is he ready or not? MUMS plz let me no wat u think.... it would b a great help....

Kathy - posted on 04/08/2010

Authorities in Australia are trying to implemant a ban similar to Canada's. Some safety issues are:

# In baby walkers, babies can move around quickly before they are old enough to control what they are doing, so they can run into all sorts of dangers.
# Babies can move across a room in seconds, and quickly be in danger.
# Babies are taller in a baby walker, and they can reach things which they would not normally be able to reach such as:

* electrical cords in the kitchen
* hot drinks on low tables
* cleaning products on shelves or in open cupboards.

# There have been a large number of head injuries to babies under 12 months from using baby walkers, especially from tipping down a step.
This information is from http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTo...

Parents are generally advised against using them

Jessykah - posted on 04/07/2010

thank you amy u just saved me a lot of time.....

just from looking all the help he another mothers have given it was looking at that a some have said that they put there babies in young and there not crawling till a bit later then what lyam did not that this is a bad thing, lyam started crawling at 7 1/2 months and was walking at 10 months i put him into a walker at 9 1/2 months after he had been walking around on the furniture a bit i didn't put him in it for very long and manly when visiting peoples houses after that two weeks he had the confidence two walk not only was walking he was going like if you walked up to pick him up he would be gone....

so i do think they are a okay thing to use but i do believe it should be used the rite way and at the rite time, i do not believe they should be used to be a high chair or something to be feed in, but thats just my opinion there, and i do not believe a child should be i one before they ca crawl as we all need to learn to crawl before we walk to learn coordination,

Amy - posted on 04/07/2010

I will receive my Associates in Early Childhood Ed and Development this May and all that I've studied and professional recommendations that I've seen are NoT to use walkers. Our state licensing rules won't even let providers use them for infants. Your child's development occurs more naturally and easily when not in a walker. His little body is actually more restricted when in a walker and they can be dangerous too (research recalls on walkers). Studies also show that typically a child's development takes place quicker when they are given more freedom just on the floor. Make sure the area is safe for your baby and allow him to explore naturally. So my advice is not to wait 2-3 months, but to not use one at all. Good luck!

Jessykah - posted on 04/07/2010

it's ok krystal thank you for helping

Krystal - posted on 03/31/2010

sorry just realise how old this post was and that you had already commented lol, btw just want to say my son walks flat footed and not on tippi toes even though he goes in the walker, hes never been in it any longer than 30 mins. it just helped him balance better and helped him get strong on his feet. but sounds like he didnt need it much anyway. best wishes :)

Krystal - posted on 03/31/2010

my son has had a walker since he was 5 months and hes now nearly 11 months and he only started crawling at 8 1/2 months, it actually made him stronger on his legs and feet and it actually helped him with his ballance to. he loves it, if you leave it to late and your baby starts walking then they can no longer go in it, something to do with the legs i think. my son is now standing up on his own and walking around furniture but he cant walk on his own yet so at the moment he still uses it as hes not walking, hes only in it for 20 mins -30mins at a time because hes now getting bored quicker. my son has no delayed development wat so ever and hes very very strong now. if you want to get him one and you think he will benefit from one then go ahead, it was wonders for us kept him happy for a while and it helped him to get his balance and to stand up. :)

Jessykah - posted on 03/31/2010

well i only put him in one once he started walkin now his walkin i have no need to do so he was only in it 4 2 weeks thats all it took for him to get up on his feet..... i have found from wtachin my son nn my friends children that been in a walker they start off walkin on there tippy toes, when lyam started walkin he was flat footed nn it only took 2 weeks till he was up nn runnin round all by himself

Hanna - posted on 03/31/2010

my son dosent even crawl yet but i put him in his walker and he walks all around the house in it. as long as a his feet touch the floor i would say go ahead

Jessykah - posted on 03/31/2010

wow Jackie i'm in australia nn we can still get them here yes i agree with the death trap as in gettin into things they don't normally get in to but then i aslo agree with u Joanna it is not really the walkers that make the problem nn if a child is goin to b in one u shouldn't leave them alone.... to me thats like lettin a baby play on a play ground by them self

Firebird - posted on 03/31/2010

They've actually been banned throughout all of Canada Jackie, because lazy people gave them a bad name by not looking after their kids. Walkers aren't babysitters, you can't just put the kid in one and ignore them. That's how they get into bad stuff and that's how kids go down the stairs. A walker isn't a death trap, a negligent parent is.

Jessykah - posted on 03/31/2010

thank you to all the replied to my question..... sorry i haven't gotten back sooner.... my comp was broken i could read but not type lol, well i didn't end up getting him one till he was just bout 10 months, he had just started standin up nn tryin to take steps, i borrowed a walker of a friend, when i got it he was standin nn only takin one step then sittin himself back down, i put him in the walker within two weeks his was up nn walkin by himself he just needed the convenience boost to get him goin...... once again thank you to every one for ur help it's nice to no that there is help out ther..... ♥ to all nn enjoy the amazing moments u all have to come xx

Dawn - posted on 10/27/2009

As long as you give him both floor time and walker time. All four of my kids were in walkers/excersaucers/jolly jumpers by the time they were 4 months. They all crawled and walked at different ages. The walkers/excersaucers were a life saver when it came to cooking and doing homework with my older children. I would get one.

Elizabeth - posted on 10/27/2009

Hello! I started putting my son in a walker when he was about 4 months old. By that time he had pretty good head/neck/trunk balance and the walker gave him the extra support he needed. That and he loved the mobility it gave him. He's 10 months now and hasn't used it for 2 or 3 months now because he started crawling and cruising the furniture, so he didn't want to be in the walker anymore. Hope I helped!

Maureen - posted on 10/27/2009

we didn't use a walker at all. Mostly because they can be dangerous. Too many kids tipping over or falling down stairs etc. We did have a little car our son scooted all over the place with. Boy, could he make corners on that thing. But, he was a little bit older too. Our nephew went down their stairs in his walker. Head injury.

I didn't even think they sold walkers anymore because of the injuries.



Enjoy your child and every stage of their development.

Jackie - posted on 10/27/2009

I am wondering what country you all live in? Walkers have been banned in Ontario, Canada for well over 13 years now... actually I think its much closer to 20 years now. Walkers are death traps and nothing less. They give babys access to locations in the house they wouldn't normally have access to... stairs, stoves, bathrooms, and so forth. If it moves your child shouldn't be in it. A stationary play center is different because you can place it where they can't reach for things; like the new jolly jumpers.

Helen - posted on 10/27/2009

Gidday, I have had my 6mth old in a walker since he was 4.5mths old . I only put him in after a lot of floor time. He did start crawling at 5mths so I find the walker great to stop him getting up the stairs and near the stove when cooking. He is now sitting on his own and gets plenty of crawling time outside. Everything in moderation.I also find it gives his 4yr old sister an easier way to interact as she can be a bit rough when he is on the floor.It is great just to have another line of sight for him, oh I could go on and on. Go for it.

Lisa - posted on 10/27/2009

I put my son in a walker to feed from about 5 months. He is 7 months old now and has started to push himself in it. He isn't crawling yet. I would say that you know what is right for your baby.

Lydia - posted on 10/27/2009

The only warning I was ever given about sitting my DD up or using things like a jolly jumper or walker is to a) make sure that you babyproof up to where they can reach at that new level and b) be careful of putting too much pressure on their spine. If you want one to let bub move around then go ahead and get one - but just make sure that they arent left in it if they start looking uncomfortable as if it is pressure on the spine that is causing the discomfort then it can cause long term damage.

Stacy - posted on 10/26/2009

I would get him one. It will help strengthen his muscels, and he can sit when he wants to. If your not sure about the walker, maybe get him a suacer. They have walkers that sit in one place, and when you feel he is ready, it turns into a walker. Just an idea.

Heidi - posted on 10/26/2009

i used a walker as soon as my baby girl could hold her head up and steady. also used a jolly jumper at same time. she walked at 11mths and was steady on her feet within about 3wks.

Holly - posted on 10/26/2009

I would go for it i bought one for my son and he loves it,i was told by my peditrcian and my home nurse not to get one but i did and i have had no prblems in fact i think it helps with the leg muscles..

Hanna - posted on 10/26/2009

Quoting simone:

i have had my daughter in a walker since 5 months she loves it and she started crawling propley last week she is 6 and half months so there was no delay in her development

 exactly, i don't know where they got the development delays from. maybe because once parents get the walker, they keep their kid in it all day. i think it's a matter of balance -- give them an opportunity to be in the walker, but also out of the walker.  and my son is actually learning how to stand up too in the walker but without holding on to it,  so he is learning the balancing skills. and i use it as a feeding chair -- he gets his cheerios & pieces of cheese on it & practices feeding himself. keeps him occupied while me or hubby are cooking dinner.

Simone - posted on 10/26/2009

i have had my daughter in a walker since 5 months she loves it and she started crawling propley last week she is 6 and half months so there was no delay in her development

Felicity - posted on 10/26/2009

I think you know your child better than anyone else. Put him in if you think he is ready. I did with mine and it was great to watch them learn how to use it.

Anna - posted on 10/26/2009

From what I have heard they are pretty bad at any time in terms of stunting their development. There are 3 main reasons 1) they don't learn balance skills 2) it causes their calf muscles to shrink so that they get stuck walking on tiptoes later on and can't straighten their legs 3) it gives them too many opportunities to hurt themselves that they are not ready for mentally eg tipping down steps, reaching up onto shelves to pull things down. He will get good at crawling real fast so don't worry about that.

Michelle - posted on 10/26/2009

i just got my daughter one and she is 4 1/2 months. she can't go anywhere but it is good to help strengthen her legs and she loves to sit in it and watch me cook dinner.

Hanna - posted on 10/26/2009

oh please, as long as you give them time to do both, you can do walker as soon as they sat up by themselves. my son (8 months) had a walker since he was almost 6 & just started crawling 2 weeks ago (and not because he didn't have the opportunity to, but because he just couldn't bring himself from rocking back & fourth on all 4s to actually crawling). the only thing i would tell you is monitor closely whether or not he is comfortable in the walker, they sometimes get redness around the legs from the seat, & make sure you change the diaper often enough so that wet diaper doesn't rub against the skin down there creating a diaper rash. good luck!

Heidi - posted on 10/26/2009

I read once a long long time ago as long has he has crawled before he learnes to walk. That is most likely why the Dr. had a concern. There is something in the brain that needs that progression. Crawling then walking sets a pattern for learning in the future, those children who walk first tend (not always of course) have leaning issue later in life.

Mollie - posted on 10/26/2009

Even before my son was crawling I put him in the walker to feed him. After awhile he started pushing himself around.



Amen on doctors not always being right. ;)

Jennifer - posted on 10/26/2009

I would say go ahead and get one. My son was born in October and my mom bought him a walker for Christmas. Even though he wasn't able to move in it, he loved sitting in it. I think that helped get him to the point he is today. He started crawling by 5 and 1/2 to 6 months old and began walking a week before his first birthday. Mainly I would say if you want to get him a walker go and get it, doctors are not always right and they don't truly know what is best for your baby, you have the best judgement.