using a baby walker

Jamie - posted on 04/14/2010

Ditto to Katie Duerson. I have heard the exersaucer is just as dangerous delays walking as well, ditto for jumpers. It's best to get a floor mat and let them roll around and figure out all the step in between rolling over and walking (if they do all the steps at all!) then trying to jump start the process. Their structure is not mature enough and their balance is not there either, so they get used to using a crutch and not doing it themselves.

Katie - posted on 04/12/2010

I was told never. Doctors and therapists have known for a long time now that they can be dangerous (even deaths) and that it can actually delay walking. Someone else already mentioned this so I am just echoing her too, but an exersaucer is much better I believe.

Misty - posted on 04/11/2010

my lil girl is 7month old and she has been in and out of her walker since she was about 4months old. She knows how to walk around the house with it. She started going backwards in it @4 1/2 months old and within the last week really going forward. We also have a Jumperoo and she spends a good amount of her time in both and also on the floor. She is starting to crawl too.

Victoria - posted on 04/11/2010

Personally i saw a study where walkers can give a baby a false sense of security when learning to walk. He/she excepts something to be there when they fall down and can go stiff instead of learning to brace themselves for the fall. My son was born on Sept 17th and i got him an exosaucer and he loves it. At times you can tell he is trying to walk, plus i dont have the worry of him falling while in it.

Tia - posted on 04/11/2010

if you buy the right now.. it's ok, just have a blanket it front of her.. my son used the walker around 4 or 5 months old, he's 7 months now and still using it.. for a while we put the blanket in front of him so he doesn't bump his chest. Really, it all depends on how your child is developing, my son started trying to walk at 2 months old.. standing up and everything. and using our hands to walk forward lol

Katrina - posted on 04/11/2010

I would say as long as she has good head and neck control, and supports herself well, it should be fine. we haven't used one for our daughter, but she has an activity centre (similar but can't walk in it) she loves it and has been using it since 4 months :)

Tia - posted on 04/10/2010

When bubba can support her own neck, All babies are different though we put our daughter Sharntae in a walker starting from about 5months old and it helped her get the confidence she needed, Shes now 14months and out of the walker... But i would recommend that you go for it if you feel confident, But like they say mothers know best =)

Kathy - posted on 04/10/2010

I'm from Canada and walkers have been completely banned because they are unsafe. Babies can fall down stairs in them, and baby gates don't always stop them. We have an exersaucer, which is safer, just lets her play and "stand up" in it

Christine - posted on 04/10/2010

My daughter was born on 4th september 2009 and she's been using her walking since she was about 5 - 6 months.

Debbie - posted on 04/10/2010

Hi, my son was 7months yesterday and hes been using his properly for about the past month. I would say from when they can sit up without support. My son scoots about the livingroom in his. Hes just learnt that he can go forward instead of always going backwards. Hes absolutey love it because he can see everything thats goin on.

Minita - posted on 04/10/2010

my september born has just started using the walker and loves it. although, my 3 year old loves pushing her around (supervised, ofcourse) a lot more, so it helps!

Mary - posted on 04/10/2010

My girl was born on the 24th of Sept and she's been in her walker for 2 months. She loves it!

Lisa - posted on 04/09/2010

there are a lot of professionals who think walkers shouldn't be sold anymore because they are not safe for any age. Plus it does not teach the child to walk and can even slow them from learning to walk.

Michelle - posted on 04/09/2010

I live in Canada and here walkers are actually illegal to sell, I am assuming because of safety issues, but we have an exersaucer that we started using at around 4 1/2 months and she just loves it!

Juli - posted on 04/09/2010

Evan has been using his walker for over a month now. Just watch your heels. He's a little ankle biter in it.

