Are walkers safe?

Question

I have a 7 month old and I am considering purchasing a walker for her. She already has a jumperoo and an activity center, but I think the walker will help her leg muscles better. But I have heard both sides of stories, safe and unsafe? What should i do?

Answer 1

Walkers are safe as long as your a safe person.. If you have stairs gate them. If your cooking don't allow the walker in the kitchen. Make sure your bathroom is closed so the baby won't stick there hands in the toilet. You make them safe of unsafe..And the biggest of all make sure you have all wall sockets covered with the safety first plugs so they can't stick there little fingers in them. Remember babies suck there hands and can get electrocuted..So you are the only one that can decide if it is safe or not..If you feel you are a very responsible parente well then its safe. Here is a nice one to look at it's the Winnie the pooh one. It has a activity tray on it that is very nice..You can get it at walmart also for about $40..

Answer 2

If it is a newer walker and your stairs are all gated so she can't fall down them. The most danger comes from kids falling down stairs or tipping them over because they used to be top heavy. Some people think this may actually delay walking due to relying on the walker. Also others think it is hard on a babies spine to be supported by their crotch while in a walker or exersaucer. I have an exersaucer and my kids loved it, also it gives one more way to entertain them for a while while you try to do things like vaccuum or make dinner. It is up to you wether it is safe or not. I think they are fine just take them out of it when they are tired and be careful with stairways.

Answer 3

I am a Mom to six children (oldest 15 and youngest is 8 mo.) I have used walkers for ALL of them. None of them had problems walking, in fact all of them (other than the baby) started walking around 10 mo. I never had any problems with their legs, muscles, etc. They are safe as long as there is SUPERVISION. I did have one accident with one of my children when she was 7 mo. old BUT that was due to MY irresponsibility. They are great for the baby imo because they give them a whole other view of the world they know. My advise would be to do what you feel right, If you really want to give your baby a little more freedom, them make sure you supervise properly, If you choose not to use a walker, there are several other items made for baby out there to use.

Answer 4

The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages walkers because of the risks, and because they negatively affect muscle development in the legs. There are other toys, however, that can help baby learn to walk. I really like the Walker Wagon by Radio Flyer. LeapFrog also makes a very sturdy and fun walking toy.

Answer 5

My husband--who has two much older sons (17 and 25), absolutely insisted on purchasing a walker for our son when he was 7 months--over all my well-researched and documented complaints about safety. I caved. It was undeniably the best toy purchase we made besides his infant swing. My son is 10 1/2 months now, walks well (too well!), and even climbs well. We just got a cheap one that adjusted for height and that had stopping brakes underneath. It never tipped over, smashed his fingers, or hurt him in any other way--and gave him incredible mobility on our wood floors. I can't imagine denying a child the opportunity to use a walker---just be a good parent, for chrissakes, and monitor them in it and you should have no problems.

Answer 6

The biggest danger (atleast what I've heard complaints of) is the baby falling down the stairs in it. Whether they are in a walker or not, there is a danger of the baby falling down stairs if they have access to them. I think if you watch your baby, she will be as safe in a walker as a jumperoo or activity center.

Answer 7

threat is going hand in hand with supervision. pay interest on your infant and he would be fantastic. My teenagers enjoyed the walker. With my oldest, I had a linoleum floor so the wheels went rapid at cases and my son might roar with laughter. He replaced into properly supervised so we had no issues. Block off stairs. Majority of walker injuries ensue because of the fact of th youngster falling down steps. in specific circumstances as teenagers get taller, it is going to become greater straightforward to tip the walker. a great style of the physique can lean above the walker table and that's no longer a solid stability. Walkers right this moment are made with adjustable heights so use it. while going from carpet to linoleum flooring, i might carry up the walker right this moment. which could be a tipping possibility. keep unsafe products out of toddler's attain. He can attain issues in a walker that he does no longer have the potential to be triumphant in with crawling. do no longer overuse the walker. Crawling is the ideal workout to get them waiting for jogging. in case you do no longer or would be unable to supervise the toddler then positioned away the walker. infants who would be unable to stroll are not going to place themselves in a walker. once you spot a toddler in a walker it quite is because of the fact an person or older toddler positioned them in there. as quickly as a toddler can walk then do away with the walker. it may become complicated then. it quite is particularly person-friendly experience and the flair unfavourable aspects become obtrusive to maximum human beings. some mothers and dads do no longer use person-friendly experience and walkers could be risky for those infants.

Answer 8

Close all doors, avoid steps and have moderate supervision of your child and get her a walker..Yes it helps infants develop stronger leg muscles and its said they walk quicker too..I have the old style walker and am definitely going to try it..The reason why kids go down the stairs and such is because the parents aren't watching them!!! If you will watch your baby than you have nothing to worry about :)

Answer 9

I never bought my now 21 month old one because of the dangers of falling over steps, bumping or pinching his fingers against something. I got him a 2-1 push walker from Wal-Mart (low cost) in which he could use sitting down & learned to walk with it!! Once he pulled himself up on his own, I let him hold on & push. He figured out real fast that if you push, then you move & it played music.

Getting on the main subject.......both my Mother & Grandparents bought one. He didn't learn to walk, he pushed backwards & jumped. Just like he did in his jumper saucer at home. We had to stay with him at all times when he did use it, whether indoors or out because he only moved backwards & one the 1st try about went off the edge of the carport, (and we were there with him, but he got a burst of energy & wham there he was) We had to keep a close eye on if he did get stuck between furniture, chairs or whatever- A big pain in the neck if you want to do someting.

I wasn't about to put anything on it to stabalize it, waste of money if you already have a saucer that you don't have to re arrange to use. Needless to say, they sarted letting him use it to push while he walked. Good luck.

Answer 10

My daughter is 8mos old and has been using a walker since she was 6mos. The thing that seems to be an issue as far as safety is that it makes your child too mobile. TOO Mobile??? Isn't that the point?!?!?!
Just be sure to keep baby in a safe place, away from stairs and within eyesight supervision.

Mom of 1 and 1 on the way