Introduce a Walker?

Hi A.,
Walkers are dangerous and the AAP doesn't recommend using them. They don't help a child learn to walk, in fact they can delay normal motor and mental development. http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/ped... I would suggest getting rid of the walker and getting an exersaucer instead. I agree with the other moms, crawling is a very important part of overall development. Let her conquer that first.
Sincerely,
L.

Kids love walkers because they can see the world better, however, it is one of the worst things you could do. Crawling develops the brain. If the baby is on a walker they aren't encouraged to crawl and if you don't crawl alot you don't develop the brain correctly. The following is associated with crawling problems:

Cross-crawl dysfunction is associated with the following:

* Learning disabilities
* Lack of coordination
* Inability or difficult to read
* No concept of balance
* Clumsiness
* Stuttering
* Seeing or saying words backwards
* Dropping objects
* Tripping a lot

Encourage your child to crawl as long as possible. We get so excited if they walk early but you are short changing your child. Plus you are having them stand on their legs for longer periods of time then their legs have developed to hold them. Usually babies will stand up for as long as they are able and then plop back down on their butts. They do this over and over until their muscles develop and they can stand longer. Walkers allow them to stand longer then they should too soon.

I think it would be fine to put him in the walker as long as you also give him "floor time" so that he can work on his crawling skills.

Some babies never crawl, but i would just keep giving him more and more time on his belly. Keep in mind that boys typically progress slower than girls.

Developmental skills must be learned in an order. Encourage crawling before introducing a walker.

just some information. In daycares the walkers are forbidden and they tend to bow leg children. My son used one after he was crawling and standing up. it gave him the confidence he needed to want to walk and feel good about it. I dont think personally it is a good idea to start an infant who isnt already using their leg muscles to do other things. just my oppinion but as soon as your child is crawling and pulling them selves up i would say a walker is a fabous tool to help with the walking thing. there are other alternatives to walkers, play centers that doesnt roll around it just stands still with activities.

hope this helps,

J.

My daughter didn't crawl until after 8 months and I think she was a little late crawling due to using a walker and the Jumperoo. I am not sure about this, but I read it somewhere. When she was about 10 months old we had her push one of the sit down cars and she built up her strength that way. She didn't walk fully on her own until 13 months. I think my next baby I will limit the jumperoo/walker and see if there is a difference.

It's very important that your son learns to crawl before walking for proper left/right brain hemisphere functions. It can also affect his ability to speak. Walkers were never a good idea and now it's simply outdated.

If you can, try to encourage him to learn to crawl. Limit any time in a walker or jumperoo and give him lots of tummy time. Studies show a connection between children who crawl and reading. My mother used to teach children to crawl to improve their reading skills. Seems strange, but its a milestone you don't want them to skip if you can help it.

I agree with Sharon L. 100%. In addition to the learning associated with crawling, they have also noted psychological benefits too. Don't worry about walking. That will come with time. Scooting on the tummy for a while is part of the crawling development too. Your son is doing a good job and progressing fine. It will start to click for him soon. Blessings.

Yikes! No walkers or johnny jump ups. Google either and you will find warnings and injuries listed galore. Lots of falls down stairs, head injuries, or even moms tripping on this stuff and hurting their kids by accident.

Crawling and scooting will happen, right before the walking. Your child is not ready to walk, but if he is upright and very bouncy, you have a lot of options. The best product for entertaining and exercising a child of this age is, in my opinion (and many others) the Exersaucer. This is a walker-style seat centered in a double disk that can be raised and lowered according to the child's leg length. The seat rotates around a tray that has different toys in different sectors. The 360 degree rotation allows a child to "bounce" and "walk" around in a circle, moving to play with each toy until they are bored and move to the next one.

It's probably smart to have a few "stations" in your living room for your child. A "tummy time" section, a bumbo seat and some banging toys, and the exersaucer. That way when he starts fussing, you move him to a new environment every 30 minutes or so between snacks and naps.

Have fun!

Crawling is a very important cross-brain developmental stage for all children. At 7.5 months, he may just not yet be ready to crawl, but will get there with time. If he's moving forward on his tummy, that's a step in the right direction. :-) At 8 months, he might be ready to lift up and try putting one leg and arm in front of the other. You don't want to skip the crawling stage, so I would discourage you from introducing a walker. Let him develop naturally so he gets the benefits of learning how to crawl (and later, how to walk) without prosthetic devices like a walker. Best wishes.

Yes, he should have a walker and experience the freedom of rolling around, even if you just pull him around with you at first. I propped mine in there as soon as they fit in a walker (just don't let them roll out a door and down step). My first crept everywhere in all directions and NEVER crawled, walked first on tippytoes. (And that was at 13 months she walked, kinda late by doc standards)Very cute, but wrong! We had to do exercises to lengthen her leg muscles by stretching toes to point out then stretch toes back toward shin. Bend knees and stretch/exercise them too, move bent leg up to chest, etc. Like crawling would require.
She actually went from petite to tall in tenth grade, she is a LONG legged woman now.
She also didnt baby talk much, she would silently move her mouth around til the words popped out perfectly formed.
EVERY STAGE of learning to walk is crucial to overall child development.Don't let it worry you... But you do want him to crawl. Try the stretches, your baby will like it. ANd ask your doc at next well baby or doc visit.
I was a chunky baby, who did not do anything "on time". My mom even took me to doc to see if I was retarded. I did not even roll over til I was like 9 months. Then, according to her, I just rolled over, sat up, crept, crawled and walked, boom boom boom! Babies do things on their own time, it's our job to stimulate them and their interest. My second kid walked at 9 months. My third at 11 months. Once they walk and then run all over the place, you will occasionally wish for the day they stayed where you placed them!

I think it depends. Is he happy scooting on his tummy? If so then you probably don't need a walker. We used a walker for our oldest daughter because she HATED being on her tummy (she would scream and scream until we came to rescue her). She was happiest standing up and actually learned to cruise around on furniture very young (7 months).

She wanted to explore the house, couldn't walk yet, hated being on her tummy - so she was one unhappy baby until we got her a walker. She loved that thing and would fly around the house in it (we didn't have any stairs in our house and had wood floors so it was safe enough for her). She learned to walk really early, and only AFTER she learned to walk did she learn to crawl.

We never used a walker for our younger daughter because she loved crawling and being on her tummy, and seemed in no hurry to learn to walk. Also she would climb anything, so putting her in something on wheels wasn't such a great idea.

Anyhow, that was our experience. I hope it helps you!

NOTE: after reading a few other responses, I feel I have to chime in... as I mentioned, my older daughter never crawled. She's now 5 and just graduated from Kindergarten, and can read at a second grade level, can do some pretty complex math in her head, and is in a ballet class with third graders - the kid can do jumps that I couldn't do until jr. high. She has a huge vocabulary and I can't get her to shut up. Some kids just never crawl, but it's not necessarily anything to worry about!

I agree with everyone who says just let him learn to crawl for brain organization and development. My daughter was so tiny and I loved seeing her in a walker. She learned to read early, but with little progress until I put her back on the floor at age 7 and had her military crawl on her tummy 1/4 mile a day and on her knees creep 1/2 mile a day. This does organize her brain and all the "prisons" that parents put their children in is a big mistake, such as playpens, cribs, walkers. swings, anything that hinders their ability to move.My daughter just graduated with a masters degree and swears her reading ability was due to my having her crawl and creep at age 7. She also has a brain-injured sibling who had to do this for a long time, so she would be coordinated and learn to read, etc. Allow you child to go through the natural stages of development--if they do not get enough of it, it will hinder them.