BABY WALKER ADVICE

[AbiBub]

Hiya all.

Just would like some up to date advice with regards to baby walkers.

Our son is coming up for 6 months, and loves standing when I hold him, obvioulsy he cant do that on his own at the moment, but I don't know whether he would enjoy a baby walker (for very short bursts of time. Its not like I want to train him early to walk etc, but more for something different to do.

He has always been extreemly strong, with legs, neck, arms etc so I just really want some advice on what people think of them and whether there were any suggestions of good ones, if we decide to get one.

Many Thanks

[AbiBub]

wow!!! Thank you all! All I did was fall asleep (with only my post up here) and then I wake up and there is 26 posts!

Thats lots of comments and advice, of which all is appreciated. Its good to hear some experiences, as it means I can make a bit more of an informed decision.

We have a door bouncer for him, which we tried him in for the first time yesterday, he loved it, but because he is sooooo strong, we had to have our arms guarding the door frame at all times (which I don't mind, because he cant be in it for longer than 20 mins anyway).even on tippytoes, he has great strength, so was all over the place!

I actually like the idea of a stationary standy uppy thing! Perhaps that is something that we should entertain instead?! There is no way of telling whether there would be an accident to happen, but I would certainly keep him VERY closely monitored at all times when in a walker if we got one.

Whether your baby is in a walker or not, at some point they may just bump them selves, even if you are the most the viligant of monitors!

So thank you all for all this advice, if anyone still wants to post their view after this, feel free, as we will be happy to hear your views.

xxx

p.s. That was supposed to say vigilant but for some strange reason this thing keeps overwriting itself if I try and correct (can't find my overwrite button on here!!)

[BertieBotts]

"Whether your baby is in a walker or not, at some point they may just bump them selves, even if you are the most the viligant of monitors!"

Of course they do But my theory (which may in fact be bollocks but is related to the BLW theory that development of sitting up, pincer grip, etc is related to internal swallowing/choking/gagging reflexes & gut maturity) is that their developmental stage of mobility is related to their ability to shrug off any minor injury. My 11 month old is constantly bashing his head on things and due to his climbing obsession his shins always seem to be covered in bruises, but if I heard these things (always bashing head, shins covered in bruises) about a 4-month old, I'd be concerned and would expect the babies to react differently as well. Children do bump themselves but I think at the age where they are exploring and being more adventurous, their bodies are stronger, bigger and more robust to deal with these inevitable bashes and scrapes.

The jumperoo btw is like a door bouncer but in a frame, with toys

[pooexplosions]

"Whether your baby is in a walker or not, at some point they may just bump them selves, even if you are the most the viligant of monitors!"

Well yes, but why put them in a contraption that makes it so much easier for them to hurt themseleves? More babies are injured in/by walkers than any other piece of nursery equipment.
Look here;
www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20060307/baby-walker-injuries-drop
"Infant walkers serve no essential purpose," Shields and Smith write. "Infant walkers do not help a child learn to walk, and, in fact, they can delay normal motor and mental development."

The researchers note that Canada now bans baby walkers. Canadian consumers face fines of up to $100,000 or six months in jail if found in possession of a baby walker, they note."

[ElectricElephant]

AbiBub What about something like this?

It'll be somewhere safe to put him, he can be upright, and there aren't any predictable wheels to suddenly crash him into the walls.

I personally don't like anything that puts pressure on the hips. Everybody says "I used a door bouncer as a child and it never did me any harm", but I did and my hips are awful and always have been. Same with my sisters. (maybe Mum left us in there a bit too long)

Just my personal opinion

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

I hate baby walkers.

I think they serve no purpose and that babies do not miss out, or become behind in development, if they don't use one.

[AbiBub]

thanks peeps for your comments, as yet I haven't decided! I am more likely to get a stationary item than I am a walker because, you kinda know where your baby is so to speak! Because as I stated as a generalisation before you're baby is going to get bumps and bruises at some stage (and yes it is better for them to only have that happen when their bodies are old enough (naturally) to cope with it. My little man has not had any such bruises! (amazing considering the rate he wriggles!)

Has any country banned door bouncers?? they need constant supervision if you ask me, unless you have extreemly wide doorway. My little man is so strong he literally goes all over the place! So how many of you who insist on no walkers, have door bouncers!?

My point is I guess, that I came on here for some advice and experiences to make an informed decision on whether to get a baby walker or if there was something better available.

I would rather have something that is stationary, you know exactly where they are and you know they are not going to wander near anything that you may have not thought of as a hazard.

