What do you think about walkers?

mrsadamc 05 · April 2011

You know, these things: Chicco DJ Baby Walker

KandyKayne · April 2011

I will not be using one of these.

scoutkate · April 2011

I feel like I've heard negative things about those, but I can't remember what.

We have this walker for Betsy, and she loves it:

https://www.amazon.com/Vtech-Stand-Baby-Learning-Walker/dp/B0045ZA39E/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1302544871&sr=1-9

czaja125 · April 2011

DD has the same one in the picture and loves it. We live in a ranch style home so no stairs. I wouldn't use it if we lived in a two story home.

ashrob1 · April 2011

They are banned here....

mrs.kapow · April 2011

They are dangerous if you're not watching your child.

That said, we have one at my mom's because she bought it. I have made the rule that the room where DD is when she's in it must be gated off. She's just now starting to use it for real, though, and it was previously just an exersaucer that happened to be on wheels.

MrsQueale · April 2011

I wanted one. Like any other baby toy/equipment, a baby must be watched like a hawk.

Sadly, I can't get one. They are banned in Canada.

Kara5109 · April 2011

I have when I see parents put their 2-3 month olds in them. We probably won't be buying one.

blondek8 · April 2011

Banned in Canada.

Sherriberry · April 2011

They are banned in Canada, and I have zero interest in putting my child in one.

wearenutts · April 2011

I have never heard anything bad about this style of walker. Have I been living under a rock? Please enlighten me ladies. I want to make sure we are keeping her safe. We have one but rarely use it and M is always monitored.

aabreu32 · April 2011

I had one. I put it on my registry - it was a Disney Princess Walker by Safety 1st. At my 4 month pedi appt. I asked the pedi about it because I had heard that the AAP was recommending that walkers not be used. She said that was correct and that she did not recommend. She said Exersaucer or Jumperoo only. I returned the walker (luckily I never opened it and knew where it was purchased) and I bought the FP Rainforest Jumperoo. DD still doesn't really bounce in it. She likes to sway though and play with all of the buttons and spinners on top.

Hudson_Hawk · April 2011

They're dangerous if you have stairs. I don't see a problem with them if you have a one story house and suitable floors though. I just ordered one from overstock this morning.

LJR 84 · April 2011

We have the one you posted and DD loves it!

Like pps said- like anything else, you have to keep an eye on your child. DD loves to roll around the kitchen/downstairs in it. She has no way of falling down a flight of steps as we don't put her in it upstairs. They're safe if you use common sense.

czaja125 · April 2011

aabreu32:
I had one. I put it on my registry - it was a Disney Princess Walker by Safety 1st. At my 4 month pedi appt. I asked the pedi about it because I had heard that the AAP was recommending that walkers not be used. She said that was correct and that she did not recommend. She said Exersaucer or Jumperoo only. I returned the walker (luckily I never opened it and knew where it was purchased) and I bought the FP Rainforest Jumperoo. DD still doesn't really bounce in it. She likes to sway though and play with all of the buttons and spinners on top.

May I ask why your pedi did not recommend them?

MrsQueale · April 2011

wearenutts:
I have never heard anything bad about this style of walker. Have I been living under a rock? Please enlighten me ladies. I want to make sure we are keeping her safe. We have one but rarely use it and M is always monitored.

The Canadian Government provides a Consumer Product Safety site. It states they are banned for the following reasons.

"Falls down stairs in baby walkers are the greatest cause of serious head injuries for children under the age of two. Babies in walkers can move quickly, run into hidden dangers, bump into furniture, pull on hanging appliance cords, fall down stairs, grab hot items, and tip over.

For these reasons, baby walkers have been prohibited in Canada since April 7, 2004."

This is probably why some parents (outside of Canada) won't get them for their child.

https://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/child-enfant/equip/walk-marche-eng.php

aabreu32 · April 2011

czaja125:

aabreu32:
I had one. I put it on my registry - it was a Disney Princess Walker by Safety 1st. At my 4 month pedi appt. I asked the pedi about it because I had heard that the AAP was recommending that walkers not be used. She said that was correct and that she did not recommend. She said Exersaucer or Jumperoo only. I returned the walker (luckily I never opened it and knew where it was purchased) and I bought the FP Rainforest Jumperoo. DD still doesn't really bounce in it. She likes to sway though and play with all of the buttons and spinners on top.

