Guest guest Posted October 4, 2000 Report Share Posted October 4, 2000 I believe there has been a suggestion that babywalkers can damage a baby's pelvic bones if the child is allowed to spend too long in one, also that they can hinder walking, rather than aid it, as the action needed to propel a walker is different to that for real walking. That doesn't take into account the likelihood of accidents, either from the walker tipping over, falling down steps or parents not realising their baby can now reach into places it couldn't two minutes previously! Last time I read anything about it, the professional body of physiotherapists wanted them to be banned. Lesley, whose DS1 had an accident in baby walker and never used one again! ---------- Sue said.....Having been caught out before by not buying equipment in advance, DH and I are now being organised! I was discussing " baby walkers " with my mother (I'm not sure what they're called -you know the things which they sit in and wheel themselves about) and she says that although she thought they were great " in her day " she's since heard that they can be damaging to the physical development of young chlidren! Could anyone shed any light on this? DS is only just coming up to three months, but we'd like to start shopping around. Thanks, Sue (Valois) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2000 Report Share Posted October 4, 2000 On Wed, 04 Oct 2000 07:17:30 -0000, " Sue Valois " wrote: >Having been caught out before by not buying equipment in advance, DH >and I are now being organised! I was discussing " baby walkers " with >my mother (I'm not sure what they're called -you know the things >which they sit in and wheel themselves about) and she says that >although she thought they were great " in her day " she's since heard >that they can be damaging to the physical development of young >chlidren! Could anyone shed any light on this? DS is only just coming >up to three months, but we'd like to start shopping around. I don't know about damaging, but they are supposed to be dangerous because of the possibility of tipping on uneven surfaces. ISTR that there have been a number of accidents where a baby has wheeled itself onto an uneven surface, or over a drop of some sort, and tipped over/out. Suggests they weren't being supervised when these accidents happened, though. I did hear stuff about baby bouncers (the things you stick in doorways) possibly being responsible for poor spinal development, so I guess the same could be true of baby walkers. If there is any doubt, don't use, is my motto. They're not exactly natural, are they ? I preferred to stick to the tried and tested over thousands of years, and put Dan on the floor a lot. :-) He was crawling by just under 6 months, and walking at 10 months. Cheers, -- Clare Lusher. SAHM to Ruairí (24.10.99). NCT Member Derby & District. www.yum.org/clare " The newborn baby will have only three demands. They are warmth in the arms of its mother, food from her breasts, and security in the knowledge of her presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three. " - Dr. Grantly Dick-Read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2000 Report Share Posted October 4, 2000 >I was discussing " baby walkers " with >my mother <snip> >and she says that >although she thought they were great " in her day " she's since heard >that they can be damaging to the physical development of young >chlidren! Could anyone shed any light on this? She may have seen something like the piece below, taken from the Trading Standards website at www.tradingstandards.gov.uk I searched on 'baby walkers' and this is what came up. It referred to a survey of 10 baby walkers a couple of years ago where, IIRC, 7 or 8 out of 10 were found to be unsafe, almost all of them made by major names. As I think Clare said, the danger mainly seems to be from non- supervision and parents not really being aware of the potential dangers of a suddenly mobile baby able to reach higher than the parent would expect. There was some call for them (babywalkers) to be made illegal but IIRC it's because it is not the products that are dangerous but the incorrect use of them that it's not been possible. HTH, -- Sue <Quote> Trading Standards' 'Horror' At Implications Of Court Ruling Date: 23rd November 1999 The Trading Standards Institute was today 'horrified' at the implications of a court ruling which strikes a major blow at local authorities' efforts to warn the public about unsafe products. Its Chairman, Sibbert, is now urging Trade and Industry Secretary Byers to take urgent action to change the law so that Trading Standards Departments can issue press releases about matters of concern as soon as they come to light. The High Court ruled today (23rd November) that a press notice put out by Liverpool City Council in an effort to alert people that certain brands of baby-walkers were dangerous was unlawful. The Baby Products Association had claimed that the council did not have the legal power to issue the warning that samples of ten baby-walkers failed to comply with British Standard Safety specification. The Lord Chief Justice agreed with the Association and upheld its complaint, although he did accept that the council had acted in good faith. Roderick, Lead Officer on Product Safety for the Trading Standards Institute, said: 'We are horrified at the implications of the decision. 