Can anybody give me proof that walkers are not good for babies. Just wondering because?

Question

I have a six month old and she loves to move... and I wanted to buy her a walker and a few friends of mine said they are not used anymore. If that is true are there any studies out there supporting this and why is it?

If it is because of stairs I have none.

If this is true I just want to know why I always try figure out why instead of just following what everybody does.

Thank you!

Answer 1

it is beacause their bodies are not ready to be upright like that.  They were suppose to go off the market as they were finding children with spine problems due to them being upright in walkers, putting weight on them before their muscles and bones were ready.

Answer 2

one reason is because they said babies were breaking their legs, and i also heard that when they are in a walker, they are pushing foward to walk, so when they are not in it, they try to walk how they walk in the walker so it takes them alot longer to walk. my mom didn't use one with me and i started walking at 7 1/2 months

Answer 3

All I've personally heard of is the stair hazard. I guess they make it easier for babies to get into trouble because they're so much more mobile. But hey, that's why you watch your kids right?

Answer 4

There are a lot of reasons, including what pretty much everyone said. Kids are less likely to crawl, which is supposedly part of natural development, it can delay walking and it can cause problems since the kid is not ready to be upright.

However, many kids skip the crawling part and go straight to walking with or without walkers, many kids who use walkers walk early and many kids who don't use them walk late and, as far as kids not being ready to be upright- exersaucers, bouncy-swings, baby back-packs, and a bunch of other things that also keep kids upright are still used, so these issues are just possible risk-factors and they do not apply to everyone. Both my sister and I used walkers and both my sister and I walked at an average age. My friend also used a walker and she walked by 8 months, which is incredibly early.

I'd say if you do not think there's too much to worry about, you believe your child would enjoy a walker and you can find one then, by all means, get a walker. It's your decision in the long-run. Good that you're exploring the reasons behind things rather than just following the directions in some baby-book.

Answer 5

I was worried about walkers too because of all I had heard about them being "evil" and whatnot. My son ended up getting one as a gift and it's become one of our best friends, as he can hang out in the kitchen with me safely.

As far as statistics go... he started crawling at 6 months and is now 10 1/2 months and walking! So apparently it didn't disrupt him at all.

Only negative I've noticed is that since he's now becoming more adventurous and leaning out of it I'm cautious to make sure he never tips over.

Good luck :-)

Answer 6

i think the reason they arent so popular is because they might not let your babies legs gain strength. or if the baby just sits in it.

then you have the falling down stairs stuff. I used a walker for awhile with my son, now hes 2 and runs, jumps, twirls, and does somersaults. hes just fine.

Answer 7

Well, its because they tip over easily, even when going from linolium to carpet, or if it hits a bump in the rug or something. The other reason is that spending a lot of time in the walker can delay walking.

But if are going to be supervising your child all the time, and not leaving her in the walker for long periods of time, I guess its all right. But personally, I would get a stationary activity center, and then later when she start to pull up on things, a walk-behind or push toy.

Answer 8

I used one with my daughter, and it was WONDERFULL, she loved it and it didn't make her under developed...I will use it again with my next child!!

Answer 9

It is not the walker it is the hazards that around the house, stairs, slopes, being higher than you have probably baby proofed and then there are poorly made walkers that bow the legs or do not support the back. There are some that are to large in the holding area and babies slip down and have been severely injured.

Just check the house, buy one that does not tip, or lock in the wheels, the cradle, (butt area) is not to large or flimsy, and keep a good eye on the baby.

Answer 10

My daughter hated them, wouldn't use one. my son uses on, and we don't see where it is unsafe at all. We are always there watching him, and look over the walker everyday when we clean it. I think it's probably just neglectfull crappy parents that do stupid stuff and have accidents happen. I'll see if i can pull up any info on it.

Edit* Yep, I was right...crappy parents let their kids fall down the freaking stairs!!! I don't see that as a reason to blame a baby walker, thats the parents fault. it isn't like the things sprout wings and fly down stairs! lol. I'll keep looking for info.

Seventy-five to eighty percent of the more severe injuries were caused by falling down the stairs. Walkers may keep babies happy, they may provide them with a means of mobility, but they do not keep them safe. When you baby is in a walker, he can move faster and farther than he ever could on his own and the potential for falls, pinches and other injuries is very high. Walkers do not help your children learn how to walk and in fact, have been found to delay walking for a few weeks and once the children did begin to walk, they presented an abnormal gait in the beginning

Answer 11

They also say that babies who spend a lot of time in walkers don't learn to crawl. But I have a walker for my daughter (even tho her pediatrician is against it) and she was crawling by 7 1/2 months. I don't put her in it for very long and not even every day. Only occasionally when I need to get something done and I don't want her crawling around.

Answer 12

It's part safety issue and part health.  The dangers are not just falling down stairs.  When they're mobile at an early age they can pull things down on themselves, bump into things causing a fall,  and tip overs.  Physically, they were proven to NOT help babies walk earlier and hindered a normal stance.  They haven't been banned they are just highly discouraged from trained medical professionals.  That said, people still buy them so companies still make them.  It doesn't mean they're good.  If she likes to move try an exersaucer, like a walker but it stays put.  Johnny Jumpers are great too.