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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Baby walkers

18 replies

k74 · 28/02/2006 17:31

yes or no?

OP posts:

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gigglinggoblin · 28/02/2006 17:32

yes

SenoraPostrophe · 28/02/2006 17:33

a truly great invention. unless you have lots of steps in your house.

Freckly · 28/02/2006 18:30

Yes, my DD loves hers

LIZS · 28/02/2006 18:30

salsa · 28/02/2006 18:43

Yes they give the children freedom to get about.My two both loved them.

Chandra · 28/02/2006 18:44

It depends, great if you want to have 20-30 min free to cook the dinner, but they say it delays walking.

MamaG · 28/02/2006 18:44

yes

northender · 28/02/2006 18:48

Babies who use them a lot can miss out the crawling stage which is important developmentally.

MamaG · 28/02/2006 18:52

I found mine invaluable when I was cooking and my DS was excellent at crawling and did so early, the same with walking.

If he'd been in it constantly, no doubt it would have affected him, but for quick 5-10 / 20 min bursts, I see no problem.

My DD and DS both loved theirs.

SenoraPostrophe · 28/02/2006 18:57

the risks of delay in walking or of skipping the crawling stage are both theoretical though (or at least they are only theoretical as far as i know - some researchers think they might be consequences of baby walkers but don't actually know that). I certainly son't know any babies who didn't crawl, and know plenty who had a walker but walked early.

in terms of maternal sanity though (esp where babies who get bored easily are concerned), they are ace.

dollybird · 28/02/2006 21:22

My DS had a dislocated hip when he was born and had an operation to correct this at 13 months. We were told by the hospital never to put him in a baby walker and that they wouldn't recommeded them for any child - hence we have never had one!

pebblemum · 28/02/2006 21:43

Ds1 never had one but walked (length of a room) at 11 months. DS2 had one and walked (same distance) at 9months. DS2 would only go in it for about 10-15mins at a time and never had problems crawling.

I think it is up to the parents. Everyone in my family has used them and have never had problems. The only reason DS1 didnt have one was we didnt have the room.

JoolsToo · 28/02/2006 21:50

hate them - totally unnecessary imho

Piffle · 28/02/2006 21:54

yes within reason and careful use of....
both of mine used them DS walked at 9 mths
DD at 26 mths (she had a genetic syndrome reason though for her delay) she did not use hers past 18mths either.

nulnulcat · 28/02/2006 22:13

dd loved hers but if you get one of the noisy ones take the batteries out!! it will drive you mad!

fredly · 28/02/2006 22:15

Yes but it definitely delays crawling/walking. My dd started crawling at 12m when we were on holiday away from her beloved walker. We thought it would never happen. We then stopped using it and 2 months later she was walking.

Nbg · 28/02/2006 22:18

I was never going to buy one for dd as I'd heard certain things about them
but a friend gave me her ds's and dd totally loved it.
It was a very basic one with just a plain tray on the front so she could have books or toys on it. It was also good for feeding in too.

She started crawling around 8 months ish and was on her feet walking on her 1st birthday.

fastasleep · 28/02/2006 22:18

Yes! But my DD seems to hate wanting to crawl, and has always stood on my knee... and will now at 4 and a bit months stand holding the sofa quite happily but screams on her front... (maybe I have a weird baby!)

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