Exersaucers & Development
There are countless toys parents can purchase to aid in a young infant's development. One such item is an Exersaucer. This is a toy that aids an infant in assuming a standing position, much like a walker, but instead of wheels to help the child move throughout the house, an Exersaucer has a stable bottom that causes it to stay in one place. They are typically covered with little toys that make noise, move around and flash to keep the infant entertained. Their role in a baby's development is debated.
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Manufacturers of Exersaucers
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Evenflo, the manufacturer of Exersaucers, and the makers of other similar toys sell the items as toys to help a child reach developmental milestones. The Evenflo website state that the toys help the children learn to walk and balance and are a fun way to exercise leg muscles.
Dissenting View
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There are some concerns about potential downsides to Exersaucers. Pediatricians at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago note that the positioning in Exersaucers can cause babies to naturally bend at the knees and dangle toes or to stand stiff-legged and tippy-toed for extended periods of time. Neither of these is a natural posture conducive to the development of good body alignment.
Further Objections
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Another concern, according to Children's Memorial, is that babies who spend extended time in Exersaucers might develop a curvy spine and pelvic tilting because of the soft nature of the seating apparatus. If babies are placed upright before they are physically ready, the result--for some children--can be negative and long-lasting, actually delaying the development of walking readiness, according to this report.
Considerations
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A baby walking tall.
daughter and father walking image by Tatyana Gladskih from Fotolia.com
This doesn't mean parents should toss the Exersaucer out with the trash. Jessica Sepal, a master of physical therapy, notes that placing a baby in an exersaucer can be entertaining and safe, in small doses. Sessions lasting 10-15 minutes, combined with regular time to play on the floor and learn to use muscles naturally, should not cause damage or delay.
Other Considerations
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Even if children are not placed in the Exersaucer, the toys covering it can be fun and useful from the outside. A child curious about the various toys can play with them from the outside, cruising the perimeter and using the sides to pull up.
In Conclusion
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A baby walking away.
first steps image by Dubravko Grakalic from Fotolia.com
Exersaucers are a fun toy to be used in short sessions. They don't replace old-fashioned tummy time and floor play for enhancing an infant's development, but using an Exersaucer as a fun diversion for a few minutes at a time is acceptable. Parents looking for a shortcut to early walking should be patient.
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- Photo Credit young baby with toy image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com daughter and father walking image by Tatyana Gladskih from Fotolia.com first steps image by Dubravko Grakalic from Fotolia.com
