Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

My 9 MOS old doesn't crawl and/or walk yet!

Do I purchase a walker or do the Mom's think it's not needed and a waste??

Thanks

Re: Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

I've always read to skip the walker since it's a hazard and doesn't help them learn to walk. What about an exersaucer or jumper?

ETA my DS didn't crawl until about 10 months and he's 13 months and doesn't walk yet. I actually had him evaluated for hitting all his "physical" milestones late, but more for his foot placement (always on toes and when he goes flat which is rare he's alway in first position like a ballerina)

They say he's totally fine, just a little late.

Message edited 7/18/2009 9:16:53 PM.

Re: Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

Walkers are dangerous and really don't teach how to walk. Many peds advise against them and they are actually illegal in Canada.

DS was a late walker, but did well with a toy he could push from behind. Fisher Price makes several of them.

Re: Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

I would not do the walker.

Re: Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

I wouldn't worry about it. DD started walking at 17 months. We had her evaluated for EI but she didn't qualify. She is now 23 months and is fine.

Re: Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

I didn't use one with DD and don't plan to use one with DS.

Re: Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

Love love love my DS's walker! He was in it at about 5 months and was FT walking on his own by 10.5 months...can't say the walker helped but it obviously didnt hurt.

I will say I am in a ranch so there was less danger in that area and have all wood floors so DS could really cruise around the house!

He loved the independence he had with it! But it also means child proofing early!!!

Dont worry about the crawling. A friends baby just started crawling at 12 months. He just had no desire before then and suddenly one day there he goes! Every kid does it in there own time! My DS crawled at 9 months but before then he never once got on all 4s. If I put him up he would ploop right down. He never rocked, or crawled backwards, the one day he was crawling across the room!

GL!

Re: Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

Same here...DD loved her walker. She had us walking her around the house holding her fingers from before 7 months old. Our backs were killing us. We are also in a ranch with mostly hard floors. She loved the walker and the freedom...and it gave me a nice break! I don't think it helped or hindered her walking though...She walked by 10 1/2 months but didn't crawl until almost 13 months...still prefers to walk. We used walking wings too to save our aching backs!

eta: we got the cheap baby trend walker and it was perfect for our needs.

Message edited 7/19/2009 9:59:13 AM.

Re: Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

DS LOVES his walker!! we got it when he was about 8-9 months old and he's almost 13 months and still loves it. he started walking a few weeks ago on his own, but he's been cruising for 3 months now. the walker DID NOT impede his walking.

walkers are only unsafe if you don't watch your child and/or don't block off stairs. we use ours on our hardwood downstairs where there is no chance someone could leave the gate open and he could go down the stairs in it. he races back and forth down the hallway--and someone is always with him!

i wouldn't get one if you're thinking it will help your child walk or crawl. i would get one if you think your child will like it.

Re: Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

My son loves loves his walker. he is moving forward and backwards at 5 months old. Like the other ladies said he loves his independence and he is always wanting to be in the stand up position. I also live in a one level ranch with no stairs. So i think its a great idea for them but my dog might think differently. Good luck in your decision.

Re: Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

Yes you can say that walkers are dangerous, but so are lots of other toys if a child is left unsupervised. Walkers can be perfectly safe as long as you are not using it as a way for you to leave your child unattended.

We had a walker given to us before DS was walking and he LOVED it! We have hardwood floors and he was able to move around in such a different way then he could by crawling. He was walking on his own by 11 months.

I think as long as you have staircases gated off and watch out for things within their reach that they can grab that would be an issue, there is no reason why you can't have a walker and use it like any other toy.

Re: Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

I got a walker from my shower, I posted about using it and I get no so good feedback but great advice I never taught about so I would say no to the walker

Re: Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

Here's MY 2 cents...

I do think walkers look like fun and the kiddies look so cute in them.

I did not allow my son to use one because I didn't want him in it at all. I also firmly believe that they do no help a child learn to walk because no one walks in a sitting position...which is how they are position in a walker. I didn't want my son to use it at all.

For a toy and enterainment...fine and of course as with other things use should be closely supervised. As a learning tool...no.

Message edited 7/19/2009 11:30:17 AM.

Re: Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

I wouldnt worry, DS didnt crawl until 10 months, and walked at 12 mos. We had a walker for him and he LOVED it. Sure they are dangerous if you leave your DC unsupervised around stairs in them, but who does that? The only other risk is if they hit the threshold between doorways and hit the bump, but the one we had the wheels locked if that happened to prevent them from going over. Again we never let DS use it unsupervised and he never ever came even close to being injured in one and he LOVED it.

Re: Advise Needed: Buy a WALKER or Forget About It??

I vote against the walker...