If you are like most parents, you look forward to the day your child begins to walk.
You may even be considering getting a baby walker to help encourage your child to take his or her first steps.
However, with so many different types of walkers available, you simply may not know how to find a safe and reliable baby walker for your child.
Here are some tips on what to look for in a baby walker:
Smooth Floor Or Carpeting
Whether you choose a baby walker for carpet or one for smooth floors, you are going to want to make sure that the wheels on the walker move easily enough, so that the baby can get the walker to move.
But you also want to ensure they are stiff enough so that the walker won’t run away when the baby tries to walk with it, resulting in tumbles and spills.
After all, a child who is just beginning to take his first steps, simply can’t keep up with a walker that moves rapidly.
Sit In Walker Or Push And Pull Type
You are also going to have to choose between a sit in walker or the push and pull type.
Keep in mind that if you choose a sit in walker, you are going to want one with an adjustable seat.
A walker that has a high seat will force your child to walk on his toes, while a seat that is too low will force your child to either learn to walk with knees bent or stand up to walk, which could leave them to get tangled up.
Push and pull walkers on the other hand, simply give your child something to use to pull themselves up to standing position, then walk while giving them something to hang on to.
A push walker should be heavy enough so that it doesn’t tip over when your child pulls themselves up, but easy enough to push so that they don’t get frustrated when they try to walk.
Usefulness Of The Walker
You also want to consider the long term usefulness of the walker.
There are walkers available that have added features that encourage a child to explore opening doors, ringing bells, and sliding beads, long before they are ready to take their first steps.
Other walkers, such as wagon walkers, can be used by your child as a wagon for play, long after they are walking on their own.
The more use your child can get from that walker, the better value it will be.
Safety Issues To Consider
While walkers can and do encourage your child to walk, and help to build gross motor skills, you do have to consider the safety issues surrounding walkers.
Here are some things you need to consider:
- Never leave your child unattended with any kind of walker. There are hundreds of accidents a year that occur when a child users a walker. Children using walkers should always be under strict supervision, and the parent should remain close by, in case the child should lose their balance or attempt to climb into, on or out of a walker.
- Walkers and stairs don’t mix! If you live in a two story home, make sure you have baby gates on the stairs, both at the top and the bottom. Never use a walker on an upstairs level if you have an open stairwell.
- Don’t allow older children to push your child in a sit down walker. An older child can move faster than your baby’s legs can move, and if they are pushing your infant in a sit down walker, the infant’s legs can’t keep up with the speed, and they may end up with a broken leg or injured knee joints.
Choosing a walker that is sturdy and safe, doesn’t move too fast, and using common sense when your child is using a walker, will encourage your child to walk, while keeping him safe and injury free.
Related Information
You might be interested in our extensive reviews and comparison table on the best baby walker for carpet products currently available.
Alternatively, you might prefer to take a look at some of the best old fashioned baby walkers currently available, that perhaps bring back memories of your own childhood.
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