The Orthopedic Side of Baby Walkers?
Many parents will acquire baby walkers because they seem like an entertaining way to let their babies play. However, there are many arguments as to why baby walkers are not a good option for babies to play. Some of the most common issues mentioned around this topic include the probability of accidents and injuries babies could have in a baby walker. This product offers babies more freedom, and by doing so, it allows them to reach spaces and objects that could be dangerous for them.
In terms of physical health, growth, and development, many believe baby walkers will help their babies learn how to walk faster. Some parents are afraid that their child is taking too long to start making the first steps and decide to buy a baby walker in the hope that this will aid their learning process. Nevertheless, baby walkers can have the opposite desired outcome. They can make their learning process slower since by using baby walkers we do not encourage the baby to use their own body capacities to learn how to walk. If the baby is not walking yet, their body is not ready to do so. This way, baby walkers encourage a premature process. If the baby is still crawling, we should not push them to start walking since crawling is part of the process. They have to complete their crawling stage to help the brain fully develop.
Many expect baby walkers to help their babies, but these tools are actually making the learning process more difficult by delaying muscle and balance control and motor development.
Many parents will buy baby crawlers in the false hope that this will help the baby’s legs gain strength. However, since the body is not ready to walk yet, this can be fairly detrimental. The position in which babies are when using a baby walker makes their weight fall on their hips and knees. Additionally, while walking in a baby walker can help strengthen some leg muscles, they are developing those that are not supposed to be strong at this stage. In the long term, these conditions can create issues in the hips and knee joints and in the legs and the feet. These issues will be noticed in the long term when the child develops conditions that mainly affect their walking.
What to Do Instead
Parents who decide to get their babies using a baby walker do so with the best intentions. It is understandable they want their babies to be amused and stimulated. Many of them want their baby to learn how to walk faster. As we have already debunked, the latter is a myth; baby walkers will not help your baby start walking faster, but the opposite, it can disturb their physical and even their mental development. If parents still want to let their babies use a baby walker to keep them entertained, we recommend limiting its usage to ten minutes per day, and they should watch the baby all the time while they use it.
Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201 Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119