There is no set age for a child to use a walker, but you need to consider the child’s strength, development, and size before making a decision. Walkers generally feature a design for babies between 4 and 16 months of age. Otherwise, the child must be able to hold the head upright and the feet firm enough to touch the floor when you place him on the walker.
The baby’s natural process of twisting, crawling, standing, and walking teaches him to maintain balance. If you let your baby use a walker, the baby’s position will cause the baby to lean forward. The child does not need to balance while in the walker. Regardless of whether the child lean to the side or ahead, the walker prevents the baby from falling.
However, after the baby uses the walker, he must balance himself again and walk without the walker. The most challenging question for many parents is when to use a walker. The following guide provides detailed information on when to use the walker for infants.
Now, Let’s Check Out When To Use Walker For Infant
When the baby is good at crawling
When a baby starts crawling or even tries to walk without help, parents follow his every move, which hinders him from learning to stand or walk. And, in one way or another, this protective purpose restricts our children’s movements and independence. When babies crawl and walk, they need the ability to move safely. When your child uses a walker, he doesn’t need to be interrupted and can be more independent. It, therefore, becomes necessary to use a walker as it guarantees security and safety.
When parents need time for other activities
One reason many parents use walkers is that they require time for other activities. Typically, this is important to prevent overwhelming the parents. Of course, this allows them to perform other necessary tasks at home, such as cooking and cleaning. Most walkers come with simple toys or attractive gadgets to keep the baby busy. They feature a unique design to stimulate mental growth and also provide visual stimulation.
Growing children can have fun in their walkers for hours while trying their first steps and enjoying the rolling sensation. Baby walkers come in various exciting colors and usually contain items for playing. Some walkers also function as activity centers to compliment your child’s learning. Shapes, colors, feelings, and even sounds integration into the walker are expected to make it more pleasing to the little ones. Walker allows you to continue your daily tasks while your baby is busy playing with the toys.
When a child manages to get up or tries to get up alone
With the support in hand, the child can have the confidence to take the first steps. This confidence helps the child understand how to stand, helps him or her walk, and tries to deal with it alone.
If your baby does not have musculoskeletal disorders or rickets
Doctors and medical specialists advise not to use a baby walker if your baby has a musculoskeletal disorder or rickets.
When a child is curious and wants to explore the world actively
Babies aging from 8 to 12 months cannot wait to explore their surroundings. The walker can give them the mobility they need and maneuver them without outside help.
When the baby is six months or older
Teach your child how to utilize the baby walker when the baby is at least six months old. The child must first use it for 2-3 minutes. Gradually increase the time by adding 3-5 minutes each day. If your child starts mastering how to walk and move, turn and walk quickly, use them for a total of 40 minutes a day, for instance, eight sets of 5 minutes or two sets of 20 minutes. Do not exceed the time so much to avoid harming the spine of the infant.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is no specific answer to when an infant should use the baby walker, but the age that the doctors and medical specialists recommend is 6 to 8 months. At this age, most children can support themselves and stay upright without physical support. Observe your child and assess his physical condition. When buying a baby walker, choose a famous brand for making safe devices, durable and functional for infants and children. Look for baby walkers that feature fall protection and have auto-lock brakes. Some baby walkers also have self-locking wheels that allow the child to stand but do not allow movement. Hopefully, the guide above will help you determine when to use a walker for an infant.
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