Thank you so much for your views, again, if anyone wants to add to this post feel free (just as long as it is not a telling off (first time mum and finding my feet, fairly logical person, would certainly not want to put my bub in danger if I can help it!) Also if any other products can be suggested please do, as it all really helps (thanks electricelephant )

xxx

[titferbrains]

I wish someone would come and explain why walkers are so bad for dev't. My dd goes in one for a bit in the morning and aft, we are borrowing it as a follow on from the entertainer which she loved for months. she is crawling and pulling up and seems to be doing fine. We have a very big kitchen diner and i love that she can move around and follow me about. the walker is a good design that prevents tipping and has a very big base so she can't pull cupboards open etc.

To the OP I would say that an entertainer (stationary) is a lifesaver if like me you are on yr own with baby most of the time.

[differentID]

titfer, if your child's feet don't touch flat against the floor when they are in the walker they try to pull themselves along by their toes. They get used to their feet being in this position to walk and when it comes to learning to walk independently they don't follow the usual heel to toe movement. Which can lead to problems later on.

[AbiBub]

Its amazing how so many things are wrong, then right, then wrong again. We should be trusting our instincts as parents, as we are the ones that know our little ones best surely? (well most of us I would hope!)

Now, my brother and I never had a walker, and we still managed to get the heel toe thing within time, however, we did used to tippytoes at some stage in our life!

every child is different, and if we were to follow everything by the book completely we would probably have very unhappy babies, because you have to deal with these things as and when they arrive, thats what learning to be parents is! yeah sure you can danger proof things, that should be in advance, but how do we know what our little ones are really thinking and what they are going to do next, we can only do things based on what they have done before!

[Skillbo]

Haven't had a chance to read all posts - sorry!

I go to a regular bumps and babies group and asked them their thoughts on these as we have been bought one (the Chico DJ one actually - good to see it's recommneded).. one of the support workers said she had seen 3 babies that week who had been hospitalised because of going too fast and either hitting heads as they hit walls (and getting whiplash) or trapping fingers between walker and walls.

Having said that, my DD is very strong anf the walker we have had got a sort of 'plate' at the bottom so she can sit in it and play with all the fun noisy things but not go careening around yet.

Also, if you have quite thick carpets, I wouldn't worry as much... it seems to be more of a worry if they are on fast surfaces like laminate floors etc!

HTH and I haven't repeated or contradicted too many posters.

[cookielove]

my lovely bouncy nieces both love this

[northender]

physio comments. This does explain the developmental ideas a little.

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

What is wrong with a play mat or a bouncy chair?

[AbiBub]

Wow, keep these comments coming if you wish! It's all good stuff, and great views to get your teeth into!!

My DS does have playmats and a bouncy chair - but the bouncy chair only works for so long, plus it will only take his weight up until 9kg which will be soon. Along with his swing chair!!

The thing that I was going with was to see if there is anything out there that would keep him amused, and not cost packets of money, and be safer.

Obviously I would rather a stationary object, have been looking at the jumperoo's and they look fab!

His play mats only amuse him for short periods of time, he is a think alot baby!! quite intelligent!!

Keep them coming!!

xxx

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

LOL.

Why the need to keep him still?

[annamama]

Ohhh! So many strong views about baby walkers, and I have to add mine...

BEST TOY EVER! We got a Chico DJ for DD when she was 4 or 5 months, she had sooo much fun in it! Just get stairgates and put dangerous things out of reach. She might have crawled late because of the walker (around 12 months), but she walked at 14 months and is totally normal despite having spent hours daily in her walker for many months...

AbiBub - if you think you child will enjoy a walker I think you should get one and not worry too much about any dangers.

I'm never moving to Canada!

[northender]

I don't know much about this site butthis link explains the down side of walkers well. There are plenty of alternatives as has already been said. annamama crawling is an important part of physical development but also neurological development.

[AbiBub]

Hi there, thanks for support, it has been amazing.

FabBakerGirlIsBack - there is no need to keep him still, I am just trying to find something that enlighten his day, as extra stimulation, when he gets bored with mummy (you know, cos we are there day in day out and they sometimes get bored with the same faces!. why do I feel like I am being interigated??!!

northender - thanks for that article, and interesting read I think! I suppose as parent we need to gague how are children are with things then make a decision on what is best. I would prefer a stationary item so will have a bit more of a look into those.

xxx

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

I don't know. Why do you?

[titferbrains]

just to say, I went on the net to find some more current info about walkers and discovered an article outlining the links between walkers and late development. It said that they shouldn't be in walkers for more than 20 min at a time. I also read about tip toe walking and as I've seen DD doing this and is also reluctant to take proper steps, I thought I'd better stop putting her in the walker so much. ~On monday morning, she hit her head on our SLATE floor FOUR times. She has never ever hurt herself in the walker. I have been feeling very hacked off about this since. she is a very clumsy crawler has cried a lot more since monday morning, I think because falling a lot is making her nervous/anxious. I'm doing my best to watch her and get normal kitchen jobs done but I think very little can be done to protect her because you just nver know when she will slip and bash herself. How do the rest of you cope with hard floors and perfectly normal klutzy babies???