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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
thethoughtfox · 10/02/2018 08:15

They are banned in other countries. I think jumpers are too. There are lots of articles about how bad they are for hips and joints. They come with strict warnings in this country that they are not to be used for longer than 20 mins at a time.

PinkAvocado · 10/02/2018 08:15

We were told by paediatrician to avoid them and the jumperoo too.

thethoughtfox · 10/02/2018 08:15

*jumparoos

KingLooieCatz · 10/02/2018 08:22

"I survived" is not a strong case in favour of anything.

Half of all smokers die from a smoking related illness. Just because the other half can say "Well I smoked and I'm fine" doesn't mean you give your kids a fag.

No one's saying all kids with baby walkers fall down the stairs, have hip problems or walk late, but baby walkers raise the risk of these things so a lot of parents would say that makes them a bad idea.

NerrSnerr · 10/02/2018 08:31

I agree that the 'I did it and my children are fine' comments mean nothing. I remember doing car journeys sat up in the boot of a car and having 5 children along the back seat. I was fine but I wouldn't do it with my children!

There is so much written about pretty much all baby stuff. Bumbos, jumperoos, perfect preps, sidecar cots etc. Don't take Mumsnet or random friend's word for what's safe and what's not- do your own research when you buy new things.

TheFirstMrsDV · 10/02/2018 08:34

They are ok if used in moderation and strictly supervised. I used them but its probably for the best if they are phased out.
I once visited a family I was working with to find a child in one. The child had significant development issues but the worst part of this story is that the baby walker was perched on the sofa!

I don't think jumperoo thingies are recommended either. Nor are the hanging from the door bouncers.

LivLemler · 10/02/2018 08:37

I had one as a baby and loved it. Long time ago now so not as flash or safe as the ones you see today. I tipped it over and whacked my head on the floor, giving my parents the fright of their lives. They still talk about it and go a little pale. In fairness, I don't know if it would be possible to do that in the modern ones.

I also walked on my tip toes until I was at least 15 and still do at times. Have had lots of problems with muscles and joints in my legs and hips. I've no idea if that's anything to do with the walker, but it's just as much evidence as the people saying they had one and are fine Grin

GnotherGnu · 10/02/2018 08:40

There's simply no need. Your child will walk just as quickly without one.

Mrsmadevans · 10/02/2018 08:40

It's your child, read all the info then do what you want to do .

floriad · 10/02/2018 08:41

A friend of mine is currently retraining as a psychomotoric therapist.

Don't buy one.

they're really not great.

DeleteOrDecay · 10/02/2018 08:43

We didn't have one but we did have a jumperoo. Dc were never in it for longer than 20minutes at a time a couple of times a day though. I think when used sparingly they are fine but I agree there are risks especially with walkers, they also take up quite a lot of space.

Luckystar1 · 10/02/2018 08:48

As the parent of 2 early walkers I have absolutely no idea why anyone would want to make their child mobile before it’s structly necessary!! Enjoy the lack of mobility while you can.

Ps neither of mine had them and I do think they are dangerous (and ugly)

Nitrobetty1 · 10/02/2018 08:55

My sons loved them. Harmless. Everything is now not ok for some pathetic reason.

Chunkymonkey123 · 10/02/2018 09:01

My DS loved his jumperoo, he wanted to be upright from 3 months. He crawled at 7 months and stands at 10 months so I can’t see it’s harmed him!

popsugar · 10/02/2018 09:02

Well my children had and loved them

Didn't damage their development oldest was walking 10 months and went on to be a exceptional dancer, gymnastics (at high level)

Other 2 children walked at 12 months and both gone on into their chosen sports and also both at high level

I understand the dangers with them and the accidents but you can't use them as a babysitter and still need to use them in a safe area away from stairs etc

Spikeyball · 10/02/2018 09:08

They can be dangerous and they don't help with walking. If a child can't weight bear without them then they aren't ready for walking.

Mummyoflittledragon · 10/02/2018 09:08

My dd had one but only for the last 2 months before she walked and was already crawling fast and cruising. I was very glad of it when we went away one time as the floors were not very clean. She was obviously supervised so nothing dangerous was around, knives, stairs, table corners, hot drinks, open fires 😳 etc. She went in it for limited amounts of time.

Used sensibly, they pose a much lower risk. However, so many people probably aren’t sensible with them and don’t think of the risk as I didn’t with door bouncers. Dd also has a door bouncer. I hadn’t thought of the things pinging off. I’m feeling sick now thinking about it.

crispsandgin · 10/02/2018 09:13

Used safely and sparingly they are fine. Whole generations of people used them with no long lasting impact

Except the ones that were seriously injured in them. They are awful in every way and since they are completely unnecessary why would you do it? I don't understand why people say oh I know that other babies have been hurt in them but I think they are fine.
They are so bad they are banned in other countries.

Jenala · 10/02/2018 09:15

Yeah 430west because while an 8 month old in a walker doesn't understand not to drink poison or to avoid the stairs, my walking 10 month old totally did.

Jenala · 10/02/2018 09:18

If you stick your kid in one all the time rather than look after them or put them in one at 3 months old or leave them upstairs without stairgates or leave scissors and hot drinks in reach they are dangerous.

If you don't do those things then a child having 15 mins in one isn't going to be dangerous.

RadioGaGoo · 10/02/2018 09:19

Is this the advice for both the one that baby sits in and and the ones they push?

Cagliostro · 10/02/2018 09:21

I’d heard jumper things aren’t great either, I assume for the same reason with the hips.

Bambamber · 10/02/2018 09:24

You will get people of here saying all my 10 children were fine it's all nonsense. Which is great, but for other children it's not fine. Honestly, people that research these things don't just pick random products for fun that they're going to label as dangerous just because they can. It doesn't mean that they will cause damage to every single child that uses them. It means that the risks outweigh the benefits of using them.

However, when people look into the dangers of things like this, I suspect they don't take into account inappropriate use. So the risks are likely a lot lower if the child is constantly supervised and it's only used 15 mins a day, but there's still a risk.

I think your friend was correct to highlight the issues to you in case you weren't aware, then you could make an informed decision. But a bit of a dick move to have a go at you about it, so your are not unreasonable to be a bit put out that she had a go at you

WizardOfToss · 10/02/2018 09:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

crispsandgin · 10/02/2018 09:25

If you don't do those things then a child having 15 mins in one isn't going to be dangerous

But it is, even 15 mins. They have collapsed and chopped fingers off babies, babies have got spinal fractures. head injuries. Babies have died. Most injuries occur when the adult is close by and supervising, but its not enough. Doctors say they hinder walking and are terrible for development as well.

I just don't understand how anyone hears all this and still says they are ok because nothing happened to their kid. That was lucky for you. but why recommend something you now know to be risky to others?

www.kidsafensw.org/imagesdb/wysiwyg/babywalkerssafety2013_1.pdf

Isn't it obvious that babies should not be on wheels?!