Baby walkers are intended to help babies or infants learn and adapt to walking. Although different babies develop their skills at different ages, statistically, 12 months is the average age by which babies start to walk (1). During this time, most parents (50-77%) resort to walkers to help their little ones (2). However, certain experts may have a different opinion about it. This post will tell you why.
Is It Safe For A Baby To Use Baby Walkers?
No. Baby walkers are unsafe and are a leading cause of injury in children under the age of four (2). Pediatric experts unanimously discourage the use of this equipment. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has also called for a ban on baby walkers with wheels (3). Therefore, parents must avoid using walkers to keep the baby safe.
What Makes Baby Walkers Unsafe For Infants?
As per the American Academy of Pediatrics, walkers eliminate a baby’s desire to walk, rather than help them learn how to walk (3). Apart from these, there are other reasons to think twice before using a walker. These are: Accidents with baby walkers can happen even when elders are around. Parents can do little during an untoward incident since things happen quickly with barely any time to react. Baby walkers are not only risky but can also interfere with the baby’s development.
Do Baby Walkers Help In Baby’s Development?
No. Unlike the popular belief, baby walkers neither help in the physical development of the baby nor do they make the baby walk better. An infant will stand up and start cruising (walk with support) once their legs are ready, irrespective of whether they use a walker or not.
A study conducted on 109 infants published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics showed that the infants, who used walkers, sat, crawled, and walked later than the ones who did not (6). This documents that baby walkers can delay physical development by making the baby use their leg muscles differently than they usually do. Also, walkers reduce the baby’s time on the floor. This causes a miss on practicing important, repetitive movements needed for them to reach their walking milestones. Babies use their toes when they are in a walker. This tightens their leg muscles and interferes with normal walking development. This habit remains even when they are out of the walker, and they often want to keep using their toes. This impacts their walking practice. Also, babies sit and pull themselves up while learning to balance. A baby doesn’t balance in a walker, delaying their learning of this important skill. Being in a walker also means less time on hands and knees in a crawling or pre-crawling position. This is important to developing weight bearing through both the pelvis and shoulders. Image: Shutterstock
What Are The Alternatives To Baby Walkers?
Play yards or playpens and stationary activity centers are safer alternatives to a baby walker and are known to boost a baby’s physical development without causing any risks. Stationary activity centers are like walkers with no wheels and can be used for a few hours every day (7). You can get these activity centers when the baby is around eight months old (1). Play yards can be used for babies of any age since the baby can sit, stand, lie down, or try to walk in them safely.
