Every young parent is waiting for the child to acquire new skills and abilities. There are a lot of such moments for children of the first year of life. One of the most important and important skills that a child learns is walking. No one can teach this, however, adults can help.
Types of walkers
There are two fundamentally different types of baby walkers. The first is a structure very similar to a highchair with a four-wheeled frame. These walkers are often equipped with various music buttons to keep the child entertained, or a small table where toys can be placed. The second type is more like a swing. Walkers of this type are mounted in a doorway or free space between walls. This type assumes less maneuverability and freedom of movement of the child. Both versions of the walker have a seating position in which the seat holds the baby firmly.
In a walker on wheels, the child can move relatively freely in space. Swing walkers are more designed to keep parents calm.
When to plant in a walker
Any invention in the children's industry makes a splash, walkers are no exception. Their main function is to help the child learn to walk. Are they fulfilling their function?
The first question to ask yourself is: at what age can a child be put on a walker? You should not forcefully accelerate natural processes. A child learns everything when his body is so strong that he can move to the next "level" without any danger. First, the child must learn to sit, and he must sit confidently, not topple over in different directions. This usually occurs between the ages of 7-8 months. If you put your baby on the walker too early, there is a risk of spinal injury. So, your child is sitting, even better if he already stands well, then you can be sure that you will not harm the health of the baby.
Let's get back to the main question: do walkers help a child learn to walk? Of course, for toddlers there is a significant difference in the view from the sitting and standing positions. When a child is standing, he can see farther and higher, which means that even more opportunities open up for him to explore the world around him. Considering this aspect, the walker fulfills its function and stimulates the child to walk.
Pros and cons
Like any invention, they have their positive and negative sides. Before buying, make sure that the walker is really the right thing for your little one. Think about how much time your child will spend in the walker, and would it benefit him or her?
Of course, a walker is an indispensable thing when you need to do household chores. You will be sure that the child, being in the walker, will not be able to get hurt or maimed. However, even such small children are very resourceful and can get out of the dense structure. Therefore, the child should not be left unattended, even if he is in the walker.
On the other hand, a child sits in a walker, which means that he does not put his entire foot on a hard surface of the floor, touching it only with his toes. This position will not allow the foot to form correctly, and this will further inhibit the baby's learning to walk. Movement in a walker is carried out by tilting the body forward, which contradicts the main principle of walking - balance. Walkers protect the baby from falling, but the constant protection does more harm to the baby than good.
Do not think that a walker will teach a child to walk, you can only learn it yourself, so give your child the opportunity to try your hand.
If the child is under the constant supervision of adults, think again, weigh the pros and cons, read reviews about the walker and the corresponding forums on the Internet, it is highly likely that your child simply does not need them.
