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AIBU?

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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:
Jenala · 09/02/2018 22:01
Shock

DC1 had one though it was so enormous he rarely used it to be fair. I had no idea they were so dangerous though and I'm super anxious and worry about everything. How do they cause fatalities?

pastabest · 09/02/2018 22:02

My baby also walked at 8 months and DID have a baby walker.

Right from birth she wanted to be stood up. She loved her walker, it stopped her getting frustrated at not being held up all the time and it made being able to have a few minutes to have a shower etc much easier as she could roll around in it on the bathroom floor. It had stoppers on it to stop it going too fast/prevent whiplash.

Used safely and sparingly they are fine. Whole generations of people used them with no long lasting impact. The problems are when they are used for hours and when there are hazards like steps.

BluePheasant · 09/02/2018 22:03

I think anything that holds a baby in a position that they couldn’t do by themselves is best avoided or at least just used for short periods. I’m thinking of the sit in baby walkers, door bouncers, bumbo seats, Jumperoo. If babies spend large amounts of their day in a combination of these then surely it can’t be great for their hips/development.

MouseholeCat · 09/02/2018 22:04

I wouldn't get one personally- it's pretty widely known that they are linked to delays in motor and mental development, as well as there being potential safety issues.

Jenala · 09/02/2018 22:04

Hmm had a little google and the reason they were banned in Canada appears to be due to babies falling down the stairs in them, tipping and banging their head or reaching hot drinks/poisons.

Not so much caused by baby walkers then. More "things that happen to mobile toddlers" Hmm

Sleepdeprived91 · 09/02/2018 22:04

I have one and my daughter loves it. I think it’s fine as long as they aren’t in it an excessive amount. My daughter goes in hers when I’m cooking tea or doing bits in the kitchen so maybe 30-60 minutes most days.

Original poster
Charmander123 · 09/02/2018 22:04

Oh lord didn't realise!! I cN see why my friend said what she did (but having a go at me wasn't cool. ...) would people recommend anything else?? X

OP posts:
Sadhairdaytoday · 09/02/2018 22:05

As long as you only use it for 5-10 mins at a time, a couple times a day it should be fine! My DS got bored after 5 mins so it was fine

mommytoboo86 · 09/02/2018 22:05

they were an essential item for me with my 4th cos she has physical disabilities and was told shed never walk. she couldn't crawl (still can't at 4.5) so was just stuck in 1 place and would get really frustrated. Her consultant recommended getting her 1 when she turned 1 she was walking 6 months later. Her consultant is convinced that the walker is responsible because noone with her joint conditions has walked without surgery as far as he was aware at that time.
I think they are fine wen used safely. I know there was a big stink about them in America a few years ago but from wot my (american) aunty told me 90% of the accidents were of those living in split floor accommodation coupled wkth a lack of supervision and not many use stair gates over there.
x

Dancingfairy · 09/02/2018 22:05

I was pointing out the mind DID walk at 8 months without a baby walker to say that the aren't a necessity and won't help them walk any quicker..

TheCatsPaws · 09/02/2018 22:06

I don’t understand why people aren’t watching their kids in them!

mommytoboo86 · 09/02/2018 22:06

oh forgot to add that my 1st born had 1 of those push along walkers... was twiddling along quite happily when it tipped over smacked him straight in the head and split it open!!

Monicagellarrr · 09/02/2018 22:07

If you want to get your baby a walker get a walker 😊

My son had both. No horror stories here. Obviously have gates and think of safety 😊

LovingLola · 09/02/2018 22:07

Not so much caused by baby walkers then. More "things that happen to mobile toddlers" hmm

A baby in a walker can reach things at a height that a crawling baby would not be able to reach. And also they can and have tipped over, causing babies to propel out of them and fall from a greater height than a crawling baby would.
Generally the risks of accidents far outweigh any benefit a walker might have.

cazzyg · 09/02/2018 22:08

DD had hip dysplasia and both physio and consultant both strongly warned against them because they hold the hips in an unnatural position and can cause problems.

430West · 09/02/2018 22:09

...things that happen to -mobile- toddlers who are artificially made more mobile than their cognitive development has had time to catch up with

There, fixed that for you.

mum11970 · 09/02/2018 22:09

My 3 have all used one and made it to adulthood or teens without any injuries or problems with walking. Listening to all the scaremongering these days I’m surprised the human race has managed to survive so long with all we’ve been doing wrong in the past.

430West · 09/02/2018 22:10

Don't the combined facts that the Canadian government has seen fit to ban them entirely, and that the NHS also strongly recommends that they not be used really have no bearing on some people's decision making?

llangennith · 09/02/2018 22:11

Your baby doesn’t need anything to help her walk. Just let her crawl and eventually she’ll pull herself up and walk. No need to buy stuff.

Monicagellarrr · 09/02/2018 22:12

I don't believe that walkers are dangerous! unless it is a crappy one...

I do believe that if left hours on end etc then baby may become dependant but that's each to their own

LizzieSiddal · 09/02/2018 22:14

I don’t understand why people aren’t watching their kids in them!

Same here. My dd only used it if someone was watching her constantly. I can’t understand how an accident could happen in those circumstances. However if you just plonked a baby in one and left then to it, then yes, that would be dangerous.

meandmytinfoilhat · 09/02/2018 22:15

My son loved his. I didn't know they were classed as dangerous.

LizzieSiddal · 09/02/2018 22:15

We didn’t buy one to “help” her walk. It was bought to give a bit of variety to everyone’s day.

Wheresthel1ght · 09/02/2018 22:15

Dd walked at 9 months, we used one. No issues. Mind she was completely disinterested in moving it about, preferring to eat those awful rice cake things whilst watching the TV in it

Most of the scaremongering cones from people using them at the top of stairs, or trying to launch kids along laminate floors curling style.

The hip development issues are largely thought to be a result of prolonged use, but as they are mostly held in the same way has lots of the baby carriers like the ergo and baby bjorn ones I can't see the big problem to be honest

GummyGoddess · 09/02/2018 22:16

I didn't have one with DC but I don't know anyone who has had babies come to harm using them (always supervised) as they were never put in them for more than about 15 minutes at a time to enable friends to reload the washing machine or another quick task.