babywalkers good idea or bad???

[pollynruby]

I've heard it can make children walk funny, John Wayne style or on their tippy toes is this true?

[Roobedoo]

We haven't got a typical 'walker' but have got one of those activity arches (keyboard on top) from Mothercare and DS walks around carpeted room with it and has not probs. I think they all walk like John Wayne when they're first walking!

[chicagomum]

bad idea, imo they are very dangerous as baby can bang into things eg shelves and things could topple onto them also have heard of situations where they've falled down stairs, been catapulted out etc, not sure about the walking thing though, for dd we had one of those stationary activity centres that she could rock and rotate in (much safer)

[sweetkitty]

I haven't bought one much to my mothers disgust. I don't like them can't the bub only be in them for about half an hour a day anyway. I hate seeing babies in them for hours on end with juice and biscuits on the tray.

HV said they are bad for hip joints as bub doesn't learn to support it's own weight with it's legs and as a result walking can be delayed.

My mums friend has twins that are constanly in theres and they have just started rolling and they are nearly a year old could be coincedence though.

[Nemo1977]

I has baby walker for ds and he was walking at 8.5mths. Didnt walk on tiptoes or like john wayne. Think the main thing wiht ours was that it was height adjustable so when his legs were shorter he could still have his feet flat on the floor. Ds was very sturdy and he never went near stairs without..as it was kept downstairs We will be using it again with db

[TwinSetAndPearls]

Like most things they are fine if used in moderation.

We used to take dd to the supermarket in hers, she loved racing up and down the aisles.

[edodgy]

we had one with dd and it was great she walked at 9 months and doesnt walk funny at all, the ones you get now dont go that fast and you wouldn't let your child near stairs with it. I found it invaluable and my dd never ate in it hers had an activity thing on rather than a tray. It gave her the independance she craved in an environment i knew to be safe.

[WigWamBam]

I don't like them purely from the safety point of view - I know it's a long while ago but my little sister went through a plate glass window when she tipped up in hers. She also ended up smashing into a wall, which stopped her front teeth from growing.

I know it's 20 years ago, and things are supposed to be safer now, but I wouldn't trust them for putting a baby in even now.

[jessicaandbumpsmummy]

swore by ours.... Jess loved it. She always wanted to be upright but not being able to stand and support her weight, it helped. As soon as she was able to twist round in it, she came out of it. She was about 8 months when i took her out of it, she didnt crawl til 9.5 months and has just started her first steps at 12.5 months. All babies walk like John Wayne to start with surely?

[Iamalsohairyhercules]

arent they one of the main causes of admissions into casuality for little ones?

[NomDePlume]

DD loved hers, she got it for christmas when she was four months old. She adored it. No problems with walking, she walked at 15 months (the average, I believe) and had/has a perfectly normal gait. She was always supervised and we had no accidents whatsoever, no near misses either.

[NomDePlume]

Ours was also height adjustable

[nutcracker]

I would have gone insane if I hadn't used a walker for Dd2.

We never had any accidnets either, and dd walked at 14mths.

[jessicaandbumpsmummy]

accidents with baby walkers i think fall down to irrisponsible parents.... just my opinion but what ahrm can they do if they are in a walker away from anything dangerous? I took Jess out at the right time for her, she was trying to turn round in it, and i thought immediately, if she doesnt stop using it now, she will hurt herself. Jess used hers from 4 months old and i will use it again for this baby

[edodgy]

I think as long as you supervise them and are careful they are absoloutley fine, to be honest my dd's door hanging baby bouncer always seemed more dangerous as she constantly made it swing from side to side and kept bashing her self on the door frame!

[WigWamBam]

I promise you that my sister's accidents had nothing to do with my parents being irresponsible, and everything to do with the walker allowing her to go faster than she was able to deal with, and the fact that it was unstable and tipped over very easily.

[jessicaandbumpsmummy]

WWB - it wasnt a go honestly! And i do think they are safer nowadays. Each to their own i guess as with most stuff a mother does!!!

[WigWamBam]

No, no, I didn't think you were having a go. Just making a point really that even if you think a child is safe and well supervised, accidents can still happen with things like walkers.

I know it was a long time ago, and that the designs are probably different now, but I still see children whizzing about in walkers and my heart sinks.

[LilMissy]

Haven't read the whole thread but I was told by a friend of mine doing a childcare course NEVER to put a baby in a babywalker as it can damage their hips (not sure in how in detail but something to do with their legs being in an unnatural position)

[suedonim]

Hmmm, I don't know about irresponsible parents....I was right next to my ds when he had an accident in his baby walker. It went over an uneven patch and tipped without warning, so fast I couldn't catch him in time. Luckily, he wasn't hurt but I never bothered with a walker again.

[anchovies]

I agree with wwb and wouldn't use one personally.

Found this which was quite interesting.

[polly2]

wouldn't use one. my old mum (over 60) said they were a bad idea. she reckons a child should put weight on its feet naturally, cos the 'body weight' to 'strength in legs ratio' will be correct.

[flowerfairy]

I once read an article which siad they are don't help children to develop their walking skills properly. As a walker does not give the child an understanding of balance or spacial awareness.

Plus if you look in the mothercare catalogue i don't think you ever see one with any awards form the various parenting mags. IYSWIM.

[wheresmyfroggy]

DD1 had one and absolutely loved it and her walking is fine

[RachD]

Ds loved his. I did every safety check that anchovies article suggested - never unsupervise, only in longe with no fire, even surface etc, for short periods.
I think their fine -
did you notice, she said 24% accidents falling down stairs, well, if you are going to use them at the top of the stairs.... goodness me, what are people thinking ???