Publications Baby Walker... Friend or Foe? Baby walkers, or sometimes also called a walking ring date back as far as 1870. So, it's not a new thing. When parents talk about their babies and getting them to walk, one question is bound to be raised sooner or later... "Will a walker encourage my baby to walk sooner?" I think the answer lies in looking at the pros and cons of this aid. Normal baby development follows very definite development patterns. And a walker doesn't fit anywhere into this normal development pattern. The most common mistake parents make when using a walker is to use it when their babies are too young. When small babies spend most of their early weeks in a walking ring, they almost always learn to walk on their toes. This walking style shortens the Achilles tendon and eventually messes up your child's balance when she really starts walking. Also, the actual standing position in a walker doesn't encourage balance. And weight bearing on the knees is disturbed. A few perceptual skills are seldom properly developed when your baby doesn't spend time on the floor. Chances are high that your baby won't properly learn distance and depth perceptions like crawling babies. These are vital skills needed for proper motor development. I've also found that most babies who spend most of their days in a walker do not learn to crawl. In my opinion, this is one of THE biggest problems when using a walker too much. Babies also never really learn to use their arms and hands to brace themselves when falling. Injuries to your baby's head caused by the walker falling over, is to my mind the single biggest reason to use a baby walker sensibly. Bottom line is... spending too much time in a walker doesn't encourage your baby to walk sooner. So, is a using a walker forbidden? No, definitely not. As long as you use it sensibly and for short periods to keep your child entertained while you're occupied elsewhere, there's no harm. © 2003-2004 OnlyPlaying (Pty)Ltd. All rights reserved.   Developmental toddler toys | Educational baby toys | Kids table and chairs Gyroscope toy | Mini trampolines | Wooden doll house items | Painting supplies Painting easel | Activity toys | Arts & craft toys | Classic wooden toys | |Organic Cotton Clothes for Babies||Organic Cotton Clothes for Kids 0-2| |Site Map| Copyright © 2004-2010 EMDaniel LLC. All rights reserved.