Advantages And Disadvantages Of Baby Walkers
Baby walkers are the intermediate stage between the baby carriage and the beginning of crawling. It is a structure that allows our children to walk in an assisted way. What effects do these devices have on children?
First, the baby walker supports the baby and keeps him fastened with seat belts so he doesn’t fall over. In addition, small wheels are incorporated, which allow the child to move freely in any direction.
3 Advantages of Baby Walkers
Boost independence
When a child starts to crawl and try to walk unprotected, we parents need to be aware of their steps.
Somehow this protective instinct restricts the child’s movements and independence.
However, at the beginning of their movements and steps, the child should be able to move around safely.
Parents don’t need to be so careful if they use walkers. In principle, these aids offer complete security and guarantees.
Mothers have greater freedom
One of the reasons baby walkers are used is that moms and dads can be a little freer.
This is essential to avoid stress for both of them and to allow them to carry out their household chores.
Generate entertainment and fun for children
On second thought, the baby walker is like a toy for our children.
With this device they spend hours of fun, experience their first walks and enjoy the feeling of walking.
In addition, the decorations of these devices, nowadays, are made with bright colors and even with some toys for the little ones to have fun.
Some companies make this device a learning tool. Shapes, colors, sensations and even sounds are incorporated to achieve more attractive products.
Undoubtedly, all this contributes for the child to have new experiences that can be useful for their development.
3 Disadvantages of Baby Walkers
The device does not stimulate the child’s development
Being artificially assisted, children are not too concerned with mastering their movements. The walker supports your weight and the walking experience is not complete.
Also, certain theories indicate that the use of walkers can cause some distortions.
Although there are many advantages in using walkers, the child is not really learning to walk by themselves. Leg muscles are exercised, but with help.
Without a doubt, the ideal would be a balance between not using walkers and using them continuously.
Even if the child walks with this mechanical help while the parents are doing their housework, from time to time it is convenient to let them take their little steps with their own legs.
Delays the transition between crawling and walking
The transition between crawling and the first steps takes place just when the walkers are most used.
We must not forget that, although the child’s movements are very limited, it is a necessary process for his development.
What happens with the walker is that this transition is delayed and can hinder its development.
It is critically important for parents to ensure that babies go through all of these steps. Walking is not just a matter of mobility, but of muscle development.
Baby walkers prevent falls and this is part of learning
Parents don’t want their children to fall when they try to take their first steps.
We should not forget that these controlled falls are an important part of children’s development.
Certainly falls can hurt and represent a feeling of emptiness and danger. However, with them, children learn how to move in relation to space and gravity.
At this point, we must insist that the problem is not only related to the walker, but above all to overprotection.
What really matters is not the fact of avoiding some small falls, which will even teach the child. It is essential to avoid the risk of surrounding elements and have a suitable floor at home.
In short, baby walkers can alter the development of our children.
But beyond that, there should be no more risks in letting our children have fun once in a while with this device.
