Baby walkers

[loopylucy789]

What are peoples opinions on these. I know a lot of people think they are unsafe, but if a baby is being properly supervised while using it surely this should not be a problem?
Also, do they delay development?

I'm sure they are fine if used with supervision like you said.

Never had one for either for my two though. It's just never crossed my mind to buy one.

They are unsafe and the sale has been banned in canada. What is the point of them if you have to supervise the baby in them, you might as well supervise the baby on the floor.

My sister has a baby who gets bored very easily and hates being sat on the floor, she just wants to be on the go all the time, exploring. I suggested a baby walker, but my sister doesn't seem keen on the idea, was just wondering what other people's opinions are on them

Depends what type of walker, the type which has wheels and baby sits the middle is thought to be unsafe by some (not me). I think that if you supervise the baby and they are not in them for extended periods of time then what's the harm.

My two DSs loved theirs. They were desperate to get up on their feet and it was either this or breaking my back walking about holding onto their hands. They used them from about 6 -9 months when they were both walking.

We've got quite an open plan house though, so there was a fair amount of space and no stairs. And of course they were only in it for short times and were fully supervised.

I used with ds's (21 & 19) and they were more "acceptable" at that time I think.

Dd is 4.5 and we didn't use one with her as dh personally doesn't like them, although she went in cm's once or twice.

Dd walked at 10 mths though , she didn't need any more encouraging!!!

The concern with development is that it encourages babies to walk on tip toes as they are propelling themselves along without fully weight bearing, this is not a normal walking pattern. It can actually delay them in walking if used long periods of time. They get used to being on tip toes and then can't get their feet flat on the floor. The same can also be true of babies that spend hours on end in door bouncers.
If you want a toy that encourages your DC to walk then a trolley or cart type toy may be a better option as then can practice walking while having some thing to hold onto for support.

dd1 used one - she walked about average time, ds1 didn't, he walked v early. dd2 did, but hers was a specially designed one for little people with physical disabilities.

have discussed walkers/ bouncers etc with all of dd2's physios. most are immediately alarmed, but can't really formulate an opinion why they are so very very bad. (particularly when they then supply them for kids with disabilities). anyway, having showed the physio how we were using the various pieces of baby torture equipment (from their reaction to the mention of the words) she wa then quite happy, and in fact, borrowed ours to try them out with other babies and toddlers with disabilities. we donated it all to the physio service when she grew out of it.

(trolley or cart not suitable for dd2. she couldn't stand unaided until 3. if we wnated to use a cart, we had to crawl along on our knees behind her, holding her up by her pelvis)

for nt kids, they are fine if used intermittently, and supervised. and never near bleeding stairs, natch, which is why they fell out of favour.