May I ask why your pedi did not recommend them?

Risk of accident is too high. She said she understands that parents watch their children but just a few seconds is enough for an accident with a walker. Head injuries are most common and other injuries. It is not just a stair issue - it is also just an issue of a child who would not normally be mobile becoming mobile and reaching things they should not.

wearenutts · April 2011

MrsQueale:
wearenutts:
I have never heard anything bad about this style of walker. Have I been living under a rock? Please enlighten me ladies. I want to make sure we are keeping her safe. We have one but rarely use it and M is always monitored.

The Canadian Government provides a Consumer Product Safety site. It states they are banned for the following reasons.

"Falls down stairs in baby walkers are the greatest cause of serious head injuries for children under the age of two. Babies in walkers can move quickly, run into hidden dangers, bump into furniture, pull on hanging appliance cords, fall down stairs, grab hot items, and tip over.

For these reasons, baby walkers have been prohibited in Canada since April 7, 2004."

This is probably why some parents (outside of Canada) won't get them for their child.

https://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/child-enfant/equip/walk-marche-eng.php

Thanks for the info!

write2nicole · April 2011

aabreu32:
czaja125:

aabreu32:
I had one. I put it on my registry - it was a Disney Princess Walker by Safety 1st. At my 4 month pedi appt. I asked the pedi about it because I had heard that the AAP was recommending that walkers not be used. She said that was correct and that she did not recommend. She said Exersaucer or Jumperoo only. I returned the walker (luckily I never opened it and knew where it was purchased) and I bought the FP Rainforest Jumperoo. DD still doesn't really bounce in it. She likes to sway though and play with all of the buttons and spinners on top.

May I ask why your pedi did not recommend them?

Risk of accident is too high. She said she understands that parents watch their children but just a few seconds is enough for an accident with a walker. Head injuries are most common and other injuries. It is not just a stair issue - it is also just an issue of a child who would not normally be mobile becoming mobile and reaching things they should not.

Exactly. They can really go pretty fast, and it's not long before they bump into furniture and knock lamps over on their heads. I hope those who think they're safe without stairs intend to closely supervise.

ASmallWonder · April 2011

MrsQueale:

wearenutts:
I have never heard anything bad about this style of walker. Have I been living under a rock? Please enlighten me ladies. I want to make sure we are keeping her safe. We have one but rarely use it and M is always monitored.

The Canadian Government provides a Consumer Product Safety site. It states they are banned for the following reasons.

"Falls down stairs in baby walkers are the greatest cause of serious head injuries for children under the age of two. Babies in walkers can move quickly, run into hidden dangers, bump into furniture, pull on hanging appliance cords, fall down stairs, grab hot items, and tip over.

For these reasons, baby walkers have been prohibited in Canada since April 7, 2004."

This is probably why some parents (outside of Canada) won't get them for their child.

https://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/child-enfant/equip/walk-marche-eng.php

I just want to point out that babies who can crawl/pullup/stand/walk are capable of all the same things. Obviously you have to have appropriate levels of babyproofing and supervision. My kid could haul ass to the top of open stairs just as fast as in a walker so he'd never be left near open stairs haha

drewiekc · April 2011

I wouldnt get one due to the above mentioned safety concerns, but MIL bought one for DD to use over at her house. They have a sunken breakfast room off the kitchen, and she only uses it in there. I feel OK about that since it's such a small space and there is no way she could get out of sight.

However, just like jumperoos or exersaucers, I dont think your kid should be in it for extended periods of time. A girl I knew had her daughter in a walker ALL. THE. TIME. and her poor kid didnt walk until she was almost 18 months old

Angela814 · April 2011

I'm not a huge fan. My best friend gave me one to use that her DS had. DD2 actually loves the thing. We use it occasionally just like any of those types of toys (jumperoo, exersaucer, etc). I think the objection is that they hold baby in a poor position for their hips (besides the safety risks).

smerka · April 2011

I heard a physical therapist say that walkers are bad news since they allow baby to be mobile without actually having to do anything (crawling, cruising, etc). We have one (from the ILs) and a exersaucer. Per the PT's suggestion, I only use them for 15 minutes at a time and no more than a half hour per day.

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