Views on baby walkers?

[blueskythinker]

My 13 mnth old DS has a baby walker, which he goes in for about 1/2 hr every day. He isn't crawling or walking yet (has just started bum-shuffling, but very slow, and loves practising his walking whilst holding on to my 2 hands), so I find that this really helps in stopping him from getting frustrated, and he loves being able to go fast & chase his sister.

My MIL is really getting on my nerves - every time she sees him, she makes a comment such as 'look at him walking on his toes - using that walker has shortened his hamstrings!' or 'look, his centre of gravity is so far forward - it's that walker that's done it'. Grrrrrrr.

My HV says there is no problem using a baby walker, in moderation. My DD1 used it and has no problems with her development at all.

1. Any physios out there who know if baby walkers are really that bad?

1. Any suggestions on how I can get my MIL to stop banging on about it?

My osteopath (or rather, my DS's cranial osteopath) isn't too keen on their use as it changes the balance of the pelvis or something - see if you can find an osteo to talk to. But in moderation at 13months should be ok - my osteo was more worried about them being used too early for baby's natural development.
I think your MIL is talking out of her behind however re. the hamstrings but she might have a point if she had said the achilles tendon!

HTH

I didn't use a baby walker but my mum did when my brother (13 year younger than me) was a baby. He's suffered no ill-effects from it.

Not sure if this will be of use to you but it might be

information for you

I am afraid that the bottom line is that physios agree with your MIL.

Personally i don't like them and my SIL (physio) has always been against them.

However, the decision is yours not your MIL's! If she persists in having a go, just tell her that you've stopped using it and then never use it in front of her. Anything for an easy life me

My daughter has been to the physio since she was 6 months old. The physio said NEVER to use one as they do change the position of the pelvis and have an effect on abdominal muscles. Jumperoos are really bad too (dd had one).

Why dont you try a push along walker? DD much prefered that.

my ds was in a walker from 4 mths as always wanted to be on his toes and he was fine i padded it out so his posture was straight and made sure his feet could touch the floor

i was advised to do this as he wanted to be on his feet so much and appeared to have a bad leg from birth and i must say it helped

his never had any harm from using it not saying there isnt proof but walkers were always used and it seems all the people who were in them walk fine and have good posture

you can get car walkers that open out and they can walk in between if need be but if he isnt mobile as such wont help

my ds was in walker and i still put him on floor to crawl moderation should be fine he crawled and walked and has great posture had bad leg but that was done at birth which was corrected by walker so i guess what works for some isnt nessassary right and could harm others

but if you are only doing for short while should be fine

and its also very normal to walk on toes when learning to walk as feet flatten wioth confidance and mobility my ds did the same and has perfectly flat feet when walking

At 13 months he really needs to do more weight bearing, encouraging him to cruise and hold your hands perhaps with the aid fo a push along car or brick truck . Also he is probably now tall enough to reach up to some hazardous things you assume are still out of reach . Personally I don't like them anyway but whether they delay development, are indifferent or promote is arguable . However I think allowing them time to explore and experiment freely is more important and half an hour a day seems a lot to restrict him.

My mother, HV, HATES baby walkers. What about a doorframe bouncer? I don't know what the views are on those these days but my son loved them.

I thought that the major concern about walkers was safety, i.e risk of child falling down a step in one, or colliding with a fire / heater. I know that the 'birth to three' book, that HVs give out, says to bin them.

i have had a walkker for both my children, its not been a problem and my dd who is using one now loves it, she is trying to crawl and will walk soon enough. i ave had no problem with the safety, she is not neAR any steps and all fires etc should be covered anyway.
they say they get bandy leg but my son is fine and dd has no problems. babys will walk about 1 1/2 anyway so dont think there a problem

They are banned in several European countries and there will apparently be a EU wide ban on them within the next 5 yrs.

I think Lizs has a point - weightbearing, pushing a truck or holding your hands, will help him more.

My DD has a motor delay (low muscle tone) and sees a physio regularly. She told us we must really encourage her to stand and walk by all possible methods but we MUST NOT get a baby walker, as in her words "they are horrible things, and teach them to walk in the wrong way".

I don't like them for all the reasons already stated and I think Lizs makes a very good point about at 13 months he should be doing more weight bearing on his own.

I have the opposite problem with my MIL who goes on and on about getting one for ds

Yes I agree about the truck to push, that is exactly what physio recommended for my DD. Not so easy to get one for a tall 20 month old though!

dangerous and unnecessary

use a trolley instead

anything to push will do - dd likes an upside-down laundry basket

HereComeTheGirls, maybe a doll's pram?

Both of my DS used them (had never heard of any problems) at the childminder's.

DS1 learnt to walk at 11mths. DS2 at 12mths.

I don't see ANY ill-effects from them and most people have remarked upon how "advanced" (don't like that word!) physically they are.

But if your DS is a bit lazy maybe the baby-walker is keeping him that way?

Although I have to say they reduce the frustration for non-walkers so worth it to reduce the tantrums:!

MrsBadger - the physio did suggest that, with a brick in it. We found a taller trolley for her but she is STILL not ready to push it so she might outgrow it before she can push it, she is very tall

Fio- The OP was just asking what physios think of baby walkers and I think most people were just telling her, I certainly was just passing on what my physio said.

My ds had one from 6 months. He loved it and at times it was the only thing to give me some arm free time. I must admit I never planned on getting one and I hated it at first but he always wanted to be up in my arms and on the move. He still won't let me sit with him now. He was always so frustrated at being immobile.

He is nearly 11 months now and has been crawling since 9 months. He pulls up on furnitue and cruises. He is very close to walking and has perfect posture. He doen't really go in it much now as he is mobile enough to not need it but it was a lifesaver! 30 mins a day should be fine.

I'd read the disapproving info, but we had one for the dcs when they wanted to be in the kitchen with me & it was dangerous to have them underfoot. They weren't in it for long periods. I wouldn't have considered it an essential bit of kit and they take up a fair amount of room. No, it didn't hinder physical development, in fact pretty good for ds's foot in that respect.