Small child requires every second attention, therefore, up to almost 6 months, he requires most of the time to be in the arms of his parents. But soon there comes a moment when the baby strives for independent movement in space: he tries to crawl, stand on his legs near the sofa or headboard, maybe he is already sitting. How many parents at this time have a desire to buy a walker for their baby and free up half an hour or an hour of time a day for themselves. But is it worth it, and at what age is it safe to use this device?

What are walkers for?

A walker is a comfortable seat on a special device on wheels. Their purpose is that the child placed there must learn to move in space independently, prepare for walking and be able to stay upright. At the same time, he should be comfortable and interesting.

Therefore, the choice of walker models attracts with its unusualness and versatility: musical accompaniment, educational toys, bright details, and all this on the front panel of the device. Children enthusiastically accept walkers and move with joy in them, as they feel mobility and the ability to independently get to the thing or place of interest.

As for doctors, opinions on the advisability of using such a transport differ, but most experts are not against using this method of walking a baby.

From what age?

As for the age of the baby, here the doctors do not come to the same opinion. Although pediatricians agree that walkers can only be used when the baby has learned to sit confidently, hold on to a support and fully crawl. Therefore, the optimal age when you can put it in this device is 8 months.

The opinions of pediatricians boil down to the fact that each baby develops at an individual pace. Therefore, the decision on the first use of a children's moving device must be made when the baby himself gives a sign that he is physically and mentally ready for a new plane of independent location:

• while changing directions and overcoming obstacles. Parents should understand that crawling is the most important stage in the development of a six-month-old baby, so before this moment it is impossible to put the baby in a walker;
• independently taking a sitting position, he can stay like that for a long time without falling to one side. This suggests that the spinal muscles can withstand the load that is optimal for this age;
• psychological attitude of the child to "new exploits". Parents notice that the baby is becoming active, striving for new toys, trying to master new places in the apartment. Less often, he gets up near a solid support (although he doesn’t succeed), he knows how to “correctly” fall, while not crying, but again trying to get up. This indicates the complete readiness of children for walkers.

At 6-8 months, the skeletal and muscular systems are formed in babies, and a long stay on their feet contributes to the overload of the spine and pelvic bones of the child, which have not yet grown stronger at this age. Therefore, categorically avoid walkers for up to 6 months in order to avoid trouble, and in the future - negative consequences.

Moms of boys

According to doctors, prolonged use of walkers for boys adversely affects their genitourinary system and the genitals in particular. When walking in a children's device, friction occurs, pressure on sensitive areas, which leads to diaper rash. And in the worst case - to more serious consequences.

Boys are placed in walkers at the same age as girls. The restrictions for both sexes are that the time spent in a walker is no more than 40 minutes between breaks of 2-3 hours, and not how much the baby himself will require.

Moms of girls

Parents of little princesses do not even realize that girls are more at risk of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Walkers in girls can cause a serious disease - hip dysplasia. And this pathology only worsens with time, if it is not detected prematurely. Therefore, with girls, you need to be careful in using auxiliary transport.

Before introducing your baby to a walker, make sure that she is ready physically and mentally. You should not force the girl if you see that she is not ready and is wary of this unfamiliar design. Having matured, she will become a mother, which means that it is worth taking care of her health since childhood. Namely, about the pelvic bones, spine and joints of your baby.

When the hip joint is used to distribute weight, it is important that the seat belt is positioned under the shoulder bone and that the belts are adjusted to the appropriate height. You can order a padded panel for more comfort and in some cases for better abduction. When the child gains more strength in the lower extremities and does not need help with weight distribution, the hip support can be lowered down. The hose support used in this way guides the pelvis and functions as a seatbelt rather than as an auxiliary mass.

You should not be afraid of walkers, if everything is done “wisely”, then the child, thanks to them, will be able to look at the world differently, become coordinated and independent.

