There has always been a great controversy when it comes to baby walkers. There are those who defend it and there is another current that criticizes them for considering them totally useless since they do not teach the baby to walk.
Currently most specialists and professionals are against baby walkers.
The danger of walkers
The walker is nothing more than a seat supported by wheels that allows the baby sitting or walking without the danger of falling to the ground. Before, people thought that it was an object that helped the baby to take the first steps, however pediatricians consider that walkers are a danger since they prevent the baby from developing his muscles in a natural way. It has been shown that if the baby uses the walker regularly and abuses it, it can delay the child's motor function.
Leaving aside all the negative points, it should also be noted that it has some positive aspect as a toy with which the baby begins to explore the world around him and with which he can have fun. Apart from this, the professionals point out that in no case should the baby abuse the walker since the little one needs to crawl, walk and grab onto the furniture by himself without the help of the aforementioned walker. The baby must learn to walk with his effort.
What Injuries Walkers Can Cause
The walker must comply at all times with the safety regulations of the European Union and always be used under the supervision of an adult. In many cases, the baby is left in the walker completely alone and accidents and injuries occur that could have been prevented.
The most common injuries caused by using the walker They usually occur on the baby's head and neck due to falls. Apart from these injuries, which are the most common, there may be others that are also more serious, such as burns or poisoning because, thanks to the walker, the little one is able to reach dangerous areas of the house such as children. sockets or plates to heat food. That is why in the event that the baby comes across a walker, an adult must be supervising the little one and thus avoid any kind of misfortune.
How to teach your baby to walk without the use of a walker
A first tip will be to use a stool so that the baby can lean on it and stay upright.. Apart from the bench, it can also be a chair or something that you can move without problems. As in the case of the walker, there must always be an adult to avoid possible accidents.
Another way to get him to walk is to display his favorite stuffed animal. In this way it will release from where it was held and will try to walk until it reaches the toy.
The other way to teach him to walk is to hold his arms up and start walking to build confidence. Over time, you can stop holding his hands and do it with his little fingers. Once it is loose, it is the best time to leave it alone to try to walk on its own, without any help.
You must remember that each baby is different and you should not compare it at any time with the others. There are children who are quite precocious and others who find it difficult to start walking. You should not get nervous at any time and have as much patience as possible.
As you have seen, the vast majority are against walkers when it comes to the baby learning to walk. The baby must begin to walk by himself with the help of the aforementioned walkers. The walker should in any case be an element of entertainment for the little one and nothing more.