mth old a baby walker but have been warned off, why?

64 replies

stillsmiling · 10/02/2005 15:19

i have a 4mth old and was thinking about getting a baby walker for him but have have varied opinions about them. really unsure what to do now, would it be a help or a hinderence to get one?
any advice would be appriciated.
thanks

OP posts:

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fimbles30 · 10/02/2005 15:26

I've never really liked them myself, apparently they are bad for the legs. I suppose it's due to some people leaving babies in them for ages I sure you are only meant to leave them in for Max 15 mins.

lunavix · 10/02/2005 15:27

They have to be 6 months old for a baby walker.

stillsmiling · 10/02/2005 15:31

if i was to get one then i would wait till 6mths but im just unsure whether i should get one or not. my nephew used one from about 6mths and was walking unaided by 10mths and my neice never had one and never walked till she was 14mths. im just confused if this was just her being a slower developer then him or because he used a walker.

OP posts:

otto · 10/02/2005 15:33

Also I think that they can tip up quite easily if the baby goes from one surface to the another.

hercules · 10/02/2005 15:33

Biggest cause of accidents I believe for that age. I never wanted to risk it.

bundle · 10/02/2005 15:35

there have been some (contradictory) studies about delayed reaching of milestones being put down to babywalkers. also as mentioned, they're a major cause of a&e admissions. can't see the point of them myself.

monkeygirl · 10/02/2005 15:35

I think one of the concerns about them from some professionals is that they have caused quite a few accidents (babies tipping over in them).

Slinky · 10/02/2005 15:37

Personally, I don't like them and have never used them after witnessing several accidents with friends kids using them. I'm sure Physiotherapists abroad (Canada?) are campaigning for them to be banned.

With regards to aiding walking - as I say, none of mine used them and were all walking at around their 1st birthday. Yet a friend who used one with her son wasn't walking until 18 months - so I don't think they either aid or hinder walking.

bundle · 10/02/2005 15:37

(if you want to look at the studies, try the BMJ and search for babywalkers)

secur · 10/02/2005 15:38

Message withdrawn

Grommit · 10/02/2005 15:39

Why don't you think of an activity centre that baby can sit in- we had one for dd from about 5 months - she loved it as she could sit upright and bounce up and down and spin around! IMO it is safer than a walker.

Bagpuss30 · 10/02/2005 15:39

Also, the baby is placed at a height that is usually wouldn't be at for it's age IYSWIM. Six month old babies are not really supposed to be in a walking position, it is better to let them develop at their own pace, is what I was told at Antenatal classes. I have never used one as I can't see the point in them myself. Plus less to clutter up the loft with afterwards .

stillsmiling · 10/02/2005 15:40

thanks fr all your advice, i think to be on the safe side i'll stay clear of them and not rush him b4 hes ready.
thanks bundle i'll have a little look

OP posts:

bundle · 10/02/2005 15:41

(there's also some stuff i spotted re: not warming up milk, one of my other fave topics )

secur · 10/02/2005 15:42

Message withdrawn

secur · 10/02/2005 15:44

Message withdrawn

soapbox · 10/02/2005 15:44

We had one but never put the wheels on it. So they could get upright but couldn't go anywhere!

Both children really liked being in it - but I wouldn't leave them unsupervised at all.

Loads of people have borrowed it and used it - most from about 4 months to 8 months. Once they get bigger they can wriggle out of it so it is dangerous!

Ours had a little table that I could put toys on for them to play with which was handy.

I definately wouldn't use one with wheels on. They will be mobile soon enough and IMO I wouldn't want that to come any earlier than it already does!

fredtbad · 10/02/2005 15:44

The six month thing is a misnomer. Your child has to adequate sitting balance and definite head and neck control before you get a walker. By 6 month your child should have or be well on the way to these strengths.
Both my kids had one with an anti-tip base (basically a very wide one) . I got one from mother care with just a tray one it and found it very handy for giving snacks as they were not in those dreadful bouncy/reclining chair things that some parents are apt to leave their kids in almost all day!
I never allowed them to sit in them for more than 25 minutes. In addition it was too wide to get through doors which meant they could not scoot all round the house and into the kitchen.
The 'accident' risk related to people who allowed there children to use them whilst at the top of a flight of stairs and some kids inevitably fell down. This opens up more questions which I really wouldn't discuss here.
Finally, some OT/PT's don't really approve of them as children who spend to much time in them may develop hip problems unnecessarily, or produce an altered gait.

Choice is yours really, better than bouncing chairs imo.

moosh · 10/02/2005 16:03

Both ds's had one from about 6 months on not before waited till they were sitting up strongly and had good head control. It done them no harm they were not in it for too long and were never left unsupervised but they followed me everywhere in them. We live in a one floor flat so I didn't have problems with stairs e.t.c. It did their legs no harm as both began walking at 10 months old it made their legs stronger IMO for my children.

hercules · 10/02/2005 16:12

Sorry, moosh but why would them getting stronger legs be a good thing? To me they seem to be making the baby do pretty unnatural things.
My dd walked at 10 months as well without using one.

stillsmiling · 10/02/2005 16:14

i think it would be handy for me to have one as hes really clingy and sceams wheneva i leave his sight so it would be good for me getting on with things like washing etc if he could follow me around. im pregnant with 2nd child and when he sleeps all i wanna do is sleep to and not have to worry about all the housework coz i could do it while he follows me! i just worry that its bad for him

OP posts:

secur · 10/02/2005 16:16

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stillsmiling · 10/02/2005 16:21

thanks secur, my sister has offered to give me her old one so im fine for getting one just wasnt sure if i should or not. i think i will try it out, as long as i suppervise him in it and dont leave him in there too long it should be fine. i will still help to incourage him to walk unaided. but i just hate leaving him strapped in a bouncy chair while i wizz around trying to get the house clean!

OP posts:

mishi1977 · 10/02/2005 16:22

my ds one had one from 4mths i got one that height could be adjusted so his feet did touch the floor rather than dangle or it be too high...never had a problem was never in it for longer than 15mins and he was walking at 8.5 mths so not too bad

secur · 10/02/2005 16:26

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