When We Can Place Our Children in a Baby Walker?

Childrens between 6 and 12 months old usually have a powerful urge to move across the floor. I can still remember the expression of sheer ecstasy on my first son's face as he moved across the floor in his baby walker.

We want our children to be happy. Sometimes we think if we can use a tool that can help to safe our children, like baby walkers. Sometimes short-term delight can lead to unfortunate long-term consequences. Children can't think of the future. With each new choice, consider what this teaches your son, how this will affect your son, what are the implications for your son -- over the long haul.

Since the days when my first son was an infant, we have learned that baby walkers are detrimental to normal development. Many parents think that baby walkers will help children learn to walk. As it turns out, baby walkers interfere with learning to walk. In addition to decreasing the desire to walk by providing an easier alternative, baby walkers strengthen the wrong muscles. The lower legs are strengthened, but the upper legs and hips become relatively weak. The upper legs and hips are most important for walking.

Moreover, children in baby walkers have more accidents than their counterparts. Walkers often tip over when a child bumps into a small toy or the edge of a rug. Along with The American Academy of Pediatrics, I strongly urge parents not to use baby walkers.

For children who want to be upright, an exersaucer can be a nice alternative. These look like baby walkers, but without the wheels. Your son might like a sturdy push-car or wagon. These might look like lawnmowers, vacuum cleaners, cars, fire engines, trucks or wagons. With practice, you can learn to choose toys that delight your son while helping him learn what he needs -- instead of short circuiting the process by providing easy, numbing entertainment. That baby walkers is give us advantages and disadvantages.

Guidelines for the Safe Use of Baby Walkers

Canada has banned the use of dangerous baby walkers. Unfortunately, other countries have yet to do the same.

Since 1992, the American Academy of pediatrich has asked the Consumer Product Safety Commission to do the same. But that request has been denied although the proposed ban is supported by the Consumer Federation of America, the American Medical Association and other concerned groups.

“Opponents of the proposed ban argue that stairs cause most injuries, not the baby walkers. But since it’s impossible to eliminate stairs, it’s advisable to stop using walkers,” said the editors of Health News.

To appease consumer groups, some manufacturers have redesigned their walkers and have come up with safety features. Still, the fact remains that many walkers are dangerous and pose a threat to your child.

If your child doesn’t have a walker, don’t make the mistake of buying one. If you decide to get one, choose a model that is too wide to fit through doorways and pay close attention to your child.

In Consumer Reports’ Guide to Baby Products, Sandy Jones and Werner Freitag offer the following advice:

• Remove the walker’s wheels to prevent infants from moving too fast and making them more prone to accidents.
• Never leave the child unattended.
• Never use walkers near stairs, steps, or thresholds. Check that surfaces are flat and free of objects that may cause tripping-over either indoors or outdoors.
• To reduce the chance of the child slipping out of the seat, check that both feet of the child touch the floor, and never carry walkers with the child in it.
• To avoid burn injuries, keep the child away from ranges, radiators, space heaters, or fireplaces.
• Always use the walker’s restraint system.
• Follow the manufacturer’s height, weight or age recommendations and stop using the walker when your child has outgrown it.
• Discontinue using the walker should it become damaged or broken.
• Most important, keep the child in view while he or she is in the walker.

That are more advise that can you use to make your baby safety in baby walkers. All of us hope is no more happened accident in baby walkers again.