What have you heard - about walkers??

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote: A friend's DD is turning one tomorrow and I've asked her several times what I can get her for her birthday. Her and I are close, but I guess she was embarassed to tell me that she doesn't want a walker. I kept emailing her and suggesting I buy her a walker since her DD is starting to push things around and walk holding on. So yesterday she finally emailed me back saying she has heard some conflicting opinions about the use of walkers, yet she didn't tell me what it was. All she said was "I'm probably just being a paranoid mother and she's getting around fine without one". Okay. So I asked what she heard, just because I really want to know, but she hasn't told me. I think she's afraid to offend me for some reason. We have one, but Wil doesn't use it.

I WANT TO KNOW! Give me your opinions.

moped replied: walkers are against the law to even own one in canada because they are so dangerous...............and exersaucer has taken the place - I actually fell down stairs in one when I was little...........you can't even sell them in garage sales legally here...............I will see if I can find something on that

moped replied: http://pediatrics.about.com/od/agesandstag...aby_walkers.htm

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/child-enfan...k-marche_e.html

aspenblue1 replied: I have some sites at work I can load on saturday but walkers can be very dangerous. I didn't use one with Isabella and wont with Kyrsten.

kit_kats_mom replied: Yep, walkers are dangerous and can impede actual walking if used too much. However, a push toy that the child can stand behind and push is fine. I got TONS of mileage out of the (I think it's playschool) Stand up Ball Blast. Both girls still play with it. Very good for standers and early walkers.

kit_kats_mom replied: http://www.yenra.com/stand-up-ball-blast/

sorry stand up ball blast. Ugh!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Oh shoot...I know that those things they sit in and have wheels, like an exersaucer on wheels, are dangerous. I'm talking about the kind that they stand behind and push. Sorry. Wil has the exact one you're talking about. Why would a push thing be bad?

kit_kats_mom replied: It wouldn't be but if you are calling it a walker. she probaby thinks you are meaning the sit in and roll type things.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
I know...now I feel stupid. I don't want to email her back and ask.

So are the push kind bad? I just thought it was fun for them to push something around...I never really believed that it "taught" them to walk.

Jamison'smama replied: No, the push kind are great---we love them and have just pulled them out for Jack since he is cruising around--I bet she misunderstood like we all did--send her a link to what you are thinking about.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Why not just send her an email saying something like:

I read up on walkers, and I agree that it is not the best idea. What about something like *this* instead?

That way - if she misunderstood you, she won`t feel bad - and you won`t feel dumb for saying it wrong...kwim?

DblTblDad replied: I thought walkers okay until my cousins baby scooted down the stairs in one. He was okay thank god but they're not a good idea.

My3LilMonkeys replied: I just wanted to add my opinion, although I know most won't agree with it..

Walkers can be bad, yes. But they are not *always* bad. My dd used a walker for a few months and it was great for her. She was frustrated that she couldn't walk yet and it helped to alleviate that frustration. We live in a mobile home, so there was no chance of falling down stairs. We allowed her to use it only under supervision and only for 1/2 hr or so at a time so that she wouldn't be dependent on it. We never had a problem and she is a normal, healthy child who walked at 10 months so I don't feel it affected her development at all.

Just MHO.

mckayleesmom replied:
Ditto...Mckaylee used hers and she walked at 9 and a half months....Russell uses it now,,,but not as often..now that he can stand he doesn't like it as much.

Mommy2BAK replied: Blakely used a walker periodicaly, but, she never actually walked with it. She would just sit in it and play with ge toys on the tray. And we don't have stairs at our house.