The right age for baby walker, use and harm of walkers
Want to know when one can put a child in a walker in order not to harm? Looking for expert's opinion on whether walkers are useful or not? Find out more in the article about the right age for baby walker, how useful or damaging it can be.
Source: UGC
At what age can a child be put on a walker?
The first reference to an assisted walking aid dates back to the 15th century. Naturally, parents are looking for ways to make bringing up children easier. It's important to understand what this might entail and to know when it is better to put the child in a walking frame.
The children can be put in the walker only if they are sitting confidently and can crawl. Even better to wait for the child to learn to take its first steps and stand on its own two feet. At 6 months old, it will not be difficult for a child to sit without support.
The child is physiologically ready to try the walkers from 7 months old. The most important condition is the child's right development according to his or her age. By age 7 months, the babies have an already developed skeleton and a muscled frame. The body is ready to walk.
Source: UGC
Often parents rush the event to introduce the child to a walker when the child is 6 months old. Putting your kid on a walker earlier does not teach him how to walk faster. Such acts can cause irreparable harm to the health of a beloved child.
Start getting your child used to the walkers gradually: first place them in the walkers for 2 to 3 minutes, and then try again the next day. Every day you increase the duration of your child's stay in the walkers by another few minutes. It is not advisable to leave it in the walker for longer than 45 minutes.
Do not leave the child unattended and keep an eye on their wellbeing, if they are tired.
If the baby is fat, delay getting acquainted with the walker for another month: when the child is sitting in the walker, all the weight is transferred to the lower spine and pelvic bones.
Keep eye on foot position. In walkers, the babies move pushing off the floor, or on their feet. Firstly, it develops a habit of putting the foot wrong. Secondly, it causes the spine to curl.
While wondering at what age a child could be put in a walker, many parents focus purely on the child's skills, oblivious to the physiological particularities of the child's body development. I
t is no secret that in most cases girls start crawling, sitting, and walking earlier. This, too, has its downsides. If you place her before 7 months, her pelvic bones will not form properly. For expectant mothers, this is highly undesirable.
Source: UGC
When you put a boy into the walkers, note the condition of the scrotum. Walkers can squeeze it. It is also important to watch that the scrotum does not overheat; this is the basis of a future man's health.
Baby walkers: benefits and harm
Doctors' opinions about whether walkers are helpful or contraindicated to children are diverse, as well as unambiguous about at what age a child could be put in them.
Some of the benefits of this device are:
- walkers train the child's musculoskeletal and vestibular apparatus;
- they can protect the child from falling over a room;
- the design of walkers enables them to be turned into a dining or playing table;
- walkers replace a whole arsenal of toys;
- walkers allow the child to be distracted and parents to go about their business.
Despite the advantages, walkers have many disadvantages.
The most important of these is that children in walkers are not afraid to run over obstacles and crash into corners. In walkers, they do not have to look under their feet.
Source: UGC
It is a common consequence of children's long and frequent stay on walkers to have clubfoot and improper foot formation. It is important for the child to move the walker and himself. How that will be done does not matter to the baby: it is easier to push off the floor than to walk.
By walking alone around the house, the child can reach the door, reach the socket, pull on and drop heavy objects upon himself.
To make the babies interested, comfortable, and safe, invite them to play in the playpen. Thus, they can be near you, and their body will not be fixed in one position.
Accordingly, there will be no unnecessary load on the musculoskeletal system. The children will be able to sit, stand, crawl. They can easily change the position of the body.
Walkers will not be harmful if you put a child at the right age for baby walkers. Weigh the pros and cons. Take your time. Your baby will quickly learn to walk, most importantly - pay him more attention. Grow healthy!
Attention! The material is for guidance only. You should not resort to the methods described in it without first consulting a doctor.
Source: Legit.ng
