2007-03-22 23:46:44 · 8 answers · asked by bhaavna k 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
When people let their babies play near stairs and do not keep a close eye on them, the babies stand a good chance of getting hurt... walker or no!
All of my children have used walkers. All them walked in due time. NONE of them were ever injured in, by, near, or because of their walkers. Keep in mind, my three older children were babies back in the late 80s/ early 90s (so the walkers were supposedly not as "safe" as they are now).
The main reason why my children never got hurt while using their walkers? I actually paid/pay attention to them! I never let them be in the walker anywhere near stairs! If they could reach anything that could hurt them, said potential harm would be removed!
It's high time that people started to realize that a lot of the things that are blamed for people getting hurt hold no blame for the people getting hurt. People use things improperly and people get hurt. People should take some responsibility and use some common sense when going about their days. Why blame an inanimate object for your mistakes and oversights? Take some responsibility for yourself and your child.
No. Walkers are not dangerous. Parents and caregivers who don't watch their children closely when they are in walkers... they are dangerous!
Are walkers essential? Not in the least. Will a walker hinder a child from walking in due time? Not in the least. If a child's walking takes longer to happen than other children, it's because of the very simple, very true fact that children develop differently. A child will learn to walk when the child is ready. Toys, gear (walkers, etc.)... it doesn't really matter too much. A child is going to learn when they are darn good and ready and not a moment before or after.
2007-03-23 00:21:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I loved the walker. I don't think it has any affect on the walking. Your child will walk when he/she is ready. I have two walkers, one upstairs and one downstairs. Make sure you put a gate if you have stairs and no door that would be the only safety issue with it.
OK, I can see why Bound wrote all that and I fully agree. Read the comments from sharkyincanada. People use your brain WATCH YOUR CHILD. If you are a responsible parent, take good care of your child. Children will fall and get hurt just by walking, crawling, etc. Gods know my son has hit his head a few time when crawling and learning to walk. What's next are we not going to allow kids to crawl or walk because it can be dangerous.
2007-03-23 08:11:13 · answer #2 · answered by Carmen M 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
With the safety standards of today's baby equipment its pretty much safe to say that if your buy brand new it will be safe...
However...its not essential that your baby has to have one...I had one for both my kids and the twins I'm caring now will use it aswell...but its not essential that you have one...baby will still learn to walk without it, and probably at the same age and perhaps with more confidence, having that security of a seat under their butts when they have had enough standing can lead to baby relying on that security all of the time, and it may not gain the confidence to go it alone...just remember that all babies do it at there own pace...both my girls developed so differently, my first was off and running at 10 months...my second is nearly 14 months and is just getting into the swing of it now...and both had used the baby walker...
Hope this helps
2007-03-23 06:59:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anastasia 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Actually a walker can prolong a baby's walking. As far as safety, if you have stairs that you can not block then don't buy one. My twins used walkers because I could gate off a big chunk of the house and it let me get some things done while they "walked" with me.
ETA: Not sure why all the thumbs down, but it has been proven that it prolongs walking. The baby starts to rely on it, it can cause problems with muscle development, among other things. I am not saying that NO KID should have one. Just that they shouldn't be in it all the time so that they can learn to get around on their own.
2007-03-23 06:55:20 · answer #4 · answered by zinntwinnies 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
For your information, baby walkers are banned in Canada
"Thanks to data collected and analyzed by Health Canada scientists, the federal government determined that baby walkers are unsafe, and in April 2004 banned the sale of baby walkers in Canada.
Paediatricians, child safety advocates and others believed that the dangers baby walkers presented far surpassed their usefulness, and had campaigned for this ban for years. Canada took the international lead on this ban, taking a positive step towards the safety of children around the world.
Typically, incidents linked to baby walkers involve head injuries that result from falls down stairs. However, other injuries occur when the child in the baby walker is able to reach dangerous objects that are otherwise inaccessible."
2007-03-23 07:05:59 · answer #5 · answered by sharkyincanada 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I went through worries with my 1st so I asked loads of mums (I went to 3 very popular mother and toddler groups) and asked if they had used them and if they had hindered their child walking. Not one of the said that there was anything wrong with them and I used a walker with my 4 year old and my 16 month old and both started walking at 11 months old so I definately think they're good.
2007-03-23 07:09:06 · answer #6 · answered by Angie B 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Walkers are WAY too dangerous for babies.
2007-03-23 09:01:39 · answer #7 · answered by Lydia 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it is not essential.....they will learn...it is more of a babysitter than a benefit. spending time with your baby, helping with tummy time and your support will be better for the baby
2007-03-23 09:29:30 · answer #8 · answered by Marie 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