Positive impact on health

A children's device for moving a still dependent crumb has a lot of advantages, which are reflected both in physical development crumbs, and on the psycho-emotional sphere:

• source of joy and good mood of the child;
• strengthening the muscles of the back and spine, which prepares the baby for independent walking in the future;
• strengthening the muscles of the legs, as the baby constantly works with his legs to move further;
• additional training for the vestibular apparatus;
• the desire for a new and unknown: the baby realizes that he can get to a new object without the help of his parents, touch things and surfaces of interest, follow mom or dad;
• the emergence of intellectual skills: baby walkers are equipped with educational toys and devices that develop tactile sensations, attention and motor skills of fingers;
• vertical position allows the baby to perceive the world from a different angle, he begins to evaluate the room in which he is, more fully, remembers the location of things and the location of toys;
• when a child is in such a device, his physical activity increases many times, which is associated with an increased interest in the environment. At this age, this leads to the rapid development of thinking, which allows the baby to develop faster;
• free time for the child's parents.

The last point is one of the main advantages of using walkers. After all, this is a rest that has appeared for mother's hands, an opportunity to do accumulated business or just watch the baby, relaxing on a comfortable sofa. This helps the mother calm down and gain strength for the further upbringing of the child. Yes, and the baby will be interested in becoming independent in movement and learning something new.

Negative impact on health

Baby walkers also have disadvantages:

• lack of motivation for independent movement without the help of adaptation;
• the possibility of incorrect formation of the position of the ankle joint;
• the variety of physical activity is limited: the baby only sits and pushes with his legs, but does not squat, does not pull up and does not rise;
• excessive load on the spine, which can provoke its curvature;
• balance imbalance;
• increased risk of injury, as the walker can roll over on slippery floors or get caught on a threshold or folded carpet.

The main disadvantage of walkers is the fact that parents put the child in them and immediately lose their vigilance, doing urgent business. And it is forbidden to do this, because a second is enough for a child to harm himself.

Contraindications

Not all babies can even be placed in walkers for a short time. There are clear contraindications that categorically prohibit the use of this type of children's "transport":

1. Increased / decreased muscle tone in the crumbs. During the movement of the baby, his legs will not touch the floor with his entire foot, he will have to push off with his socks, applying enough effort to this. This problem can only get worse with such loads on the baby's legs.
2. Diagnosed or suspected rickets prohibit the use of such devices.
3. It is forbidden to put the baby in a children's "transport" if he has a pathologically developed musculoskeletal system.
4. It is necessary to temporarily limit the use of walkers if the child has diaper rash or traces of chafing from the seat.
5. If you notice that when trying to take steps on your own, holding on to a support, your child does not stand on a full foot, you will have to abandon the walker.

Our main task as parents is to create a comfortable and safe environment for our children, but at the same time protect and protect them. And it doesn’t matter at all whether in walkers or without them, but the child should always be supervised. The peanut himself will show his readiness to get acquainted with a new mobile vehicle. And our task is to be attentive and not to miss this moment.

Are walkers necessary for a child to learn to walk, or is it just a fashionable toy that parents can use to keep their baby busy and provide themselves with free time? At what age can they be used? Can they be dangerous and in what cases? How to choose? The answers to these and many other questions in our article.

The best age for walkers

The main question that worries all parents without exception is when can I buy a baby walker? There is no consensus among experts regarding the exact age, since the individual characteristics of the baby are of decisive importance. You can buy and start using a new toy when your baby:

• sits well enough without any additional support from adults;
• active, cheerful and constantly interested in the outside world;
• does not suffer from diseases of the musculoskeletal system and rickets;
• he has no strabismus;
• sincerely enjoys the opportunity to play with new toys.

The average age of a child who can be placed in a walker is 6-8 months. Komarovsky also does not recommend putting a child in a walker before reaching this age.

IN early age walkers can be harmful, so it is strictly forbidden to use them until at least 6, and preferably 8 months

Operating rules

If, having carefully studied all the pros and cons, you still decide to buy a walker, follow a few simple rules their operation:

1. Teach your baby gradually. How much time can you spend in a walker? To begin with, 15 minutes a day is enough, gradually the time can be increased. Please note that 1 hour per day is the maximum possible total length of time a child can be in a walker.
2. When using a walker, do not leave the child alone in the room - this will avoid danger, injury and damage.

Can boys use walkers?

There is an opinion that a long stay in a walker for boys harms the formation of the male genitourinary system.

