Let the fun begin!! ? about walkers

[Me2mommy2b]

DD is almost 9 mos and she's crawling all over the place.  She also learned how to pull herself up so that's also fun for her to do all day long! My question is, what do you think about walkers?  DD does not sit on her mat and play her toys anymore (WHAT? she'd rather get stuck under the table or better yet, find a dirty spot on the floor and lick it, yack).  I was thinking of putting her in a walker but don't know if I'm too thrilled with the idea.  I heard that they're not good for the baby's undeveloped spine and core muscles.  What's your opinion?  Thanks.

[markysmom]

Instead of a walker, why not get her one of those stationary excersaucers or a jumperoo.
We had both of those for my son and he really loved them both.

[anxiousmomtobe?]

All I know is that they are illegal in Canada, so I don't recommend them.  Invest in one of those playyards and let her live on the floor.

[Me2mommy2b]

hmmm...why are the illegal in Canada?  I'm sure it's b/c they can't be too good for them, right?

[anxiousmomtobe?]

Too dangerous, too many serious injuries from kids going down stairs, etc.  They've been banned here for a long, long time.

[angel07]

Wow, i never knew that! We still have them in the UK. The one you sit in?  I was always told as long as the baby is holding there head up strong with NO help, around 4 months+ then it was fine?

I used them with my three boys and they just loved them. The learned to stand up stright and made there legs stronger.

[Van73]

My girls had the stationary ones, called SAUCERS.  And they also loved the Johnny Jumps (that you hook into the door frame)  Of course, they all require supervision.

[neparker]

I used a walker with my DS and DD, and most likely will with this one.  
I can see them being dangerous if you aren't watching them at all times...

There are also those toys that can be used to hold onto and walk with.  My children loved those too.  

[Agiesmom]

My son (now 11) went down the stairs in one.  There was a door at the top of the stairs that was always closed, but a visitor went downstairs and left the door open.  I saw him heading for them and couldn't get to him in time.  I can't tell you how sick and scared I was.  We were very lucky and he was totally ok, but I threw that walker in the trash when that happened (and I broke it so no one would take it out of the trash and use it).  I told my friend what happened and she said, "You know my cousin--who is developmentally two years old?  She was born normal--brain damage from going down the stairs in a walker."

Please, please, please do not use one if you have stairs.  Even if you think, "Oh, the door to the stairs is always closed" or "there's a gate blocking the stairs"--all it takes is one second, one forgetful moment, and your life (and your baby's) can change forever.

[mum2beagain]

Having lived in the UK and Canada I know about the laws in both countries.

The major risk with them is babies falling downstairs in them and I believe that is why they were banned in Canada. Now in the UK houses are generally built with bedrooms upstairs  have no basements and with the main living area on ground floor level so walkers are not usually used in places where baby could fall downstairs hence way way lower accident rates in the UK.

Now onto are they good for the child's development? With a walker babies don't get chance to develop upper body strength the way they would if they were crawling, pulling up to stand etc so although they won't harm your baby they may, if used for long periods of time may slightly hinder their physical development. Used ocassionally and with adult supervision they won't do any harm.

That said I was given advice with my son to use one because he has special needs he wasn't physically able to even get himself from lying on the floor or sit up until well over a year, in his case it was used to help his very flat head from worsening and give the poor child a different perspective on life. (I don't remember 'exersaucers' being on the market in the UK at that time or I would have probably gone for one of those instead)

Now that the stationary 'exersaucers' are on the market I think these are a much better option and are definaely lots of fun for babies but they still need to be on the floor crawling, rolling and pulling themselves up. The large safety gate sets that link together can be made as big as you want are another option to keep babies from being off up to all sorts of mischeif! Thats what we had for our son when he did eventually get to moving around and they are great to use indoors or out. We loved to use them in the garden and had 12 set up in a big square so you could sit in it with him but he could move around of his own accord without us breating down his neck saying  'no, not there, don't do this'.... and so on!

[rubyolivia]

As far as safety issues......I think it is the parent's responsibility to make sure that if a child is in the walker, they are being constantly supervised!! As for kids going down the stairs...if they are going to go down the stairs in a walker because parents aren't paying attention then what will happen when the child is walking?!!?! They can move pretty fast even when they've first learned to walk!

I know that my SIL's ped. told her that the saucers and walkers were not good for upper body strengthening so that the child should not be placed in one just to get them "out of parents hair", but to strengthen leg muscles for brief periods.

I registered for a walker for my little guy for us to use at work! I will be taking baby to work with me and we have a huge open tile floor that I am sure he will just love!! For home, I registered for a jumperoo because our house is small and I don't particularly want the walker slamming into my walls! lol

[Crritter]

I loved the saucer, my son could not get enough of it and it is great exercise, plus you know where they are.  At 9 months though you want her down exploring, she won't learn to walk in a walker or saucer, needs to get the balance thing on her own.  Babies get into everything and eat anything so just be careful and maybe places gates at doorways so you can keep her in a room or out of one.  My son was walking at 9 months and was everywhere, so fun.

[kellym]

I have had the excersaucer since dd was 5months. She LOVED it. Then we moved to the walker. I have had the walker about 2 months and she likes that as well. She has unbelievable upper and lower body strength. The one I have has a frond brake. If it tips forward even the slightest it stops. I will ask the Ped of Friday for dd's 9 month appt. How many teeth does Ariella have now?? Lily is FINALLY trying to get her first. Saw the little hole just yesterday!!

[Me2mommy2b]

Hi, Kellie.  Ariella got 4 teeth now (her upper teeth came in a few days ago).  We thought we're getting a break but it looks like she's getting more of her lower teeth (ugh).  We get no break!

[Agiesmom]

Rubyolivia, your argument doesn't make sense to me.  My child was being supervised--someone unexpectedly left the door to the stairs open and I ran to try to catch my child before he got to the stairs and I wasn't fast enough.

Accidents happen and unexpected things occur.  I'm sure you will realize that once you have your son at work with you--there will be a few seconds here and there when your eyes are not fixed on him or you may see him heading for unexpected or unanticipated danger and not be able to get to him before he falls or puts something into his mouth.  After all, kids put things in their mouths, have scrapes, bruises, and bumps from falling all the time--it's not always (actually, very rarely) because they have bad parents who don't supervise them.

Regarding falling down the stairs without a walker being no different from falling down stairs while in one, that makes no sense to me either.  I'm sure you can imagine that, as an adult, you'd most likely be hurt a lot worse if you went down a flight of stairs strapped into a wheelchair than if you fell down the stairs while you were trying to walk down them.

Just be careful.  I know that everyone always thinks nothing will happen to them--that it happens to other people because they aren't careful or they are irresponsible--but that kind of thinking can end up in tragedy.

I just think that there are too many things in life over which we have little control so I don't want to take chances with things that are known to be dangerous (and actually banned in some countries).

Good luck to you and enjoy your baby!

[pertykitty]

did the op say she had stairs??? the walkers used in homes with stairs (upstairs) isnt a great idea, i think we all know that. using them on the porch or in the kitchen (they dont work well on some carpets) is ok.  they do have a safety thing that if they started to roll (lets say down a small driveway type incline) they lock up. i dont suggest using near streets either. some kids like them, some dont. maybe you know someone with one you can borrow to see if she even likes it.  its a personal choice and im sure you will not put your baby on the roof with it lol.   humor ladies!!!

[decogrl]

WOw!  I wish Ameera would start crawling already ( I guess, then I am in for a treat!)  She is still teething like anything, but the top ones have not quite erupted yet.  She still has 2 but we are expecting the top ones any day now and I hope we get a break after that.  She does not nap anymore and wakes up SCREAMING bloody murder in the middle of the night!