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November 2011 Moms
mama&baby
member
For those with LOs that walk
mama&baby
member
LO has pretty much been couch cruising since he was around 10 months. He moves along quite well and has taken one step on his own... but I think it's a matter of confience more than anything cuz once he gets past that step you can see a bit of panic in his eyes and he either grabs for something or goes down on his knees.
I finally caved and gave LO an early birthday present- a walker. They're not recommended by our doc but I figured it may help him gain that bit of extra confidence he needs. Problem is about 95% of the time he plays with the toys on the front of it instead of taking steps.
I know all LOs are different, I will wish he wasn't walking once he starts, etc... but did you use a walker with your LO? Did it help him/her learn to walk or did they mostly learn without it? Describe when LO took first steps..does your story sound similar? TIA!
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Re: For those with LOs that walk
DS used a walker from around 5-6 months til about 9 months(when he started walking). He never really walked in it, except for backwards a little bit.
Once DS started cruising the furniture, we gave him one of the walking push-along type toys. I think that really helped him.
Our walking history: DS cruised for about 2 weeks. Started taking a step or 2 on his own for about 1 week. Then one day he told 7-8 steps & never stopped.
Baby Boy #2 is on the way!
What I've read is that walkers can actually delay walking because it discourages LO from walking on their own and they don't develop the motor skill properly. I've never used one.
DD2 isn't real close to walking yet, but with DD1 when she started taking 1-2 steps we started motivating her with food:) We would put puffs or yogurt drops on the coffee table and put her 3-4 steps away and then increased the distance. She picked it up pretty quickly and then never stopped moving.
my read shelf:
LO has been walking on his own for quite a few weeks. He started in walker at about 8 months and took off! He darted around the house and even figured how to pick the front part up to get on the carpet and walk around.
He was an early walker!
My mom has a walker at her house and DS sat in it a few times. He never ever tried to move forward in it.
I would think a push toy would help with walking though. It really doesn't give the option of just sitting there but it provides the security they aren't on their own. DS has been walking for 3-4 months but still loves a good push toy!!
FWIW, I know I'm no doctor but I have absolutely nothing against walkers. I think each baby is different and some babies may love (benefit) from them. My nephew always walked to be "walking" (as in walking holding someone's hands) starting at six months. Obviously my sister had to get other things done so she got him a walker. He started walking on his own at 7 months and was walking completely on his own by 8 months. No hindrance there!
I think there is some general confusion about what a "walker" is. The old walkers that are now discouraged are the ones that you actually set LO in. They are like a Exersaucer on wheels. The walkers you see today are just push toys. From what I understand, push toys are not discouraged. I still see them in DS's daycare in the toddler rooms just because the kiddos love pushing them around.
DS was an early walker - 10.5 months. He is a very confident walker now. He had 2 push walkers that he loved and started using very early - like 7.5 months. So I have a hard time believing that push toys are a bad thing. In fact, I think all the cruising he did behind a push toy actually helped him learn how to walk.
MMC 3.30.16
This exactly. I actually probably should have specified it in my post for this reason, but LO is using a push walker. I am going to try the food bit, since he's pretty food oriented, and see if that helps. Also going to continue to try teaching him to walk in it.
MIL said her first son walked around a year (or a little later) but the second (DH) walked at about 9 months to keep up with his brother. So maybe whenever we have #2 this process may happen faster!
DS was a super early walker. Cruising at 7 months and full time walker at 9. He would use a walker at my in laws on the back patio maybe once a week but other than that, we didn't do anything special. He just eventually realized that he could get places when walking if he continued to take more steps. He's been a handful every since! Enjoy the fact that your LO is less mobile right now. Once he starts you will constantly wish you would just stay in one place!
This walker toy was pretty helpful for LO...
https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3301913
We went the old fashioned route: DD held on to our fingers and everybody walked hunched over her for about a month. She started really walking on her own on her first bday, 11/6, but still does a little pivot and sneaks her little hands into both of mine and wants walked. Ah well, I am enjoying it for however long it lasts bc I definitely can wait til she refuses to hold my hand.
Walkers were fun for her to play with, but she definitely did not use them to fine tune her walking skills. But, every kid is different. If I were you, I'd enjoy this time of not walking. DS will walk when he wants to, but for now, hold his hands and walk with him everywhere. I think that does WONDERS for their confidence bc your right there with them teaching them that this is a skill that is fun.
GL!