Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Baby walker - please help me decide which one to buy or even if to buy.......clueless!

75 replies

mumfor1sttime · 27/09/2005 16:18

Hi all, sorry if Im going over old ground here, but I need some advice.
My DS is 8.5 months and is trying to crawl (backwards bum shuffles mostly...) and he loves his door bouncer, only thing is he is getting to big for it.
Am thinking of buying a walker (or excerciser??), as I thought it would strengthen his leg muscles.
Or am I just wasting my money?
which one do I buy?
Any tips welcome, thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
mumfor1sttime · 27/09/2005 16:57

Anyone got one of those new things(possibly fisher price?)- it is like an activity table, with sound and it has an adjustable height? I did think about getting that, as DS can stand up against it.

OP posts:
LOLcod · 27/09/2005 16:57

yes i borrowed one of those
much safer

OldieMum · 27/09/2005 16:58

I can't see the point of these things. Children learn to walk without them easily enough and they must put them into an unnatural position. I also don't see why it's so important to get them walking as soon as possible. DD (2.9) passed her various developmental 'milestones' when she was ready for them, sometimes ahead of the average, sometimes behind. They all walk eventually.

OldieMum · 27/09/2005 16:59

We had the activity table. It was OK, but, in retrospect, a bit of an extravagance. She had just as much fun playing with toys and sitting on the floor

bundle · 27/09/2005 17:00

isn't it cheaper just to let them learn to cruise around the furniture?

puff · 27/09/2005 17:01

A cousin who lives in the US bought me one of the stationary bouncy saucer "things" when ds1 was a few months old. They weren't available in the uk at the time. She said I'd find it brill and useful - she was right! Ds1 and 2 both loved being in it for short periods of time. I'd use it when I was cooking or ironing. It was also borrowed by bil for his baby. I like them, not so keen on walkers from a safety point of view.

Original poster
mumfor1sttime · 27/09/2005 17:01

Guess you are right oldiemum!
Ds is now bouncing up and down at the tweenies!

OP posts:
starlover · 27/09/2005 17:03

i think activity table would be better yes...
of course they will cruise aroud the furniture etc etc... but at least at an activity table they can amuse themselves instead of gobbing all over the sofa and trying to get the remote!

Original poster
mumfor1sttime · 27/09/2005 17:03

puff- my ds has a door bouncer, which he loves- but he is getting too tall for it!

OP posts:
misdee · 27/09/2005 17:03

dd2 didnt 'walk' in it, neither does dd3. it has those rubbers on it (slo go?) so unless one of the other 2 push her she doesnt go anywhere lol.

Original poster
mumfor1sttime · 27/09/2005 17:03

pmsl starlover!

OP posts:
starlover · 27/09/2005 17:05

perhaps it's a boy thing.. but linus most certainly isn't happy sat on the floor playing! he just HAS to be standing up ALL THE TIME, otherwise life just isn't worth living apparently

i got him a playpen to stop him from pulling himself up on EVERYTHING and he just stands there looking at me forlornly through the bars

sweetkitty · 27/09/2005 17:06

my DD is using a plastic washing basket as a walker right now and depositing megablocks in it as she goes (she can walk btw)

SoupDragon · 27/09/2005 17:06

A lot depends on whether you want to be sat staring at a huge piece of coloured plastic for the next X months. They're quite large items.

starlover · 27/09/2005 17:07

SD i'd gladly look at anything, no matter how big if it stopped me being whined at by a moody 7 month old!

staceym11 · 27/09/2005 17:09

mothercare are the best because they have a lot of safety equipment so they dotn topple.

ie. they are very close to the floor and have rubber runners to stop it from moving too quickly on carpet etc.

dd is 11mth and still cant move it very fast!!

vickitiredmum · 27/09/2005 17:10

The same stuff you would have to move once baby started walking in a couple of months anyway starlover. Its just basic parent common sense isnt it?

We all forget things and leave things lying around where we shouldnt, but it doesnt make the babywalker the bad thing in those circumstances.

As for the sitting position - it should in the correct position so that they can sit down fully or stand fully upright and it shouldnt be a problem.

Im sorry, i dont mean to get on such a high horse over something as benign as a babywalker but its not the equipment thats at fault when things go wrong (99.9999999999999% of the time anyway).

Currently, IIRC, car seats are also very dangerous in a huge percentage of ones being used for the simple fact that they are being used incorrectly ie not installed properly/facing the right way/baby strapped in properly - nothing to do with the car seat itself, which is in fact, a fantastic safety invention.

SoupDragon · 27/09/2005 17:10

Even back to back teletubbies...?

sweetkitty · 27/09/2005 17:10

mums friends daughter had 2 of them in tiny living room for her DS twins they just banged into each other and couldn't go anywhere.

Original poster
mumfor1sttime · 27/09/2005 17:11

Youve got a good point soupdragon, as we live in small 2 up 2 down, not much space.
I am shocked at the moment as ds is on his tum and moving backwards !!

OP posts:
vickitiredmum · 27/09/2005 17:12
SoupDragon · 27/09/2005 17:12

plastic cr*p breeds too. Before you know it you'll have a walker, an activity table, a rocking horse and nowhere to sit yourself

starlover · 27/09/2005 17:13

even teletubbies SD!!!!

vicki.. i know this. but that doesn't change the fact that they are the single most "dangerous" piece of equipment. they are unnecessary anyway and cause more accidents than any other item!
does it really matter why?

madmarchhare · 27/09/2005 17:15

If you have the money, get one, if its get in the way, sell it or give it away.

Original poster
mumfor1sttime · 27/09/2005 17:15

Reminds me of the old watchdog programmes in th 80s....

OP posts: