When it comes to baby’s development, one of the items that is surrounded by much controversy is the use of baby walkers. There’s a lot of debate on whether parents should let their children use walkers and if it is helpful for their child. Is it a must-have, or something that can hinder your child’s growth?
Use of Baby Walker What SG Parents Think
In our online community, one of the mums raised a question about putting her 4-month-old on a baby walker. As expected, the comments and opinions of fellow parents were divided.
Negative Replies to using a baby walker
“Pd says it is not good for the spine and walkers are banned in the US.” – Angie Oi
“My son never uses the walker, now his legs are strong and straight. I heard that when kids use a walker, their legs grow a bit crook.” Ken Lee
“I never used a walker and my son started walking on his own at 10 months. Crawling is good for building confidence and coordination.” – Marian Clark
“Your baby does not need one! Many studies recommend against using walkers not only because they can discourage your child from learning to walk on his own, but also because they can be dangerous. Similar to Marian, I never used one for my son and he started walking when he was 10 months old, and his muscle is very, very strong.” – Christine Lee
“No to walkers. When the baby crawls it develops his/her muscles. Let him/her walk at their own pace. Don’t rush. Besides, it’s a big hazard if his/her leg gets caught.” Nanthini Kanaswaran Yeary
“We were discouraged by our doctor so we never used one. Babies get more confidence when we hold them and guide them to walk. I also believe those walkers with wheels are hazardous.” – Shanti Jacqueline
“My paediatrician says not to put children in walkers. They have to learn how to use their trunk and legs to move. Using a walker makes them lazy. 4mths is still very young. Observe baby’s neck control etc. You can put baby in a swing which you can move.” Sabrina Peng
Replies from parents who have used a walker
“If you think your daughter’s legs are stiff enough to stand on her own it’s okay, but no need for a hurry.” – Grace Miranda
“4 months is too early dear, must wait until your baby is 6 months up.” Henny Lindawaty
“I did put my baby at 4 months plus. And she walked at 11 months. It’s up to you I guess. But I honestly think it’s okay. She is very active now. Must see if her neck is strong and not fragile. Supervision is needed.” Niea Shah
“I started putting my child in an exersaucer when she was 4 months plus. Feel that this is a better option than a walker as exersaucer has no wheels to move and she has a variety of toys to play with. If you wish to shop for one, please try it out with your baby. We tried one that has too small leg holes and had to get another. Hope this helps.” Rosy Pang
“I think is fine… My gal start using a walker when she was about 6 months, started to crawl at about 9+ months, and walk at 12 months, But when she doesn’t want it, we’ll not force her.” Jacqueline Lee
“My mum used a walker for me & siblings, I think all of us are healthy & walking fine. My son used it for a few months before he started walking when he was 11 – 12 months. His legs are straight and he runs and jumps and falls like any kids. I think the kiddos love being mobile themselves, zipping about the house. When it is time for them to walk, they will.” Chong Leng Li
“I did put my son in a walker at 4 months which I’m going to do for my gal too. Just that I will stuff an extra pillow in front to make it secure. But yes, you must have supervision.” Amy Tan
Baby Walker: Good or Bad?
The short answer to whether or not baby walkers are safe is no. The American Academy of Pediatrics has called for a ban on the manufacture and sale of wheeled baby walkers, claiming that they send thousands of babies to the hospital each year.
Why Is Walker Bad For Baby?
If you’re thinking about getting your child a baby walker, you should think twice.
Image source: iStock
The use of baby walkers is discouraged by many organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAPA), because they can cause accidents and injuries. Here are some of the reasons:
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Baby walkers can be dangerous to your child
Baby walkers can provide babies with extra speed, height, and access to many hazards, making them potentially dangerous. Furthermore, babies can tip over and fall, or even roll down the stairs. Many injuries occur when the walker tips over and the baby is thrown out, crashing into furniture or falling down the stairs.
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Your child may fall down the stairs
When you have stairs in your home, baby walkers are a hazard. The majority of walker-related injuries occur when a baby in a walker moves to the edge of the staircase and falls, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
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Baby walkers can cause children to move too quickly.
According to the AAP, most baby walker injuries occur when a parent is present. It can be physically impossible for a parent or caregiver to react quickly enough because it is too late once a fall or other dangerous situation occurs.
A baby in a walker can move three feet in one second, making walkers unsafe even when supervised. At those speeds, they can fly down the stairs, over a balcony, out a door, or into potentially dangerous furniture. It’s simply too fast to control or stop.
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Baby walkers can get children into places they should not be.
A walker allows a child to access areas that they would not be able to reach otherwise. They could become trapped in a room, make it to a pool or bathtub, or make it to a fireplace. All of this has happened and can be avoided by not using a walker for your child.
Image Source: iStock
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Baby walkers can assist children in reaching too high.
A baby in a walker is higher up than they would be in their pre-walking stage. This means they can now grasp at objects and places that they previously couldn’t. This includes substances and objects that could be harmful to them, such as pills or hot drinks, as well as breakable items, such as glass on tables.
Babies can also pull tablecloths off surfaces, causing everything on top of the tablecloth to fall on them. They may also be able to reach hot stoves with exposed pot handles, as well as hot radiators or space heaters.
