I like them & used them.
My children were only in them around once a day, sometimes every day, sometimes not. I used them more to get the kids up off the ground when they were getting frusterated with not being able to do it themselves.
By the time the worked out how to walk in them, they weren't interested in them anymore as they were crawling, or cruising & didn't like being restrained.
They aren't great near stairs...for obvious reasons. I've never been silly enough to use one near a step. Although they are made to lock up so they can't go any further if one wheel goes over a step.
My last one was made that way, it was impossible for me to even push it over the step into another room with my foot while holding DS. I still refuse to trust them near stairs though.
Balconies aren't the best idea either. My children weren't in them long enough to get up any sort of speed, but I did hear of a friend who hit the balcony rail in a walker & it gave way. Lucky it was only small.
They aren't the best or safest things, but, if used right, I don't think they are damaging either.
My Ds was a walker user... and walked at 10 months. no issues yet and he is 4... we started off with few minutes then slowly extended the time... with DD we have carpet and i was worried about her flipping it if it duggin to the carpet cos i remembered how much DS used to zoom around in it... I brought a JJ same thing use in moderation and with supervision...
i have one for when im hanging out the washing or when we are outside ... it stays out side (so yep its a bit weathered) but shes only ever in it for a few mins .... and im always watching her , they have developed over the years , so id say these days they are pretty safe with supervision ...
I just don't think they're natural. Babies don't look like they're in a natural posture when they're in them, obviously, because they're not able to walk yet, so I think that in terms of development it's probably not right.
I was one of those babies that went bottoms up, at 8 months old. Followed Mum out to the letterbox, she forgot about the step. But I'm OK! And I walk fairly well now, but I do have terrible posture... who can say though?
I guess it depends on the baby (how much speed they gain) and supervision. Just like any baby toy there should be adult supervision, there's horror stories about everything in this world and you need to take everything you hear with a grain of salt.
Personally I haven't got one yet but if we were given one id give it a go, my mum said us 3 kids all had walkers with no accidents, she said it was great for my brother cause he has Down Syndrome and could hold himself up but couldn't walk til 2 or 3 yrs old and it allowed him to walk around and actually build his leg muscles (he had hypotonia which is poor muscle tone at birth).
I have heard that they should not be used until a baby is standing of its own accord (ie pulling themself up against furniture and standing for minutes at a time). They are also ok if a baby is already walking, or has just started totting around (provided there is supervision and it is not for prolonged periods).
However, they are not suitable before a baby is capable of standing as they can be damaging to their hips and lower back.
I have just received one as a hand me down- although DS has been standing for a long time and is now walking. He enjoys having something new to stimulate him and move around in a bit faster- although I only allow him to use it for short periods.
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