I was told by my MCHN that it's not the babies hurting themselves as much as the risk of them ending up with hip and leg problems from being left in them too long. I chose not to use them as I didn't think they were nescessary.
Another thing with the walkers is that back in the day (that you lovely spring chickens probably wouldn't remember ) is that walkers were dodgy back then - the wheel base was prone to making them unstable and they were more likely to tip them over. The ones available these days are much wider - I have seen some that wouldn't even fit through a door way. I never got one as I thought they were a giant waste of money.
Jolly jumpers I don't like either because I just don't trust that the hook will stay secure in the door jamb.
Toyboxes need to have a hydraulic safety strut on them so the lid doesn't just slam down on little fingers and closes slowly. Stupid thing is you pay upwards of $200 for a 'toybox' but you can buy a 'blanket box' for half the money without a strut - once they call it a toybox they have to have the strut and therefore it is dearer.
Jordie,
I'm so hearing you... when I was pregnant I spent a small fortune on a cot set that came with bumpers, a doona and a pillow only to find I could not use any of them!!!
The walkers that don't walk- on Ebay they're called 'Exer-saucers'- are not recommended for the same leg problems as walkers.
No walker here but we have a jolly jumper. DS doesn't go in it for more than 20 minutes a day. I think common sense and moderation are the keys here- any equipment is going to cause damage if they spend all day in it!!
I think they go overboard for the same reason someone else mentioned- some people just don't think, so the powers that be spread the guilt and confusion to all of us to get the message through *sigh*
Interesting Thread.
If we followed the "ideal" then babies would be on their tummies for the whole day, expertly crawling by the time they are 4 months old, walking by 6, and all elite athletes with 150 point IQs by the time they are 10 years old. Not to mention fully breastfed, never have consumed junk food, watched TV, naturally birthed with no drugs, and even naturally conceived!
That is alot to ask of the everyday mum who is just trying to do what is best for HER child and family.
Agree, moderation. If it gives you 5 minutes of time to clean up the house and make it a safer and cleaner place for the whole family, then that is time well spent. Also someone mentioned somewhere that there are benefits, eg a different perspective of the world, different muscle usage, coordination and balance. But ALL in moderation, and as parents we have the choice for OUR child, that is the blessing of having our own children.
Registered User
) is that walkers were dodgy back then - the wheel base was prone to making them unstable and they were more likely to tip them over. The ones available these days are much wider - I have seen some that wouldn't even fit through a door way. I never got one as I thought they were a giant waste of money.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks