You might have spent your early childhood years toddling around in a baby walker but are unsure about whether to get one for your teensy weensy or not. And you are right to worry. After all, those tiny toes are your most precious commodity. Therefore, the safety of any baby gear should always precede over all the other factors.

The opinions around the use of baby walkers are quite conflicting, with some considering them necessary in encouraging the tots to take those first steps while others deem them altogether unsafe. We will first address the common safety concerns associated with using walkers, followed by a detailed discussion on how to use a baby walker safely.

In this article, we are referring to classic saucer-shaped sit-in walkers where a baby who has not yet learned to walk sits in a suspended seat, with toes lightly touching the ground.

Safety Concerns Associated with a Baby Walker

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has called for a ban on the manufacture and sale of sit-in baby walkers. Let’s look into the factors that make baby walkers unsafe for the babies.

Increased mobility

Babies can move up to three feet per second when seated in baby walkers. This mobility may incur injuries and burns as babies can quickly reach ovens, fireplaces, pools, and cupboards. They may also get their fingers stuck in doorways or cupboards.

Tipping Over

Baby walkers may sometimes topple over, resulting in wounds and injuries.

Increased height

Baby walkers let babies access areas or surfaces they won’t be able to reach otherwise. For instance, increased height can let babies explore unsafe surfaces such as kitchen counters. They might come across hot objects, sharp items, and cleaning products.

Falling down the stairs

Head injury is the most commonly report accident with baby walkers. More often than not, it occurs due to falling down the steps.

Safety Tips for Using a Walker

Now that we have seen what makes a walker unsafe, let’s analyze the precautions we should exercise to prevent all those horrible outcomes.

Let’s not forget that many modern-day walkers are design with the intent of safety for your little ones. They are kept in line with the latest safety standards. You just have to keep a keen eye on your babies in the walker and follow these safety tips to benefit from them.

Make your house baby-walker friendly

Making your house baby walker-friendly is the first step in ensuring your baby’s safety.

Always install stair gates to prevent the walker from falling down the stairs. Take absolutely no chances there.

• Make sure the walker is use on flat surfaces free of any objects to prevent toppling.
• Block access to the pool area if you have one on the premises.
• Remove dangerous items your baby might be able to reach when in a walker such as electric cords, hot drinks, or any chemicals.

Check the Age limit

Always look for the manufacturer’s recommended age limit. If the walker is recommended for a 12-month-old, don’t let your 8-month-old sit in it, no matter how tempting the idea might seem.

Also, don’t use a walker for a baby who cannot sit unassisted. If the tot has started to walk, it might be prudent to take her off the walker.

Don’t gloss over the weight limit

If your baby weighs 25 pounds, don’t buy a walker that can only accommodate babies weighing up to 20 pounds. Bulky babies might tip over the walker that’s not meant for their use.

The baby walker may also not function to the best of its ability if it is saddled with extra weight.

Consider the flooring

Some baby walkers are best suited for hardwood floors and others work better on carpeted floors. Safety consideration for hardwood floors is particularly important as these smooth, polished surfaces hardly offer any resistance. So if you have hardwood floors, look for sturdy bodies and medium-sized wheels so that one do not move too quickly. Always test beforehand if the walker tips over or not on your tiled floors.

Carpeted floors offer enough traction; thus, you might want to get a lighter body walker with large wheels for easy maneuvering.

Choose the Right Baby Walker

Make an educated and conscious choice when buying your baby a walker. Not all walkers adhere to the latest safety standards.

Look for a walker with a base broader than the door width, or the babies might venture into dangerous or unsupervised territories by themselves. A wider base also ensures more stability, avoiding flip overs.

• Look for the one with braking or locking mechanisms to stop the walker from tumbling down the staircase. These brakes will automatically stop the walker when one wheel drops lower than the rest.
• Check for the safety labels to ensure they follow all the latest safety guidelines.
• Some are made from low-grade materials that might expose your little ones to harmful chemicals and substances such as toxic paints or BPA plastics. Steer clear of them!

If you want to learn more about how to go about choosing the right walker for your little one, check out this guide.

Manufacturer’s reliability

Brands like Joovyspoon, Safety First, and Fisher Price, among others, are some of the trusted and reliable manufacturers of baby walkers. Their are manufacture keeping in mind the safety of babies. Moreover, they use superior quality raw materials in their products.

Supervision

Vigilance and constant monitoring can never be overemphasized when it comes to the safety of the little ones. Never leave them unattended in a walker; it is not a nanny. You must supervise them round the clock when they are in baby walkers. Another important rule to follow is to not let your baby sit in a walker for more than 20 minutes in a single stretch.

Don’t forget to read the safety instructions

Last but not least, read the safety instructions that come with a walker and be meticulous about it. You don’t want to miss any important guidelines.

Final Thoughts

Touted for helping with stimulation, sensory skills, balance, and gross motor skills, baby walkers are a popular choice for many parents. They provide plenty of entertainment for the little ones while sparing up some of your time too.

And if you follow our safety tips to a tee, you will find that baby walkers are not only safe but a great accessory to have around for the little ones.

However, if you want to steer clear of the baby walkers, here are some great alternatives for you to consider.

Sources: Are Baby Walkers Safe?