'It is of prime importance that Trading Standards Departments have the power to warn the public at the earliest opportunity when they consider products to be unsafe. 'The use of the media is the best and quickest way to spread the message. 'The Institute will be pressing for an urgent change in the law.' Local Trading Standards Departments throughout the country had been waiting anxiously for the ruling, which has major implications about when they are legally allowed to go public with warnings about products. The press release at the centre of the court battle was issued through the Department of Trade and Industry in April 1998 and resulted in a blaze of publicity. Mr Sibbert said: 'We share Liverpool Council's disappointment and concern at the implications of the judgement. 'It is appalling that Trading Standards Departments' hands should be tied in this way and I am seeking an urgent meeting with the Department of Trade and Industry to urge a change in the law.' </Quote> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2000 Report Share Posted October 4, 2000 > >She may have seen something like the piece below, taken from the Trading >Standards website at www.tradingstandards.gov.uk > >I searched on 'baby walkers' and this is what came up. It referred to a >survey of 10 baby walkers a couple of years ago where, IIRC, 7 or 8 out >of 10 were found to be unsafe, almost all of them made by major names. IIRC the 'problem' with some of the 7/8 unsafe babywalkers was that the safety information labels were not permanently fixed, not any structural defect. Lynda SAHM to (7), (5), Fraser (2), Callum (15/5/00) Newsletter editor, Mid-Northumberland Branch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2000 Report Share Posted October 4, 2000 There was some research saying (I think) how baby walkers don't teach the baby how to walk and in fact can be detrimental to their health as babies have fallen downstairs in them(!) and as they aren't yet able to asses dangers can speed in them getting to hot drinks on tables and so on and pull the drinks over. I have said before that I like them. DS3 now 6 months and crawling well, his has been binned. I use mine for all 4 when they are at the stage of wanting to be up right but not really able to sit for long periods, or wanting to be mobile and frustrated at not being. Once they have become mobile then the walker has gone away. DD spent the most time in hers as she didn't crawl until 8 months but the boys have all crawled around 6 months. DD walked at a year, DS1 at 8 months DS2 at !0 months and DS3 is now walking round the furniture at 6 months. Mc SAHM 6, Olivia 3, 1, 15/3/00 Nearly Ex-Editor Wallingford and District Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2000 Report Share Posted October 4, 2000 A friend's child used one quite a lot and was *extremely* slow to start walking, mainly because he couldn't put his whole foot to the floor. He had been so used to using his toes to propel himself about, that he could only put his toes to the floor. Took them ages to teach him how to walk properly. That's apart from the accidents caused by them toppling over steps, etc. Alison Having been caught out before by not buying equipment in advance, DH and I are now being organised! I was discussing " baby walkers " with my mother (I'm not sure what they're called -you know the things which they sit in and wheel themselves about) and she says that although she thought they were great " in her day " she's since heard that they can be damaging to the physical development of young Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2000 Report Share Posted October 4, 2000 Clare said....here have been a number of accidents where a baby has wheeled itself onto an uneven surface, or over a drop of some sort, and tipped over/out. Suggests they weren't being supervised when these accidents happened, though. ------ DH and I were standing next to DS2 when he had his accident, so it isn't necessarily because they are unsupervised. Small children can move very quickly! Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2000 Report Share Posted October 4, 2000 >HV at the local clinic recommended baby-bouncer instead. I was always terrified of baby bouncers and gave them (yes we were given two) away practically unused! The only time I ever felt confident they wouldn't smash open Steffi's head was when we used them over a tree branch in the garden. Call me paranoid.... :-) -- Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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