Are walkers that bad??

I just had Jack's 8 month check up, and mentioned to my MCHN that Jack had been using his walker and she said not to use them, or to take the wheels off, so it can't move. The reason was that they make the child stand on tippie toes and not flat feet, and therefore making problems when it comes to walking later on.

But he loves his walker so much and he is only in it for max 5-10 mins a day. And also I thought if I put the level of the walker down, he might keep his feet flatter??:dunno:

Just wondering if anyone else has heard this or knows anything more??

Thanks...

Walkers are one of those things that you hear all sorts of conflicting things about :(

I would probably lower it so his feet are flat on the floor, she probably has a point there.
People also say they are dangerous because they give the mobility of a 12 month old toddler to a baby who isn't neurologically developed enough to handle it.
But that said, plenty of babies LOVE their walkers and if he's only in it for very short spurts like that I dont' think I'd get too worked up about it ;)

They can also be dangerous if they walk down stairs. We decided we would not use one for Amy. She has a stationary bouncer which she loves.

I was always one of those mums sprouting information about how dangerous walkers were...until I got one! Sammy just thinks its fantastic and gets all excited about going in it. I think common sense for time limits and the usual safety constraints that you would use for a baby in any situation naturally need to be adhered too.

Jo

Mackenzie loved the walker - as she didn't crawl it allowed her to get around. She walked no problems at 13 months. I've heard about the tippy toe thing too. One girl at mothers group was told by her MCHN to put it away for a little while as her littly wasn't trying to walk. Once it was away he started walking within the week but who knows? I would use it again with our next one as Mackenzie had no side effects from using it and I was always with her to supervise.

As a part of my Biomed degree last year, i had to do a mini thesis on musculoskeltal development in infants. Unfortunately from my observations on the infants, the walker was not doing anything good for their muscular or bone development. One little girl had no control over her legs and it was causing bow leggedness. (Bone formation is affected).
Admitedly she was using the walker excessively. Several hours per day.
There is also a psychological dependence on the walker that can make a child feel lazy in trying to gain independent mobility. Why try to walk when you can zip around on wheels? :rolleyes:

I used a walker with a couple of my kids, until we got the.... Jolly Jumper!!! I love this fantastic invention, almost as much as my babies, lol!

That's an interesting thought (about the tippy-toe thing)....that's exactly how the Jolly Jumper works too. They're only supposed to be able to reach the ground with the tops of their toes.

I was told by my MCHN that they can cause hip dislocation, and had done so in babies who hadn't shown any previous hip problems.

Bec I have been told that bubs feet are supposed to be able to stand flat on the floor when in the Jolly Jumper, to avoid the tippy toe problem later on when they try to walk.

I never bought a walker for Aidyn because of all of the bad things I had heard...
but if I did have one I would probably let him use it for a very short period each day.

I was in a walker, as was my sister, and we never crawled. No neurological impairment here! Though I do have a high instep and like to wear heels, not sure if that's related. I only have foot problems because my feet are huge, not because of a walker as my sister's feet are fine.

Also they were fab as you can push the child in the walker out the door and close it to have peaceful time, as I did with my sister.

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Bec I have been told that bubs feet are supposed to be able to stand flat on the floor when in the Jolly Jumper, to avoid the tippy toe problem later on when they try to walk.

I never bought a walker for Aidyn because of all of the bad things I had heard...
but if I did have one I would probably let him use it for a very short period each day.

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Ambah, I'm fairly sure the instructions for the Jolly Jumper said that they should only be able to touch the ground with their tippy-toes. Either way, I appreciate the heads up...I'm going to be limiting her time in it from now on. A pity as she loves it.... Will go back and check out the instructions... eeek!

Have never heard that about walkers...about them being bad for their hips; but will keep that in mind. Seems like most babies/children's entertainment items have their backers & naysayers.

I had Aleica in a walker and she walked (10months) fine crawled fine (5months)...

I have found the problem with the jolly jumper is that they don't want to walk they want to jump...

anyway... do what ever you want!! ;)

Tanya

With my experience they arn't great. I used one when i was a baby and i still sometimes find myself walking on my tippy toes!

