Walkers

What do you think about letting the babies play in a walker? I read in the Dr. Sears book that they highly discourage them due to delayed walking and accidents, but a lot of my good friends love them and their kids all walked "on time". My mom used one with me and I was a late walker. Did you use one?

 

We loved them, and I had two girls who walked at 12 months old. It didn't delay walking at all.

 

What kind of walkers are you talking about?

 

The deal they sit in that has wheels, so they can "walk" their legs on the floor and move around. It looks like an activity center, but it has wheels and moves with the baby's walking motion.

 

We were wondering about these as well. We have wood floors and no stair danger so we thought they'd love them. My DS had one and started walking at 9 months. All of my friends with little ones act like they are horrible and dangerous. Are they that bad now? My DS absolutely loved his. He could follow me around

 

We have walkers where they don't actually sit in them but stand behind them and push them. We just started using them and both girls really enjoy them and it *seems* to encourage them to use them legs...though not without support. So...from our experience so far we can't say anything one way or another as far as delays. It seems to make them think they're actually walking, though...

 

We used them and my girls loved them!! I limited the amount of time that they spent in them (probably no more than 20-30 min/day) but it was nice if I wanted them contained so I could get some stuff done. I would look on CL and see if you can get some cheap! Both of my girls started walking at 10 months adjusted.

 

I agree about the 20-30 minute limit...anything in moderation! Dr. Sears' book says that the AAP is trying to get them banned, so that's where the negativity comes from. Apparently there are a lot of injuries from stairs and from the smaller, older models tipping over. We don't have stairs, and we'd supervise them, and limit the time. Sears also says it delays crawling and walking, but I'm sure that's also if you use the walker to take the place of floor and tummy exercise time.

I'm going to get one and let them take turns zipping around the foyer!

 

I work with physical therapists and they all say no to the walkers. Something about how their hips sit in them. It's not how their hips/legs would be positioned if they were walking without assistance. That being said, I didn't use them with DD. I did use the push toys that she could get up and walk behind but nothing they actually sat in. She walked at 11 months. I don't plan on using them with the twins either.

 

I use them, they love them…. I used it w/ older ds and he was on a full RUN at 10 m… didn’t delay him one bit… or maybe he would have walked even early … I don’t even want to think of that :shok: … and w/ two :vava: !

Wanted to add we have a one level house w/ hard wood floors through out… and I always follow them or they follow me… I love saying, “ok Nay Nay… splish splashy time… “and watch him take off to the bathroom… I also use it at bath time… while I am undressing one baby and at the end when I am dressing a baby…

 

I used walkers with all of my kids and they all walked between 10 and 14 months. They loved them!

 

QUOTE(Celten @ Jan 4 2009, 01:03 PM) [snapback]1132712[/snapback]
We have walkers where they don't actually sit in them but stand behind them and push them. We just started using them and both girls really enjoy them and it *seems* to encourage them to use them legs...though not without support. So...from our experience so far we can't say anything one way or another as far as delays. It seems to make them think they're actually walking, though...


That's what I have too!