The Best Walkers for Babies
Baby walkers are a controversial subject, because they are potentially dangerous to infants. Consumer Reports wrote in April 2007 that baby walkers allowed the baby to move around, but posed many risks, such as falling down stairs, knocking over baby safety gates, falling off patios and decks and falling over if the wheels got stuck. Due to the potential dangers, it is important to choose the best walker in order to minimize the dangers for your baby.
Other People Are Reading
-
Look at the Wheels
-
The wheels are one of the main safety considerations when buying a baby walker. Parents should look for wheels which have a wide base. Consumer Reports states that the wide wheel base on a walker will help promote stability, which prevents injuries caused by the tipping over of the walker.
Avoid Convertible Walkers
-
Walkers that convert between a sit on and a push walker are often less safe than the models that do not convert, because they are not as stable as the other types of walkers. Consumer Reports states that if you use a walker that converts, avoid changing it to the push setting, to avoid injuries to your baby.
-
Choose Heavy Push Walkers
-
For parents who are thinking of a push walker, which is designed to be pushed by the baby, avoid the convertible versions and buy the type which are designed specifically for walking behind. Look at the weight of the walker and buy a heavier walker for stability purposes. Baby walkers which are pushed from behind have a risk of not having enough stability if they are not heavy enough.
Test With the Baby
-
Put the baby in a floor sample of the walker in which you are interested and look at whether the baby's feet can reach the ground or not. If the baby's feet do not reach the ground, and the walker is not height adjustable, look at another walker. Baby should not stretch to reach the ground, which results in walking on toes and developing foot muscles in the wrong order.
Examine the Add-ons
-
Be sure that toys attached to the walker are secure and that any small screws also are secure, to avoid potential choking hazards, suggests Consumer Reports.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images