I'd heard it hindered their walking because they are actually sitting while "walking" ? So it's actually an unnatural movement.

I have never taken notice of anything anyone has said about walkers, except for the fact about them being dangerous around stairs!!

I have had all of mine in walkers until the have managed to try and climb out and thats when I put it away.None of my children have any problem walking, and in fact it usually made them walk earlier then normal.As long as the child has their feet flat on the ground then it's ok.
As for MCHN I tend not to tell them much as they think they now more about your family then you do!
Not to tell ppl they are wrong about their feelings towards them, but if Jack loves using it then let him use it!

Alex, maddy was in one, Indah has one which my sister uses to feed her in as she doesnt have a highchair at her place yet...
I had only eaver heard like Bellasmum that they arent safe around stairs... Obviously...
As with anything there are fore & againsts!!!

A few mins a day wont do him any harm...

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Sammi is that the jolly jumper or the baby walker?

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It was definately the walker Jillian.

I was one of those kids that toppled in my walker when I was a baby, back in the 70s mind you and safety standards have changed since then, but due to that reason I personally have never used/had one with my kids.

Love

Jordan has a walker and also a toy that is like a waker where the seat swivels and he can play with all different toys.... he loves them
He gets bored lying down and isnt able to sit up on his own for long so this way he gets to be upright.
I only leave him in it for 10-20 mins tops at a time.

Everyone has their own thoughts though but in my house, we love them

I think a big problem is as well if there are toys, shoes, handbags or anything in the way that can get lodged, the thing will topple over. That also goes for the little strips between carpetted to tiles areas IYKWIM.

I have also heard about problems with kids becoming bow-legged from using walker, but have never known of any personally.

If you look up baby walkers on the Choice website they have an article about them and there opinion on them.

I used a walker with Nicholas. I just made sure his feet were flat down on the ground and he loved it.

we had a walker handed down to ethan a couple weeks ago and we've only put him in it a few times.. and he loved it! we've got polished timber floors so he doesn't have enough grip to push himself along.. but i've noticed from him pulling himself up on all the furniture that he stands more on his toes than flat on his feet.

i'd heard about walkers creating problems with bone development so i just put his pre-walker shoes on... and problem fixed! that gives him the grip as well as creating a base for his feet. does that sound right?

Hi Alex!,

I think they are ok as long as they are not in them all the time. One of our neighbours used to have her little girl in it the whole time she was up and unfortunately her legs did not delvelop properly and she had to have them put in plaster to stretch her muscles and flatten her feet ...so that was bad ..but she was in it all the time.

I have been told the Jolly Jumpers are bad but Kaitlyn loves her and goes in it everyday for about 20mins!.

Cass

My dad's DP is a podiatrist and has advised me in the strongest possible terms not to buy a walker. In layman's terms - a walker encourages babies to walk on their toes and this actually delays their progress to walking independently. This can and has caused confusion in diagnosing mild cerebral palsy - children with mild cerebral palsy tend to walk on their toes. It is not good for their feet - the force they use to propel themselves along on their toes is not good for the soft bones in little feet that are not yet strong enough to support the weight of their body. Further, the sitting position in the walker forces their thigh bones further apart than they would sit naturally and can cause an unnatural kind of triangular gap in between the tops of their thighs - once again, soft bones being shaped by having to bear more weight than they are ready for.

My friend's baby loved her walker so I can understand the temptation of them. However this same baby did not walk till she was over 18 months old so I can't help but wonder if the walker was the culprit. I must admit I feel strange posting such a strongly worded opinion here and I know lots of people will probably disagree. However, my dad's DP has sufficiently put the wind up me (and she is far from the alarmist type and she has been practicing podiatry for over ten years) so I won't be taking the risk and I would feel guilty if I didn't pass on this information.

They are fantastic. You just need to supervise them when they are in them, as with most things they touch! My DS is starting to walk now with some help. He does start off tippy toed but then works it out after a few steps and is on his feet properly.
I know of babies who have never been in walkers, who have walked tippy toed.