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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to put my 9 month old in a baby walker?

115 replies

buggerlugsandbananafeet · 30/01/2011 18:24

I have recently started using a walker for my 9 month DD. It was bought by my mum, who says that as a baby i loved mine. So i popped DD in it and she too appears to enjoy it.
She isn't in it for hours and hours but some of the mums at playgroup have told me that walkers are really bad and can mess with development.
Is this true and if so, why the hell do they still sell them?

OP posts:
weefriend · 30/01/2011 18:28

Don't leave her in it too long, don't use it where there are steps she can fall down, baby proof as though for a new walker, definitely no hot drinks within reach. Enjoy :). I'm sure you'll be told they're all sorts of evil but my DD loved hers and was walking by 11 months so I don't think it delayed her at all. DS didn't get to use his much, he discovered how fast he could go so it didn't seem safe... for the walls or the furniture!

ednurse · 30/01/2011 18:28

They are handy for when you are trying to clean up. We put two triplets in walkers and one in the door bouncer and that kept them occupied long enough to clean the entire downstairs AND bathrooms Grin

pigletmania · 30/01/2011 18:31

They are great, my dd loved hers, she was walking at 1 year so it did not delay her walking. She is now 3.11 and very active.

bubblewrapped · 30/01/2011 18:31

They are handy for when you are trying to clean up

Grin especially when you take the wheels off... Wink

exexpat · 30/01/2011 18:35

I used to use one for DS at about that age - it was the only way I could find to keep him safe and happy for five minutes while I was in the shower. He was in the walker in my bedroom, door closed (I was in ensuite shower room), room thoroughly baby-proofed so nothing dangerous he could grab or bump into, but a selection of his toys at tempting levels for him to scoot around and get.

Not good for long periods, obviusly nowhere near stairs, and you have to be very careful about baby-proofing. I have read some reports about babywalkers delaying actual walking, but DS was walking before he was one, so it didn't seem to apply to him.

Bunbaker · 30/01/2011 18:35

"They are handy for when you are trying to clean up. We put two triplets in walkers and one in the door bouncer and that kept them occupied long enough to clean the entire downstairs AND bathrooms"

Isn't that what playpens are for? I'm not keen on babywalkers, but put DD in a playpen from being very little. As a result she liked being in there with her toys and sometimes used to fall asleep in it. Mind you with triplets a playpen would be a little crowded. I can see exactly why you needed your walkers and bouncers.

BuzzLightBeer · 30/01/2011 18:45

YABU, there is a reason that they have been banned in some countries, being as they were one of the biggest causes of injury to infants.

Babies aren't meant to have wheels.

pointydug · 30/01/2011 18:50

yanbu

The accidents they cause will be mainly because some people have left their babies unsupervised in them which most people would never do.

Use them sensibly adn they are good.

pointydug · 30/01/2011 18:51

There was also some talk of them encouraging kids to walk funny. But again, if they are only in for 10 or 15 minutes now and then, I dount it could do any harm.

LadyThumb · 30/01/2011 18:52

My son absolutely loved his walker - and he was walking at 11 months!

Original poster
buggerlugsandbananafeet · 30/01/2011 18:54

BuzzLight- your scaring me.But i suppose, most things can be dangerous if used incorrectly or without supervision.Confused

OP posts:
pointydug · 30/01/2011 18:54

I hadn't heard about the walking delay. My two were walkign at 10 months and 12 montsh.

valiumredhead · 30/01/2011 18:57

My ds LOVED his walker, If used sensibly they are great.

sharbie · 30/01/2011 18:59

yh my two loved them and they both walked at 12 months but don't take your eyes off them while they are in them as they both got really speedy.

homeagainhomeagain · 30/01/2011 19:00

I used one for my DD who is now 3, she loved it and was walking at 10.5 months. My 8.5 month goes in a walker now, she would be a grouch without it as she likes to scoot about and I think she may well be an early walker too. Just trust your instincts :)

Original poster
buggerlugsandbananafeet · 30/01/2011 19:00

The delay thing worries me, they have warned me that my DD might take a bit longer to do all the physical stuff because she was poorly when she was born. Am worried that i could make this worse, but she does seem happy in it and i don't leave her for hours on end.

OP posts:
Original poster
buggerlugsandbananafeet · 30/01/2011 19:02

Although reading some of your respoonses i'm starting to feel reassured that i'm not a terrible mum for using one after all! Smile

OP posts:
pigletmania · 30/01/2011 19:03

I am sure that your dd will be fine if used for limited periods of time. like most things, if used safely they are fine.

valiumredhead · 30/01/2011 19:06

I think the walking delay is from kids being in them for hours on end. Ds walked at 12 months. Kids aren't meant to bounce either but ds LOVED his door hanging bouncy thingy - he looked like such podgy member of Riverdancecutie Grin

valiumredhead · 30/01/2011 19:07

Oh ffs -why didn't my strikeouts work!?!

bulby · 30/01/2011 19:07

Dd didn't have a walker and didn't walk till 16 months! As long as it's for a few mins a day it'll make Boucher all difference to when baby walks

SmethwickBelle · 30/01/2011 19:07

I used them and shock horror door bouncers probably "too early" at about four months onwards when they were both wanting to be upright and seeing what's going on, getting the hang of sitting etc.. I'd stick them in with a toy on the table, more for a change of scenery than for the parking aspect but I probably did that too.

They spent plenty of time - the majority - rolling about on the floor being untethered too of course. DS2 was walking at 1 year and would have climbed out of a play pen, he's a fair way to making it out of his cotbed now he's 14 months...

Accidents can happen in all sorts of places, obviously use your common sense, but I'd use them again if we had another.

Rhadegunde · 30/01/2011 19:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StealthPolarBear · 30/01/2011 19:09

"We put two triplets in walkers and one in the door bouncer and that kept them occupied long enough to clean the entire downstairs AND bathrooms "

Wow - you are superwoman! I struggle to do that with an almost 4yo and a 16mo!

pigletmania · 30/01/2011 19:09

Well if they were that unsafe surely they would be illegal here too.

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