The opinion against walkers is argued by squeezing the genitals, friction of the perineum and the possible occurrence of diaper rash. Children's orthopedists and pediatricians do not share the point of view that walkers are harmful, but they advise limiting the time a boy spends in them.

Can girls use walkers?

Are there contraindications for girls? Girls are more prone to the occurrence of such a complex disease as hip dysplasia, so their parents should be given Special attention the physical preparation of the baby. The main risk is that if the disease is not previously identified by specialists, then the use of walkers can lead to its aggravation. The later you start to plant girls, the safer.

Advantages and disadvantages

So, you need to use walkers with caution, observing all the rules and restrictions. In addition to the minuses of walkers, there are also undoubted pluses and advantages:

1. Learning to move independently for the purpose of knowing the world around - this is an unconditional benefit for the development of the baby.
2. Active pastime, allowing the child to get tired, and then eat well and fall asleep soundly.
3. Child development with bright toys and devices that are usually equipped with the product.

Another advantage is the free time that is freed up by mom and dad when the baby is busy with walkers - this is a definite plus for parents.

Modern walkers are not just devices for training the baby's muscles, but also real multimedia entertainment stations that will not let the child get bored.

When making a purchase decision, it is necessary to understand well the harm from their use. The most significant negative consequences of use are:

Walkers are usually used at 6-8 months of age. Nature provides that up to 12 a child should crawl, as this strengthens his muscles and forms a skeleton. Active upright walking in children should begin when they reach the age of 1 year. The consequence of early bipedalism and the associated premature load on the back can be various curvatures of the spine.

Difficulties in learning to walk. There is an opinion that with the help of a walker, on the contrary, a child will quickly learn to move independently - this is not entirely true. They do not teach the child to maintain balance, because the position in which the child is in the walker does not teach him to walk. Pediatricians confirm that a baby using a walker is more difficult to put on its feet and learn to walk.

Walkers are a source of additional danger for the child. In order to avoid the threat of various injuries, injuries, bruises and abrasions, the child is not left alone in a walker. Independent chaotic movement around the apartment can be a source of health hazard.

If you use a walker wisely and in a timely manner, the baby can learn a lot with their help, and his development will accelerate. On the other hand, strong loads are dangerous for a fragile musculoskeletal system - the common sense of parents and their awareness come to the fore.

How to choose the right walker?

Despite the disadvantages of the product, you should not immediately refuse to purchase. A walker can be a great educational toy for your little one, provided they are High Quality and are used correctly. When buying, you need to pay attention not only to their photos appearance, but also on the main quality parameters:

1. High quality base material. Choose a product with a base made of durable plastic or a metal frame wider than the seat. The thin plastic used for the base may not withstand impact and cause injury to the child. It is desirable that the body of the toy be equipped with a rubber bumper, which will reduce the force of impact.
2. Wheel size. The more wheels, the better. Small wheels are unsafe and the child will be uncomfortable to move around. It is better if the wheels turn freely around their axis.
3. Seat structure. The ideal seat provides a rigid back that will support the baby's spine, and soft material around the edge of the seat. The seat should be deep and secure. The possibility of getting out of it without the help of adults should be excluded.
4. Possibility of individual height adjustments. Products whose height is not adjustable provide poor back support and are unsafe for the spine. High-quality walkers provide the ability to choose the height depending on the height of the child.
5. Weight limit size which keeping design. The more weight, the better.
6. Ergonomic product. A compact fixture that can be folded and removed is preferable to a bulky one-piece design.

The experience of other young mothers will also help to dwell on one of the models.

Rating of the best

Which models are the best? Our small rating will help you make out the variety of offers on the children's goods market:

1. Brevi Giocagiro Activity Center. Perhaps the best in the premium segment. They have not only a high-quality, reliable design, but also a huge number of developmental opportunities.
2. Chicco DJ Baby Walker. Good value for money. They are very popular, have a large set of functions and high quality.
3. Happy Baby Robin. rocking walkers good quality at a moderate price.
4. Jetem/Capella Sky Walker. A quality mid-range product.
5. Firefly 2655GT. One of the best budget models with entertaining elements.