Baby walkers

[Alabama100]

My almost 7.5 month old started cruising today, she is really keen to walk and keeps letting go on the furniture to walk to me but falls on bum....should I get her a baby walker or are they bad for baby? I've herd conflicting things.

Thanks!

I'm not sure if you mean baby-walker as in those wee plastic zimmer-frame baby type things or like those canvas seats on wheels? I've not heard anyting bad about the baby-zimmer-frame thingummies, they're really just a support to get them going.

If she is crusing then I would give her someting to push

Yeah the simmer frame type ones, are they okay? Thanks

I wouldn't, get her a pushalong like the vTech walker.

I too have only heard bad things about the seat thingies.

Something to push is fine I think. DD had a car which had a sticky up handle and she pushed that along. A lot of my friends children had a trolley with bricks in and they pushed that.

Nooo not the vtech, still can't get that bloody song out of my head.

The only problem with the push along ones is that your ankles bloody hurt when they get bashed

Thank you, how come the seat ones are bad? My mum said I had one and I started walking independently at 8.5 months. Are they dangerous?

Agree re: sore ankles, but get v good at hopping up to perch on cupboards/tables etc to get out the way.... also they dpo get the hang of steering them quickly, a blessed relief.

I think the problem with the seat ones are that (a) they can't see their feet so doesn't help them learn to walk, (b) it makes them mobile without helping their muscles /co-ordiantion - all the disadvantages of risking falling down stairs etc but none of the learning.

who would put a baby in a walker by stairs

Yes you do learn to get out of the way sharpish

Yes they're dangerous because they give the baby a degree of mobility they're not developed enough to cope with. So they can suddenly reach things you're not aware of, or they can move very quickly and bash into things which might hurt them and knock over some items of furniture, like flatscreen TVs on stands, or bookcases or knock things off shelves or tables, like books, heavy ornaments or cups of hot tea. They can also bash into things like radiators and fireplaces or ovens and get stuck unable to get themselves away. Obviously you wouldn't leave them unattended, but your own reflexes including the time taken to jump across the room and pull them away are a lot slower than the natural reflex to pull their own hand away from something which is burning them.

The other problem with them is that they encourage babies to walk on their tiptoes which is bad for their development. If you want to get something, get a still one like a jumperoo or an activity station!

Thank you ladies, very helpful.

I thought the actual evidence for delayed walking with the seat type ones showed 'an average delay to independant walking of 1.3 weeks' or some such extremely small delay.

DC1 loved his and whizzed around on the laminate floor no stairs! for ages and felt very happy and independant. DC2 just couldn't be bothered with it at all.

My DS has a seat one. You can adjust the height so his feet are flat. I must admit though you've got to have eyes up your arse

Would never use it upstairs though..

The whizzy around seat ones are banned in several countries because of the high level of accidents related to their use.

Ds's physio said they are also bad for their hip development and can encourage 'toe walking'

The push along ones are fine though

When DS1 was learning to walk he used a variety of household objects to help, like stools, and washing baskets . I have a walker (a pushalong one) but he was never that interested. But DS2 seems to have taken to it.

There is nothing wrong with the push-a-long walkers, one may well give your DD the confidence to take her first few steps forward. The seated ones, otoh, are very bad, for reasons already given and a few more!

The seat ones can damage hip development if they're in them too long (same with door bouncers).Obviously the odd 5 minutes will be OK though. (my mum rubbishes claims lke this saying 'you had one and were in it for ages and you're fine' erm.. my hips are fucked.. so possible not, thanks Mum )

I mostly hate the seat ones because they take up as much room as an armchair! Driven by a baby. Into your ankles.

Don't get a wooden one with bricks - they're even worse when slammed into the back of your legs

Physios and OTs hate them and would like them banned.
I am sure they have good reason.

Personally I have used them for some of my DCs and they were life savers.

Make sure the area is safe and free of hazards - boiling oil, glass shards, pointy stick etc.
Remember not to place the baby at the top of the stairs

Seriously though - dont leave the baby in for a long periods
Be very aware of things like big flat screen tvs - they are unstable if not attached to the wall and a small baby in a walker could pull one over. (I didnt have this issue with mine as its a relatively new problem).
If your baby has any sort of physical issue I wouldnt do it without proper advice (and I am betting you will be advised not to).

And dont place the baby on the coffee table whilst seated in the walker while you answer the door (I kid you not, this happened, I saw it).

Honest - the comment about flat screen tvs wasnt some sort of snarky MN dig!

I didnt have a flat screen until DC5 was too big for a walker!

MrsDV

You'll be on about goats next

but [shocked] at baby and walker on coffee table!

Jeez that took some quick thinking and diplomatic 'advice'. Not made easier because the parents didnt speak English and I couldnt speak their's.

Lovely family though.

It's not just flat screen TVs you need to worry about.

I managed to pull over a big heavy old cathode ray TV when I was learning to walk. Luckily I avoided crushing myself.

I bet it did!

Blimey lily you must have been a sturdy toddler!
Old tvs are massive.

The new ones are so bloody wobbly. They have a silly spindly foot thingy.

Very sadly a few children have already been killed by them.