The Pros and Cons of Letting Your Baby Use a Walker

Babies are very curious beings. As they grow older, they will want to explore their surroundings and learn new things. But being unable to walk may be a hindrance for the little explorers. This is where baby walkers come in. Baby walkers are little devices with wheels on all four sides that the baby can use to move around when they haven’t yet learned how to walk. 

As the baby’s toe touches the ground, the baby can use it to drag the walker wherever it wants to go. The walkers often come with some entertaining toys, colourful lights, or music. This improves their mood and aids in the emotional and mental growth of the baby. 

The Best Age To Use A Baby Walker

The growth, size, and strength of the baby should be taken into account before deciding when to start using a walker. Although there isn’t a specific age for a baby to start using a walker, they are often used for babies who are 4 to 16 months of age. Also, make sure your baby’s head is steady without any external support. It usually takes 4-6 months for babies to control their heads and sit without any support for a period of time.

Pros & Cons of Letting Your Baby Use a Walker

Pros Of Using A Baby Walker

Using a baby walker can have numerous benefits for your baby. Given below are some of the benefits of baby walkers

1. Baby walkers give your babies a sense of independence. As the babies grow older, they will want to move freely and roam around the place. It can be difficult when they are just starting to walk and you are around monitoring them all the time. Using a baby walker gives the baby some freedom to move around freely and gives you some assurance that they won’t hurt themselves. 
2. The first concern for parents when their babies are learning to walk is their safety. Baby walkers are highly secure with belts and other safety measures.
3. Baby walkers improve the emotional health of the baby. Being able to roam around freely and explore new things will make the child happy and help develop a calm and collected personality. 
4. It is normal for you to become overwhelmed when you put all your focus on your baby. Having a baby walker can assure you of your baby’s safety, thus allowing you to do other tasks like cooking, cleaning, working, etc.
5. Baby walkers often come with attached toys and other learning objects like shapes and colours that can enhance your baby’s brain development. They also have some lively music and colourful lights that can attract the attention of the kids and fascinate them.  

Cons Of Using A Baby Walker

As much as baby walking has its merits, it also has some demerits. Here are some of the demerits of baby walkers.

1. The main reason you would opt for baby walkers when your baby is learning to walk will be to help them with their walking ability. But contrary to popular belief, baby walkers do not improve your child’s walking ability, rather, they slow them. Your child receives external support while learning to walk, which is not the same as learning to walk on their own. 
2. Baby walkers prevent your babies from falling. You may think it is a good thing, but falling and learning is an important aspect of life, no matter the circumstance. Just like you learn to ride a bicycle by falling off, your kid learns to walk by falling. 
3. Baby walkers can be unsafe for your kids because they move fast. The baby might crash into something or fall off if it loses control of the walker.

Precautions To Take Before Using A Walker

There are some safety measures that you can take before letting your baby use a baby walker. You can follow it to protect your child's safety and avoid the drawbacks of using a baby walker.

• Use the baby walkers on a flat surface only. 
• Always be around your kids while they are on a walker. This can help you avoid them falling off or moving too quickly. 
• Don’t let your kids move in a walker near stairs or water bodies (pool).
• Remove sharp or jagged objects from the area. It is best to let your babies walk indoors than outdoors. 

While Choosing A Baby Walker

• To prevent the walker from moving too fast, use a baby walker with an automatic stopping or gripping mechanism.
• Find a walker that securely fits your baby and can handle their weight.
• Check the walker for sharp edges or locations that can scrap your baby.
• Ensure your infant's feet are on the ground when seated on the walker.
• Read the safety standards to be followed in a baby walker and choose one that complies with them. 

Conclusion

At the end of the day, all that matters is your baby’s comfort and safety. So you should choose a brand that makes it their priority. 1st Step is a leading brand that sells premium baby products that are safe and comfy for your babies. Visit here to buy 1st Step’s high-quality baby walkers.

We have a wide range of products, including baby car seats, baby carriages, baby bassinets and cradles, baby high chairs, baby carry cots, baby swings, baby reusable diapers, baby bath towels and more.

To learn more about 1st Step and shop for our exclusive baby products, visit us. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How long can a baby sit in a walker?

Baby walkers can make your baby active and explore new things. But keeping them in a walker for too long can affect their walking ability. So it is recommended to use a baby walker for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. 

2. How can I strengthen my baby’s legs?

Massaging your baby’s legs is a good way to strengthen them and help with your baby’s standing and walking. To do this, lay your baby on their back and move their feet forward and backward, almost like cycling. You can also try a jump or march to make it more fun for your baby.

3. How to encourage babies to walk without support?

Once your baby gets used to walking with a walker or with your support, the next step is to encourage them to walk on their own. You can make this more fun by taking one of their toys and holding it at a distance. It can motivate your baby to move and get to their favourite toys.