Registering for DANGER!

kellieann5

Is anyone registering for walkers or jumpers?  I read that these products should be skipped because they are not really safe for baby.  However, everyone who looks at my registry says, "you forgot the walker and the jumper."  When I explain that I've read that these products are potentially dangerous, everyone looks at me like I'm crazy.  Even my own mother told me I was nuts and that she has no idea where I come up with this stuff. 

I don't usually listen to the 'everyone' crowd, but this is my first baby and they probably know better.

Girls?  Opinions, please!

618mom22boys

Where did you hear/read this at?

ETA: I used both with my 10 y/o and 22 month old and never had a problem.

JulySpark05

Well everyone is entitled to their own opinions but I will be buying a jumper for my little one. I know tons of people who have had them and never heard of anyone ever having a problem with them. So it's totally up to you.

drewiekc

I've read it too.  It's discussed in Baby Bargains.  I wont be registering for either.

hippotree

My pedi recommends not getting a walker (with wheels, or somehow locking the wheels) for a couple of reasons: people tend to put their kids in them too early, before they are ready to support weight on their legs; and they can be dangerous if they wheel around because they can go down stairs or something.

As for the jumpers, I think there have been cases where they have come detached from the ceiling (or doorway) they are attached to, causing the baby to fall.

That's why they make exersaucers and jumperoos now

georgia_peachy

618mom22boys:

Where did you hear/read this at?

ETA: I used both with my 10 y/o and 22 month old and never had a problem.

I've read it several places, most recently Baby Bargains.  It's my understanding that the jumpers that are free standing aren't as bad.  Walkers, though, I don't want anything to do with them.

Dobie_Mama

We didn't have a walker but we had a Jumparoo.  We'll use it with this LO, too.

Mouseygail

i didn't think they even made real walkers anymore due to the lawsuits...all of them that I seem to see are the stationary jumper kinds  (maybe I have just been skimming over the others)

Dreamsicle23

I didn't register for one...but more because I don't want to have tons of baby crap that's not getting used hanging around my house.  If LO seems like he'd like one when he gets a little older I'll get one then.  I will say, I think walkers should only be used when you can closely supervise, because I once saw my little cousin take a tumble in his years ago...I think it was because of a door threshold.

Bri-N-Bri

I think that it is like anything.  You have to be smart about keeping any eye on baby while they are using these things.  You can't put them in the walker and send them toward the stairs, or put them in the jumper and walk away. We registered for a jumper.  My SIL has one and put her son in it all the time.  His legs were so strong from all of the jumping.

modechick

I've read and heard that about walkers b/c it gives the baby so much mobility that they can roll down the stairs or walk over to something they shouldn't.  Granted if parents were watching their kids it wouldn't be an issue, but that's the logic behind it being unsafe.  I didn't register for one b/c the exersaucer serves the same purpose.

As for the jumper, I really haven't heard that they were unsafe.  I'm a new mom too so I really don't know.  Either way, I didn't register for one because I really didn't want one.

 Trust your gut and do what you think is right for your baby.  Good luck!

micaelasmakeup

drewiekc:

I've read it too.  It's discussed in Baby Bargains.  I wont be registering for either.

Yes this.  I think baby bargains says some thing to the effect of "Skip these DEATH TRAPS!'  I think it's a little overkill I mean even if it broke prob just a couple broken legs at the most.  But i guess some countries including Canada have banned the walkers.  Don't know if anyone listens to christopher Titus but he has a hilarious bit about watching his friend's kid and the kids was in a walker and went rolling down a driveway and into the street.  LOL,  just like anything else these toys aren't meant to be babysitters.

mysticporter

We didn't get a walker with DD.  We felt it was giving her too much mobility and 'reach' too quickly, and that it would potentially allow her access to things like counter tops before she/we were ready to be safe about that.

We have a doorway jumper, and she loved it.  I think that it is important with jumpers to be careful (make sure they are firmly attached, LO isn't so heavy or jumping around so vigorously it appears hazardous, always have supervision, and if the baby is jumping on a hard surface, put a pillow underneath so its not hard on the knees), but I think they can be used safely.

susan1017

I think the warnings on these items are speaking to the person who will leave the child in the jumper/walker unsupervised for extended periods of time. Used with common sense and proper parental supervision, I don't see the harm in these products but you have to be comfortable about what you bring into your house for your child. If you don't want them, don't get them.

IMO.

:-)

serarose

I would love to get a jumper but we don't really have a good place to hang one.  I'm on the hunt for a walker (we don't have stairs) that isn't encrusted with a ton of doodads like I've seen on the exersaucers, but if I don't find one no big deal.  I've known a bunch of kids who've used both and never heard of a problem so I'm not concerned about using them along with some common sense, and at the same time am personally wary of loading our small home up with a ton of "optional" gear.

MrsMucker

We registered for a jumparoo- it doesn't hang from the ceiling and kinda looks like a walker thing.  So we didn't register for  a walker just because I feel they are very similar.  You can register for a walker as long as you aren't dumb enough to put your kid by stairs so he would fall down them.  

Bride_Best

We got a jumperoo for DS and he loved it.  We did have the exersaucer that had the jumping part too (Fisher-Price Rainforest) and I think that was better than the one we registered for in the doorway.

LindseyJW

i have a novel idea...WATCH YOUR DAMN KIDS!

then warnings about such "unsafe" products wouldn't be necessary.

PlainandTall

Mom of 3 here checking in...

I LOVE doorway hanging jumpers!!  They are so much more fun of an excercise than the floor standing ones... my kids loved the jumper so much- and I loved watching them go wild in it!  I think the floor standing ones have their place- but if I had to choose I'd take the hanging style.

kellieann5

Thanks to all of you!  I think we're going to go with the exersaucer and the jumper....the jumper does look like fun!  I'm going to skip the walker but my new excuse will be 'lack of room' and 'might run over the cat'. 

Lexi0402

My friend said her dr. also says that walkers can cause knee problems too for baby.

peggyweber05

I can't remember where I read it, but I remember seeing something about Jumpers and walkers being bad for the babies muscle development because they force the child to stand/walk in a certain fashion that isn't how they should actually learn to walk. We didn't register for one either, and we never had any problems keeping him entertained or active.

earthycrunchymama

LindseyJW:

i have a novel idea...WATCH YOUR DAMN KIDS!

then warnings about such "unsafe" products wouldn't be necessary.

I am leaning towards a jumper for the doorway so she can strengthen her legs. since I'm in a wheelchair I can't easily hold her hands to help her walk  to get the strength- that will be daddys job.