Walker for Baby, Anyone?

Would you buy an infant walker for baby? Do you know someone who was not "trained" to walk on a walker?

It's a contraption to support baby while he's practicing his strides and steps. It has wheels and a seat made of fabric to suppport baby while he's standing on his toes.  Some walkers also have toys and a table in front.

[caption id="attachment_1077" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The baby walker: Is it a friend or a foe?[/caption]

I really felt coerced into buying an infant walker for P. Before buying I did some research and found that most baby care websites in the US  do not recommend using walker. As a  matter of fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend banning the sale and use of infant walkers. Based on their study, 8,800 infants aged less than 15 months were rushed to hospitals in the US due to injuries related to using walkers in 1990. Walker injuries may be caused by falling down stairs or poisoning, since babies have access to cleaning products tucked around the house.

While banning and using baby walkers in virtually impossible, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission imposed stricter rules to improve walker safety.

Walkers may not encourage development – baby might be forced to walk before he's ready. According to Baby Center, babies learn to walk by understanding how their feet and legs move.  There's actually a time frame for babies start and learn to walk - 9 to 18 months.

But in the Philippines the infant walker has been a staple in training babies to walk. I was put on a walker. My siblings were put on it too.  My husband and all his siblings were, too. Actually, I really don't know anyone who was not trained on a walker.

Come to think of it, the infant walker was the only gear my MIL insisted on buying.  She said it will encourage baby to walker. Ganito pa ang banat niya. “Tingnan mo ung apo ng kumare ko, 7 months pa lang ang bilis nang maglakad!".  My husband also wanted to buy one, despite the facts i presented based on my research. He said, "Eh sa US kasi hindi naman natututukan ang mga babies, pagkalagay sa walker, pinababayaan na. Si baby naman andami nagbababantay." 

I consulted our pedia about my walker dilemma, she said it's fine so long as baby can sit on his own na.

So i gave in. Mukha naman hindi ko sila makukumbinse otherwise. So off we go to the mall to buy one. To be extra careful I researched on what type of infant walker to buy.

Here are some walker safety features you might want to look for, based on US standard for walkers (ASTM F977-96)

• must be wider than a 36-in doorway


• must have a braking mechanism so walker will stop during a change in surface, say when approaching a stairway

Here are some more cool safety features to look for:

• the more wheels, the better. Wheels will add stability to the walker to avoid tipping over when the babies use it.


• adjustable height so baby's feet can touch the floor

Baby was about 7 months when we bought that Ashworthy Walker from Trinoma. It cost us a whopping Php 3200.  We opted for a high-end walker since it has most of the safety features we were looking for.

If you’re like me who’s hesitant to put baby on walker here are some safety tips:

• Never ever leave baby on walker alone. Guard him closely and make sure he doesn’t stray on stairs and doors.


• What to Expect suggests limiting walker time for 30 minutes every sesion.


• Baby-proof your house early since with walkers, he'll be mobile. It's a good idea to install safety gadgets like these:
  
  [caption id="attachment_975" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Use a safety door gate to limit baby's access to selected grounds only.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_976" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Put cushions on corners of table or cabinet as buffer for any head bump while baby is mobile.[/caption]

To encourage baby to walk, here are some suggestions:

• Encourage him to learn to stand on his own first, before training him to stride or cruise.


• Get him a push toy, like a doll stroller or a push cart. WTE  says push toys provide support for babies who are not quite ready to walk. They also help build baby's strength, balance and confidence so eventually he can stroll on his own.


• Keep his foot bare so he'll get a better touch and feel of the floor. Shoes or slippers distracts your walker candidate. Curious babies will try to "eat" his slipper or shoes instead of focusing on his steps.

Lastly, genes can influence how early baby will walk. If moms or dads walked later on his infancy, chances are baby will walk later on as well. You don't need to rush since baby's  milestones will come at his own pace.

As for baby, i think he enjoys being in the walker so long as he sees other people in the room. He stays there standing and sometimes gliding. After 10 minutes, he gets tired and just wants to be carried and cuddled. For my piece of mind, i just make it a point some one's looking out for him while he's on the walker. The walker must be used only on adult supervision.

Ok, moms and dads, have fun and stay safe always!

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