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Original poster

Friend reaction to baby walker

197 replies

Charmander123 · 09/02/2018 21:51

My baby really enjoys me holding up on her legs so I was thinking of getting her a baby walker!
Quite a few of my friends have them but I mentioned it to one and she basically had a go at me saying that they are horrible for baby development and that if I bought one I'd ruin my child's legs!
I was pretty taken aback by her response but was she right , am I being unreasonable buying a baby walker or are they ok for babies? Xxxx

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 09/02/2018 21:53

They're not great. Safety issues unless you watch very carefully and developmental issues unless you use it very sparingly. I wouldn't and didn't.

RandomMess · 09/02/2018 21:53

Huge safety issues including whiplash risk if you have hard floors...

Dancingfairy · 09/02/2018 21:54

I wouldn't dream of buying one surprised people still do tbh. Oh and my son walked at 8 months never had a baby walker.

RefuseTheLies · 09/02/2018 21:54

I remember my HV not being keen on baby walkers, but I can’t remember why. Our wee one loved hers.

ladybirdsaredotty · 09/02/2018 21:54

Yeah, what the PP said. They're kind of outdated now.

chickychickyparmparm · 09/02/2018 21:55

I'm surprised they're still around, the risks are pretty well documented.

blackchina · 09/02/2018 21:55

Just google 'are baby walkers bad?'

Don't get one.

As a pp said, I am amazed they are still a thing. They are awful.

notsohippychick · 09/02/2018 21:56

Could you get her one where you push along? They have a handle at the top. Can’t remembwe who makes them- Vtech I think.

WoodenRainbow · 09/02/2018 21:56

Both mine had them and loved them. They never went very fast or far and would only be in them for short periods. They were tremendously helpful.

Dancingfairy · 09/02/2018 21:56

Wouldn't a jumperoo be better? Think there not suppose to be as bad. I do think of babies walkers as very old fashioned. (Mind you wouldn't buy a jumperoo myself either)

LizzieSiddal · 09/02/2018 21:56

Gosh, I’ve never heard that they were bad for babies. When mine were young (DD is 27) nearly everyone had them and I didn’t hear of any of them having an issue. Confused

ruleshelpcontrolthefun · 09/02/2018 21:56

My HV warned me against them with my first DC 5 years ago then again with DC2 2 years ago.

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 09/02/2018 21:56

HVs were advising against them when I had DS 12 years ago. I never had one for either DC.

TheVanguardSix · 09/02/2018 21:56

Get a Fisher Price Jumperoo!

fourandnomore · 09/02/2018 21:57

Agree with everyone above, not good. They're not a great idea for a baby's spine, same with those bouncer things you can put on doors, an experienced physio advised anyway.

DriggleDraggle · 09/02/2018 21:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ohlalalala · 09/02/2018 21:57

Both mine loved them
Both walked at 12:13 months, no issues with their legs or any other type of development!!!!

Queenofthestress · 09/02/2018 21:57

They can cause problems with the hips if they're used too much, it splays out the legs too wide if the child's ligaments aren't formed enough, it can also cause tiptoe walking as it did in DD
Both the physio and paed told me to bin mine with DS because it might have been the cause of his hips turning outwards

dementedpixie · 09/02/2018 21:58

I did have one for both of mine and they were used for short periods of time and no harm came to them. I sometimes fed the kids in them too as a small highchair

PurplePotatoes · 09/02/2018 21:58

My DD had a minor issue with her feet at birth and the physio said under no circumstances get a walker or jumperoo as they encourage tiptoe walking.

AgnesBrownsCat · 09/02/2018 21:58

They’re not a great idea and have become frowned upon by many .

430West · 09/02/2018 21:58

They're so dangerous they are banned in Canada - their sale or import is punishable by 6 months imprisonment.

They are responsible for more fatalities and serious accidents than any other piece of baby equipment. Not to mention the extent to which they hinder development.

Perhaps a toddle truck instead? (push along thingy)

GinSolvesEverything · 09/02/2018 21:59

They really aren’t all that safe. I have a friend who is permanently scarred on his face from burns he got as a baby. He was in a walker that unbalanced and he went face first into an open fire.

I’d look at a jolly jumper instead.

Steeley113 · 09/02/2018 21:59

My 2nd had one, it was used sparingly so 10-15 minutes at a time where he’d get into some mischief and I’d have to rescue him Grin I use jumperoo’s too

TheCatsPaws · 09/02/2018 22:00

I had one, my son walked at 9 months.

Unless you’re leaving your kids unsupervised by stairs or in it for hours I don’t see the issue.