Not all parents of young children are well aware of what a walker is and how their use can affect the child's health. Before using such a device, it is better to consult a pediatrician.
It is a little difficult to feel free with a small child in your arms. There is a lot of controversy around the devices that help mothers free their hands. Jumpers, walkers, slings and kangaroo backpacks - some believe that only irresponsible and lazy mothers can use them. But there is nothing wrong with using these devices, if you observe the measure.
At what age can you use a walker?
Before putting the baby on the walker, parents can ask the pediatrician many questions, the meaning of which boils down to the following: "Is it necessary?" and "Isn't it harmful?"
It should be noted that old school pediatricians may indeed find walkers unnecessary or harmful. But most progressive doctors are more loyal to such a device. For example, when asked at what age a child can be put on a walker, almost everyone answers that the earliest age for this is six months.
At the age of six months, a child can sit quite confidently and hold his back well, without the help of an adult. But the time spent in the walker should not be delayed - for a baby it is quite a serious load. Walkers should be used in accordance with the level of physical development of the child. Before buying such a device for a child, you need to familiarize yourself with the contraindications.
When you shouldn't put your baby in a walker
You should not use such a device if the child is already six months old, but physically he is poorly prepared. This can be expressed in the inability to sit straight and hold your back.
Inflammation of the skin where it comes into contact with the seat; signs of rickets of any stage; hippo or hypertonicity of the baby's legs - any of these developmental troubles can serve as a reason for refusing a walker. You can not sit in the device of a child with a violation of the musculoskeletal system. If the baby is afraid of a new way of movement, it means that while it is not for him, it should not be forced.
You should start using the walker gradually - from three minutes, twice a day. Gradually, the time can be increased by a couple of minutes a day. The limit is 40 minutes. With a prolonged stay in the walker, the child may get back pain - at an older age, this will turn into a serious problem.
For the prevention of flat feet, care must be taken to ensure that the child puts his foot well on the floor. Walkers should be adjusted in height, choose shoes for the baby with a solid sole. You cannot leave him sitting in the walker unattended - small children are unpredictable, and if an adult's help is needed, it must be provided in a timely manner.