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The baby may lose balance
Babies who are gliding on the floor in a walker may lose their balance and fall. A child in a walker can move at a speed of three feet per second, according to the AAP. Moving at such high speeds is exhausting for a baby and can cause them to lose their balance.
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Baby walkers can cause children to trip and fall.
When young children aren’t ready to walk and are being artificially assisted by a device rather than the hands of a caregiver, the walker can slip when they push on it, causing them to fall face-first into the handle or the floor. If another object, such as the corner of a table, is nearby, this can result in further injury.
In the case of walkers, the baby can sit inside and roll down the stairs. Your child can also use the walker as a battering ram to smash through a baby gate. According to the AAP, the most common cause of injury from baby walkers is rolling down the stairs, which can result in broken bones and head trauma.
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It can cause serious injuries
A child in a walker can still fall down the stairs or collide with sharp edges. She can burn herself by touching a hot oven or pot handle because being in a walker allows her to reach things that you thought were safely out of her reach.
And because a baby in a walker can move more than 3 feet in one second, even keeping a close eye on her won’t keep her safe. In fact, most walker injuries occur when adults are nearby but are unable to catch their cuties as they dart into danger.
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When a baby falls from a walker, it is their skull that takes the brunt of the fall.
When a baby loses balance in a walker, it is their skull that takes the brunt of the fall. According to one study, 82 percent of baby walker falls result in a head injury in the infant.
Babies’ heads are especially delicate due to their soft skull bones and developing brain. Any severe injury can have a long-term impact on the baby’s life.
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A walker raises the risk of accidental death
Baby walkers may cause not only falls, but also a variety of other incidents. According to medical experts, a baby on a walker can reach upper shelves and pull down large items that could fall on their heads. The baby is more likely to be exposed to poisonous substances, hot food items, and places like the swimming pool or bathtub where they can fall, choke, or even drown.
Even when elders are present, accidents with baby walkers can occur. When something goes wrong, parents have little control because things happen quickly and there is little time to react. Baby walkers are not only dangerous, but they can also impede the baby’s development.
Are Baby Walkers Bad For Development?
Image Source: iStock
Some parents buy them because they believe they will help their children learn to walk faster. The opposite is true: using a walker can cause a delay in independent walking. This is because learning to walk is more than just learning to use your legs. It’s more about learning to pull yourself up to stand, then balance and take steps without assistance.
Babies who are placed in walkers do not learn any of this. They learn it by being placed on the floor and given something to pull up on, such as a couch or a caregiver.
Here are the reasons why baby walkers are bad for development:
- Less time is spent learning to walk. Spending hours in a walker may have another disadvantage. Babies who spend too much time in walkers learn to crawl and walk at a slower rate than tots who roam free, according to research, but the evidence is inconclusive.
- It slows their ability to walk. Walkers, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, eliminate a baby’s desire to walk rather than help them learn how to walk.
- Walkers divert your baby’s attention away from the floor. It prevents them from practising the important, repetitive movements required for them to reach their walking milestones.
Image source: iStock
When babies are in a walker, they tend to use their toes, which tightens their leg muscles and interferes with normal walking development. When they get out of the walker, they frequently want to walk on their toes, which is not how babies normally learn to walk.
- Baby walkers can result in an irregular walking pattern. Babies in baby walkers stretch their toes to reach the ground and frequently scoot around on tiptoes, causing excessive tightness in their calves. When they get out of the baby walkers, they have to walk on their tiptoes.
- Baby walkers can encourage babies to walk later in life. Babies gain muscle strength, balance, and motor skills necessary for walking by rolling around on the floor, sitting, crawling, and pulling themselves up to stand.
Using a baby walker prevents the child from doing so, resulting in a delay in developing the necessary core muscles. Baby walkers also keep babies from seeing their feet and legs while using them. This slows walking development because babies are unable to recognize that their feet and legs are moving the walkers.
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Baby Walker Alternatives
Given enough encouragement and time, the muscle can be developed. All babies will walk when they are ready because they have the necessary strength and balance. Typically, between 9 and 18 months. Time spent in a baby walker time away from activities that produce genuine readiness for walking.
What are good alternatives?
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Encourage as much tummy time as possible
Baby should sleep on his or her back and play on his or her front. Tummy time is the fundamental building block for all motor skills. A lack of this can have far-reaching consequences.
If you have laminated flooring, place a large rug or non-slip mat on it. on the floor so that your baby has a firm grip when learning to walk crawling and walking.
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When they are able, consider purchasing a stable push-type baby walker.
Image source: iStock
It is a good idea if you have laminated floors. So put on baby shoes or keep them barefoot so they have improved grip.
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Use push toys for your baby
Push toys, such as push cars help babies who aren’t yet ready to walk on their own. They aid in the development of the baby’s strength and balance.
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Create a safe play area by laying down rubber mats
Make a safe space on the floor for your child to explore. So that the child can learn to roll, crawl, and sit before walking. Allowing your child to fall on a safe surface and stand up without assistance aids the baby’s learning and muscle development.
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Bring your child to a playgroup
Babies are easily motivated and can learn by observing others. Seeing other babies standing and walking can inspire your child to do the same.
Don’t be concerned if your child takes longer to learn to walk than other babies. Remember that each baby is unique. Your child can use the time he or she is not walking to learn something else.
Updates by Matt Doctor
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