Alicia - posted on 04/09/2010

my son who is almost 7 months has been in his walker for a while now. We started him in his Jumperoo when he was probably 3 months (yes I have a very active baby), and then we moved to the walker when he started getting sick of just jumping. He still likes both of them and can really get around in his walker now. I think that every kid is different. I have seen kids walking at 9 months and others not til 18 months. So when you think she is ready for it try it. She will let me know if she isn't.

Joy - posted on 04/09/2010

Hi Ahniemay,
This a good question. My son Ty Alexander was born Sept. 17,2009 and he has been using a walker since he was 5 months old and he loves it.

Baija - posted on 04/09/2010

My little girl was born on the 11th. She uses it and LOVES being able to get around upright. I even give her snacks in it. She loves it.

Emma - posted on 04/09/2010

Never!! See http://consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/0...



"Parents should know that walker use typically delays motor development – and that it delays mental development even more. Beyond this, walker use is dangerous."



Lots of time on the floor, both soft padded surfaces and wood seems to be the best for our developing babies! Of course this is up to each parent!!



Emma

Ahniemay - posted on 04/08/2010

thank everyone for the helpful responses!!Godbless you all

Cindy - posted on 04/08/2010

Hi,

can start to let bb use it but only for a short while each day first..until bb k strong enough to support himself..altho in e recent yrs there are comments to avoid using it..think of e past generations when all of us were using it..

personally i feel that we shld not be negligently (or forget e long duration) letting bb sit in the walker for 'super' long..suit 'timing' shld b able to avoid lotsa mishaps / bad consequences..so perhaps be aware of e duration yr bb is using e walker..

my bb is just over 6mths n e caregiver / elderly has just requested me to start letting my bb a try..

Donna - posted on 04/08/2010

Well I have heard a lot about the dangers of walkers and how they hamper baby's development. I have both the Jumperoo from Fisher Price and a walker and my 7mo boy loves both of them!! He's had the jumperoo since he's 4mo so he's getting bored with it so I decided to get him the walker when he was 6mo. He's being supervised whenever he's in the walker and I have child proofed my entire apartment so t's safe for him to wander around. He's legs are really strong I must say!

Collette - posted on 04/08/2010

Walkers are no longer deemed developmentally beneficial in fact the American academy of pediatrics recommends that they are not used. We settled on the precious planet jumperoo from fisher price, my son absolutely loves it.

Amber - posted on 04/08/2010

I was told never, but instead to use exersaucers. Dr. told me that walkers are accountable for many deaths, and bodily harm yearly. She also told me that thay can actually delay walking because a child gets used to the extra support a walker gives. IDK how much is really true but my daughter has a exersaucer that seh can jump in and bounce and seh loves it!

Sarah - posted on 04/08/2010

my little squirt is 7 mos and is totally ready for a walker. He loves to stand up with support and kick his legs. I heard walkers aren't safe because children can tip over in them, but I want to use one with Leroy. I did with my daughter Annabella and she loved her walker. I would choose one that has a larger circle diameter so that it less likely to tip with a child in it.

Laura - posted on 04/08/2010

My daughter just turned 7 mths 4-2 and she has been using hers since she was right at 6 mths. Although she does not walk really anywhere in it yet, she seems to like it.

Joanne - posted on 04/08/2010

My daughter was born on 2nd sept and she's been in her walker for about a month now. She loves it!!! She never stays still and she terrorises the poor dog!

Jessica - posted on 04/08/2010

My daughter was born Sept. 30th 2009 and she has been using hers for the last two weeks. Now she mostly just sits and watches what I am doing but she can reach the floor and soon will probably start walking around in it.

Elizabeth - posted on 04/08/2010

my son has been using his for the last few weeks. he loves it we live in an apartment so i bought one that stays put and he can bounce up and down and turn in circles. he really loves playing in it. he will be 7 months on the 17th.

Karlie - posted on 04/08/2010

my son was born on the 14th sep 2009 and he this week has started using his and he loves it...he walks everywhere

Lucinda - posted on 04/08/2010

i think from 8-9months i've been told