Parents are fans of the best baby walkers because they provide entertainment value for little ones and give you a little extra hands-free time. At the same time, kiddos love the newfound freedoms they are allowed in walkers.
Another age-old question when it comes to raising children is when to put your baby in a walker. Since children develop at different rates, there is no concrete answer.
Knowing when to put your baby in a walker is an essential step in the developmental process.
Most walkers are made for children between 4 and 16 months.
Consider your baby’s strength, development, and size. Most importantly, your baby should be able to support her own head steadily, and her feet should touch the ground while in the walker.
However, there are many arguments both for and against using walkers during this crucial period.
Walkers can be engaging and inspiring. They often have little toys and attachments designed to stimulate mental growth and develop motor skills.
The design also helps encourage your baby to walk by helping your baby learn how to feel safe and comfortable in a standing pose.
Lastly, baby walkers aid in promoting mobility for your curious little explorer.
There are potential hazards to using a walker. In fact, as many as 25,000 visits to the emergency room per year are a result of walker incidents.
Some have argued that children who use walkers reach crawling and walking milestones at a later point than those who don’t. Children in walkers might not build the same motor and exploration skills as a child on the floor.
Another worry is that the mobility in a walker puts dangerous objects in reach of your baby that wouldn’t be there if your baby stayed on the floor.
If you are worried that putting your child in a walker may decrease some of their chances to build motor skills, fear not. There are other activities that you can add into playtime to help stimulate different muscles as well as exercise various parts of their brains.
We have all heard of tummy time. Don’t take this expression lightly. Tummy time stays on the top 10 list of baby activities year in and year out to promote development. It helps your baby strengthen neck muscles while preventing “flat head” syndrome.
There are also a ton of yoga movements you can practice with your baby to encourage muscle toning and strength. They also provide an excellent way for mama or dada to bond with baby.
We can’t tell you an exact time for when to put your baby in a walker. Each child is unique. At the end of the day, the decision is yours. You’re taking the rights steps by gathering information to make a choice.
If you are looking for more information, we suggest you consult your pediatrician for more tips about when to put your baby in a walker. They are more in tune with your child’s development and can give you the most relevant advice.
Have any other tips to share? Let us know in the comments below!
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