Babywalker or stationary activity centre thing - opinions please!

[Orchide]

My DD is almost 6 months old and has been rolling for about a month, now doing lots iof leg wriggling but not going anywehere yet. She hates being on her back and much prefers being upright though cant quite sit up unsupported. I was thinking of gettign of soem kind of sitty upy activity cntrething ( already have a bouncy chair but often even that is not upright enough for her). I was lookign at something like this

here

whereas husband is sure we should get onle like this....

here

The other thing to think about is size. DD currently weighs about 20lb and is very tall, in 9-12 months stuff, am i mad to consider buying something which only lasts to 25lb....or might i expect her weight to slow down [hopeful emoticon]

the leapfrog learn and groove is fab!!! we had one for our 2....our son was 16mths when dd came along, and when she was 6mths she went into it, and ds aged 2 still went into it!! he was probably over the weight limit but it didn't feel any less safe for him to be in it....he could support his own weight fully and even though we had it on a low setting so dd's feet could reach the floor he could still use it fully too!!!

thanks glaskham, i really like it too but DH is just so sure we should get one with wheels on the bottom so DD can propel herself around. was hoping lots of people would say...dont get one with wheels, theyre rubbish!

chiropractors etc hate them.

well my mum had one with wheels for the kids at her house and the amount of times they just ran into walls and tables etc it was rediculous (sp?)!!

my mum ended up buying a used leapfrog thingy instead from ebay so they were in the same place but still playing, learning and having fun at the same time as exercising!! it was good to fold away and store when they weren't there, and to be honest took up about the same amount of space as a walker!!

AND i have also heard a lot of people saying that the walkers arent as good for babies as people think!!.....so go for the leapfrog- PLEASE!!!! you'll just love it- it was the best thing i bought for my kids!!! and was also good to put them in in the dining room while i was making lunch etc- they were entertained but couldn't get to things they shouldn't!!!

my god, look how much i've rambled- that just proves how much you should get the leapfrog one!! haha!!

Aitch, can i ask why?

DS has this one he loves it. Didn't pay that much though, we got it from Argos, was about £60 or £70 I think. He's 6 mo by the way.

IIRC baby walkers encourage the child to use tiptoes not the whole foot, not A Good Thing.

I heard that baby walkers are a bit risky as they can tip up going over bumps etc. (Or is this a myth?)

not a myth

they dangle from the seat bit and push themselves along with their toes - apparently is a v 'unnatural' movement & not good for developing muscles that'll help them sit / stand / walk

My goddaughter was always in her babywalker, and at 18 months was still unable to walk properly, she was using her tiptoes.

We had a boingy doorway thing for dd which she loved, but attatched to a beam in ceiling rather than a doorframe.

we had both and ds got more use out of the walker as it was more portable and easier to take from room to room. he never spent more than about 20 minutes at a time in it and was walking by 10 1/2 months - at that point he spent more time climbing on it than sitting in it. If you use them for short periods of time in a room with no hazards for them to go over/reach then they are safe enough. TBH we never used the stand in one much and being so expensive it was a bit of a waste of money.

I love baby walkers - both dd's have had them. At present dd2 follows me from room to room in hers and she loves it. They are only dangerous if you are not keeping an eye on them (like everything else)

My dd likes to see what is going on and she can do this in her baby walker. She also likes to have a selection of toys on the tray part.

I would not be without it. My first dd had one and was walking at 13 months. As long as they are not spending too much time in them then I think they are great for giving a little feeling of independence.