Are there any safe push walker toys?

skittleblu · September 2012

The ones I've seen with wheels seem dangerous! Why wouldn't the toy just wheel right away and leave the infant face flat on the floor?

memali26 · September 2012

The wheels are what make it a push toy. Sometimes the toy does get away from them and they take a spill, but that's part of learning. If I had a dime for every time one of my girls fell while learning to walk or using a push toy or even pushing around a toy that doesn't have wheels I'd be a rich lady.

honkytonk_kid · September 2012

I thought the same thing when LO was that age. He did fall a couple times, but not the total faceplants I was expecting. The reason seems to be that the way they play with it is not "I want to walk behind this and push it," it's more like they use it to stand, and it rolls so they take a step, and it rolls more, and so on- not as much force behind the pushing, if that makes sense.

mben1119 · September 2012

memali26:
The wheels are what make it a push toy. Sometimes the toy does get away from them and they take a spill, but that's part of learning. If I had a dime for every time one of my girls fell while learning to walk or using a push toy or even pushing around a toy that doesn't have wheels I'd be a rich lady.

This. They cant learn to walk without a few spills along the way.

summerbld2 · September 2012

our pediatrician said no walkers

awollenweber · September 2012

I agree with the others, but for the first few tries, you might need to walk next to your LO and slow the toy down a little bit.

My son has used 5 different walking toys between our house, grandmas, and the church nursery. This one has caused the least amount of falls and is actually the cheapest:

https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Bright-Beginnings-Activity-Walker/dp/B000L53D4O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347933644&sr=8-1&keywords=fisher+price+walker

SusieBW · September 2012

Packerfan79:
summerbld2:
our pediatrician said no walkers

They probably meant the kind they sit in, not the push ones.

Why, are the kind they sit in bad? DD uses one at her babysitter's house, and she loves it. She can chase the other kids around and play with them. Everyone wins.

We just got DD a push toy for her birthday. She tried it out this morning - total faceplant, and that was when I was holding it to slow it down! She'll get the hang of it soon enough.

mben1119 · September 2012

SusieBW:
Packerfan79:
summerbld2:

our pediatrician said no walkers

They probably meant the kind they sit in, not the push ones.

Why, are the kind they sit in bad? DD uses one at her babysitter's house, and she loves it. She can chase the other kids around and play with them. Everyone wins.

We just got DD a push toy for her birthday. She tried it out this morning - total faceplant, and that was when I was holding it to slow it down! She'll get the hang of it soon enough.

Many doctors will recommend against them. First, for the obvious safety issues (stairs, dogs knocking LO's over, etc), then because it doesn't force the child to learn balance, as they are held up by the walker. They are probably ok for short periods of time, but we didn't bother for DS. We got him a push/sit on toy that he loves.

SusieBW · September 2012

mabenner1:
SusieBW:
Packerfan79:
summerbld2:

our pediatrician said no walkers

They probably meant the kind they sit in, not the push ones.

Why, are the kind they sit in bad? DD uses one at her babysitter's house, and she loves it. She can chase the other kids around and play with them. Everyone wins.

We just got DD a push toy for her birthday. She tried it out this morning - total faceplant, and that was when I was holding it to slow it down! She'll get the hang of it soon enough.

Many doctors will recommend against them. First, for the obvious safety issues (stairs, dogs knocking LO's over, etc), then because it doesn't force the child to learn balance, as they are held up by the walker. They are probably ok for short periods of time, but we didn't bother for DS. We got him a push/sit on toy that he loves.

Gotcha. That makes sense, and I can imagine the scenario where someone leaves their kid in one all day long because "he's learning how to walk!". My friend (who is a SAHM that babysits DD a couple of days a week) borrowed the walker from someone she knows, and my DD loves it so much! It's so funny to watch her chase after my friend's kids in it. It's not like she's in it all the time, so I'm over it being recommended against, I think.

sportsmomma · September 2012

Ever piece of paper/info we have gotten from our pedi since our newborn visit has said absolutely no walkers. It was very prominent in his 9 month paperwork. My pedi is very reasonable and willing to give the "everything in moderation" spiel so if she so sternly recommends we avoid walkers altogether I'm taking her seriously. Who knows, could have been a terrible experience for one of the doctors in the practice, but we're steering clear for safety and developmental reasons.

SoftSpot · September 2012

BlueCards:
Ever piece of paper/info we have gotten from our pedi since our newborn visit has said absolutely no walkers. It was very prominent in his 9 month paperwork. My pedi is very reasonable and willing to give the "everything in moderation" spiel so if she so sternly recommends we avoid walkers altogether I'm taking her seriously. Who knows, could have been a terrible experience for one of the doctors in the practice, but we're steering clear for safety and developmental reasons.

Once again, a push toy does not equal a walker.

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