Baby walker- yes or no

[Carrie2020]

My babies have just turned 6 months old. I’m confused about use of baby walker. My health visitor wasn’t keen on them and said it delays their growth and babies don’t learn the correct way to walk. What do you experienced moms recommend?

Mine had a walker from 6 months, used it quite a lot, it was one of the vtech ones with buttons on the front. He walked unaided at 12 months so didnt delay him and he walks brilliantly.

Personally, I didn't use them. They're bad for their hips as the position they sit inside the walker doesn't hold them in the correct position. Two of my DC had hip dysplasia and their consultants told me a firm no on baby walkers, one of them was very vocal about it and said he'd ban them if it were up to him. They're a tipping hazard and can topple over, especially once your baby gets a bit bigger and can lean over to grab things while sitting in the seat, not to mention a tripping hazard for others in the house. And, from a practically view, they're bulky to store and unless you have masses of clear floor space for maneuvering it around then they're fairly redundant.

The best thing for babies is lots of floor time with freedom to roll/crawl/drag/pull self up on furniture (make sure anything large/heavy is bolted to the wall) and a push along-style walker if needed.

It's a no from me. I believe they are banned in some countries.

I never used one for my first, he had the push along type, but my second was a ridiculously frustrated baby, he was crawling at 6 months and walking by 9 1/2 months. He used a jumperoo and a baby Walker from when he could hold himself up well enough as it was the only time I could put him down for more than 2 seconds without him screaming. It certainly didn't stop him walking as he was walking stupidly early anyway but my sanity would not have coped without it

I think the countries which ban them do so due to the high number of accidents involving them. In terms of hips/ growth/ walking/ development it depends how they're used - ten minutes at a time is fine, parking the baby in there for hours to give parents a break is as bad as leaving them strapped into a car seat to keep them out of your hair, but with the added increased potential for someone to trip over them or them to tip it over if there are any steps/ changes of level/ obstructions in their path.

No to the ones they sit in. Surely it will just damage your house when they crash into stuff. I’m not really a fan of the ones they push along but neither of my child’s could manage them until they could walk anyway.

I used a jumperoo for 10 mins at at time with DD1 and she walked at 11 months. DD2 wasn’t interested in the jumperoo and she took her first independent steps the day she turned 9 months.

They’re definitely the worst flavour of crisps.

I had one, both my dc used it and loved it, no injuries, issues or delayed walking with either of them. We have an open plan down stairs so they loved whizzing around. They both crawled and walked about one year old.

@FoxyTheFox

Personally, I didn't use them. They're bad for their hips as the position they sit inside the walker doesn't hold them in the correct position. Two of my DC had hip dysplasia and their consultants told me a firm no on baby walkers, one of them was very vocal about it and said he'd ban them if it were up to him. They're a tipping hazard and can topple over, especially once your baby gets a bit bigger and can lean over to grab things while sitting in the seat, not to mention a tripping hazard for others in the house. And, from a practically view, they're bulky to store and unless you have masses of clear floor space for maneuvering it around then they're fairly redundant.

The best thing for babies is lots of floor time with freedom to roll/crawl/drag/pull self up on furniture (make sure anything large/heavy is bolted to the wall) and a push along-style walker if needed.

Spot on.

Avoid!

Push along walker that the baby stands next to are fine.(like picture 1)

Sit in walkers that go around the baby - not fine, bad for hip development, but if a health and safety nightmare and banned in lots of countries (picture 2)

Used one for both of mine, they had the push along vtech walkers too. Both walking a couple of weeks before their 1st birthday despite both being 6weeks prem.

We were told no to the sit in ones. They have the push along ones. They like to turn it upside down and spin the wheels or sit on the floor and play with the front. They've not figured out how to walk with it or indeed walk.

All mine used it and loved it, all early walkers, no hip issues.

DS1 did have an nasty accident though, when I ran out to the washing line to grab laundry as it started raining, he hot footed it behind me, and of course tumbled at the door. Took me a lot longer than him to get over that.

They are not recommended, but all of my babies loved them. My eldest hated being on the floor, particularly tummy time, she would just scream until she was picked up. She loved the walker though, it saved my sanity at times tbh.

Depends which ones you mean. Push along ones? My 2 oldest loved them. I would suggest buying second hand though as my third just wasn't interested.
Sit in one's? I had one given to me when I was pregnant with my oldest. He never liked it. My second loved it! (He's a perfectly fine 3 year old now).
We got rid of it after as it's just so big.

DD loved hers and walked at 11 months. No issues.

Ohhh I thought you meant the push along one not the sit in one. Didnt have a sit in one my house is far too small!