The walker is a toy that is used by many parents to their children, although it is not a fundamental element in teaching them to walk. It helps to support the child to keep him from falling and to keep him upright while he is learning to walk. Many walkers are also equipped so that they can be used as a distraction when parents are busy with other chores. This article will show you the strengths and weaknesses of this toy.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Precautions to Take
Step 1. Find out if your child needs a walker
There are conflicting opinions on when this toy can be introduced. There is no predefined age, since each child has different growth rates from those of the others. However, there are some signs that can be glimpsed to tell when a baby is ready to use a walker:
- The child must be able to sit alone and crawl. Sitting because in the walker is the position in which it will stand. Crawling, on the other hand, is important because it ensures that the child knows how to coordinate the movement of the legs, so as to be able to move the walker.
- Some parents wait until the child is able to get to the furniture in the house. It is an idea probably based on the concept that the walker will prevent him from hitting his head or hurting himself if he falls to the ground.
Step 2. Childproof your home for your child to use the walker
It is a toy with wheels, so there are a few elements that need to be considered when using one:
- First, the floor must be smooth, with no ripples that can get in the way of the wheels; also, there should be no other objects that could curl under the walker. A good solution is to use it in a specific area with no obstacles.
- The parent should check that there are no dangerous or fragile objects nearby within easy reach of the child.
- Access to the stairs must be blocked with a gate, to prevent the child from accidentally tumbling down. With the gates you can also block rooms where you do not want the child to enter.
- Make sure there are no dangerous edges. Eliminate or cover any sloping edges that can be affected by the baby's head.
Step 3. Always watch the baby when he turns with this toy
The walker is not a substitute for adult supervision. Parents are, in fact, required to stay in the same room where the child walks with this toy, to avoid getting hurt or getting stuck. The greater mobility given by this toy allows the child to reach objects that, otherwise, would not be accessible by crawling.
Step 4. If the child is using the walker outside, put his shoes on
This is because there may be rough surfaces. Also, be careful of narrow sidewalks, as they could cause the walker to fall and the baby would be injured.
Part 2 of 3: How to Introduce the Walker
Step 1. Try to make your child feel comfortable with the walker
Many children, when they see it, have no problem getting in, but that's not the case with everyone. There are children who are more reluctant, perhaps just because they are not in the right mood or because they are not interested in inspecting the new toy or, again, because they might be frightened.
- If the reluctance to use the walker is too much, you can try sitting on the floor next to the walker, holding your child in your arms and trying to get him in touch with this new game, looking at him and touching him together.
- If the walker is outfitted with toys, you may want to have an enthusiastic voice with it to get the baby's interest in it.
Step 2. Make sure you insert the baby with the legs in the right position
When you see that your child is comfortable with the walker, whether it is the first time or after they have already settled in, you should gently accommodate them in the session.
- It is important that each leg is tucked in the right place and that the toes do not get caught somewhere.
- Once the child has been seated, fasten all the safety belts present to prevent them from slipping into an incorrect position.
Step 3. Encourage the child to stand up
If he reclines as he does when he is sitting, it is probably because he has not yet understood that, in that position, he can stand up without falling. One way to encourage him is to hold him for life, put him on his feet, and subsequently take your hands off.
- Another way is to offer him your hands as a support to allow him to stand up on his own. After a few attempts, the baby will understand that he is safe and that he can move without hurting himself.
- For children who can't stand up on their own, a little patience and encouragement from parents is enough.
Step 4. Teach the child how to move the walker
Being able to stand while inside the walker is only part of the job. The child must, in fact, understand how to be able to move it.
- For many of them, the first movements are quite accidental. The emotion makes them shake and stomp their feet enough to make the walker move. For others, however, a little help is needed to understand how to do it.
- Sometimes, as a stimulus, just holding a toy or appetizing food in front of the baby is enough to make him kick so that the walker can move. Other parents prefer to have the walker move more slowly and more carefully while the baby is in it.
- In this case, it is important to keep an eye on the baby's feet to make sure that they are not dragged or that the legs do not turn on themselves.
Step 5. Try to be patient
You have to understand that this is an absolutely new and unknown game for your baby, so his movements will be random and sudden. The move might scare him, so try to reassure him and encourage him to continue.
- In order to be able to move in a certain direction or for an extended interval, it is necessary to give the child all the time he needs.
- If he seems to be getting tired or frustrated, take him off the walker and have him do some other activity.
Step 6. Try to get him to use the walker for no more than 15 minutes a day
While the walker can be a great tool to help your child walk, spending too much time walking around in it can have negative consequences.
- For example, sitting on the walker helps to strengthen only the muscles in the lower part of the legs, while to walk it is also necessary to have strength in the muscles of the upper part.
- It is important for the baby to spend time crawling, as it develops strength in the arms and legs, as well as improves coordination skills. A child who, on the other hand, spends too much time in the walker, will not learn to crawl or will do so with some delay.
- The use of the walker gives the child greater confidence when trying to stand upright, but remember that walking is quite different. Generally, in the walker the movements of the child are made with the tips of the feet, but when walking, on the other hand, the entire sole of the foot is used.
Part 3 of 3: Knowing the Disadvantages
Step 1. Many people advise against using a walker
There are many medical specialists who disapprove of the use of walkers and prefer not to use them with children.
These are mainly reasons related to the dangers of getting hurt, but there are also reasons related to the physical disadvantages that can be caused to the development of the child
Step 2. The baby may become addicted to the walker
A disadvantage in using this game is that the child may get too used to its use and the support that comes with it in order not to fall. The result is that he may no longer feel confident enough to want to stand alone and walk independently without a walker.
This may delay the ability to walk alone without supports. The legs may not be strong enough as not all muscles work when the baby is in the walker
Step 3. Pay attention to where your feet are placed
It may happen that the walker ends up on the baby's feet. As well as other parts of this toy could get in the way. The consequences can be bruises, abrasions and even broken bones of the feet, if the walker continues to move after getting stuck.
Step 4. Be aware that the baby may tip over
An additional reason for injury comes from jamming of the wheels which could lock, preventing the walker from moving forward. In this case, the child may want to force the movement by tipping the walker over and hurting himself very much.
Step 5. Keep the walker away from the stairs
One of the worst accidents that can happen is that the walker ends up on a step or any other raised surface. Babies in walkers can be very fast and could fall down stairs or a rise in no time. Be careful as there could be serious consequences.
Advice
- Keep the doors closed. Door sills can be dangerous, as they can tip the walker over and injure the child.
- Do not leave tablecloths or fabrics hanging from the tables. The child may approach to pull them, dragging everything above them down and objects may fall on them and end up on their head.
