Is it bad for a baby to spend a few hours per day in a walker? Any pros / cons on this?

Question

We have a 5+-month-old who is getting strong legs over here after 2 months in her walker regularly. My wife and I are concerned that the walker doesn't help her with keeping her balance very much or that being in it too much causes problems later in her life. She's been a bit quick doing everything (head control, sounds, etc.)... but there's no pressure from our end. We just don't want the walker to cause something unnatural in her growth. Thanks in advance for your advice! -Two younger, intelligent, first-time parents

Answer 1

Everything in moderation, a few hours a day in a walker is fine, but also if you're concerned with balance, you should let her out of her walker and try it on her own, just hold her hands if she can't balance well. If her legs are getting strong then it should be fine. Just so that her legs straighten out and bend properly keep her outta the walker for a few hrs a day as well.

Answer 2

We're taking a class at the downtown JCP and the instructor is a development specialist. She is not a fan of walkers/bouncers and feels they do not allow children to develop proper balance/walking skills because babies spend much of their time on their toes in the walkers. She suggests the pull up toys that allow bablies to hold onto a base but provide their own stability. Our daughter is 4 months old and also has great strong legs. We don't have a walker and I am thinking we'll get an activity center that doesn't provide extra support. I'm curious to read what other people have to say.

Answer 3

Some say it isn't good to use a walker, but all of my children used one and it didn't cause any problems at all. My first was very quick doing everything (head control, sounds, etc) as well. he was bored laying on the floor, so I used a walker and he was much happier doing something different. I believe that a little bit of every thing is useful to a baby in moderation.It will not affect her walking she will do that in her own time.

Answer 4

I don't believe baby walkers are safe. It gives babies too much mobility. I've read that 14,000 babies are brought to the ER each year with baby walker injuries. When my son was at the age were he was interested in standing and using his legs I bought him an exersaucer and a johnny jump up. He loved both of these and I always knew where he was.

Also when I was a baby, my mom had a walker for me. One day she was cooking and ironing clothes, she turned around to check the food in the oven and I cruised over and pulled the cord on the iron. The iron landed on my hand and I received 3rd degree burns. So I guess I'm a little biased, but try the exersaucer my little guy had lots of fun.

Answer 5

There are pros and cons for this issue thereee really is no problem with children in a walker as long as ther not in ther all day that they are up I understand especially when you are trying to get house work done or cooking but allow your child to do other things besides the walker as well good luck

Answer 6

I have heard that keeping a baby in a walker could keep them from learning how to walk, but I don't believe it myself. I let my daughter play in her walker quite a bit when she was about 5-7 months old. She started walking before she was 9 months old!

Answer 7

Walkers do not develop the muscles needed for walking. They develop the muscles needed for tiptoeing, which is not what your daughter needs. She needs to learn to support herself FLAT on her feet, balancing at the same time. Learning to push forward with her toes, on wheels that balance her, is not helping anything.

Many children who spend time in walkers learn to walk later, for those reasons.

I would not personally use one. I've seen too many people use it as an excuse for not paying attention to their baby, PLUS they get upset later when the kid's not walking on time.

On the other hand, one of the push-along things would give her something to hang onto while still challenging her balance and strengthening the CORRECT muscles. If you insist on using something to help her walk, get one of those instead and supervise VERY closely (just as I hope you're doing with the walker). Anything that moves can be dangerous.

Answer 8

I don't think a few hours in a walker will harm your baby. Exercising is just as good for babies as for grown ups. My father has started teaching me how to walk since I was only two moths old. He used the old trick with a thick woolen scarf underneath my armpits (you wrap the scarf on baby's chest and pull the two ends underneath the armpits and hold them up so the baby doesn't fall) and he let me do the job of walking and all he cared about was my balance. Just around 5 to 10 minutes daily, don't exhaust your baby. When I finally started to learn how to balance a little bit (this happened when I was about 3 months old) my Dad would sit me down in the middle of the room and he would stand a couple of feet away from me, asking me to 'Come to Daddy', once I was close enough to reach him he would move a step backwards, so one more step for me. When I got tired I would sit on the floor and my Dad would pick me up.

Once they start learning a little bit about walking children need a point of focus in order to maintain their balance without falling, and this is what my Dad was doing by asking me to go to him.

Of course I can't remember all this but my parents told me the story of how I started walking. By the time I was four months old I was unstopable.

You can also get her a playpen, this will help your baby to grab the bars and try and stand up. In orer for her not to get borred put inside her favourite toys suitable for her age. Even if you know she is in a safe place, please check on her every couple of minutes, whenever you pass by talk to her and do the baby talk. They love that.

Good luck with your family and the baby and Happy Holidays!

Answer 9

i dont think it is bad for her to be in a walker my daughter uses one all the time i started her off at 5 months also she seemed very happy and was able to use her hands more in grabbing things and learned to move more now she is 11 months i don't use it much she is now learning to walk because of it i think it was a big help i gave her food and toys in it she is fine no delay at all on walking i
also have two other children 17 years old and 13 and used one for them and both are fine so yes keep using it it is very helpful

Answer 10

My son didn't ever use a walker. My husband and I bought one but never used it. Give her a little independent time without it. That will help to bulid her confidence. It would even help if you walked around with her holding her hands to keep her up. She might know how to walk around in the walker but she won't know how to walk outside of it. They're nice to have but it's better to let her learn on her own.