Walkers for toddlers in our country are considered something important, and in the list of purchases for a child they often stand next to a crib, a stroller and a bathtub. They are considered a good and practical gift for the newborn and his parents. But whether they are really so important is a question that from time to time arises in the heads of all parents.
Another topic that worries mothers is whether the walker will harm the child's development. Evgeny Komarovsky, a children's doctor recognized by millions of parents and the author of numerous books and articles on the health of babies, has an answer to these questions.
What it is?
As defined by Wikipedia, a walker is an assistive device for disabled and elderly people. Their main task is to help a person maintain an upright body position, balance while walking. The first patented devices for adults appeared in the mid-1940s.
The history of the emergence of baby walkers is more recent, and most experts are inclined to think that it was a good marketing ploy. The first such products, which were positioned as children, appeared in England in 1953. And devices for babies on wheels, almost as we see them now, were designed in the USA in 1970.
In Russia, walkers in stores began to be sold only about 20 years ago. The fact is that during the Soviet era, pediatric standards did not imply the use of such devices: doctors considered them harmful to the development of the child, and therefore the country banned the production and sale of walkers. Now many experts are returning to those standards and claim that these prohibitions were more than reasonable and correct.
However, walkers have entered our lives, and now parents need to weigh well all the advantages and disadvantages of this invention in order to understand whether it is necessary to buy them for their own child.
Doctors believe that it is quite natural to help adults when walking, who previously knew how to move on two legs, but due to illness or injury have lost this opportunity. But the use of baby walkers for babies who have not yet made a single independent step in this life raises many questions, contradictions and disputes.
"Pros and cons"
Evgeny Komarovsky considers walkers to be an adaptation that has a very beneficial effect on parents, and not on a baby. They were created, first of all, in order to make life much easier for mom. It's very convenient - I put the baby in a walker and went to cook, wash, iron, watch TV or work at the computer. The kid will not go anywhere from them, will not fall, will not stumble upon an acute angle.
However, parents quite often complain that the child managed to fall out of the walker. This does not happen by itself, but, mainly, if the mother has not taken safety measures. A rolling device can topple over when colliding with steps, with solid large single objects that can get caught in the wheel, or if the child is not properly secured in the walker.
Modern walkers have bright colors, almost all models are equipped with a play area with fixed toys, and there are musical walkers.
Therefore, the child, by and large, is not against such a pastime, because in a walker it is more interesting for him than in a crib. Supporters and admirers of adaptations argue that they carry the most important developmental function. This statement cannot be considered true, since there is at least some proven benefit from the presence of an infant in a frame on wheels. Walker sellers fail to prove their beneficial effect, no matter how hard they try.
But there are quite reasonable opinions of doctors, who argue that walkers are not only harmful to the child, but also dangerous. Yevgeny Komarovsky argues that the decision whether to use a walker should be made only by parents, and no one else. He does not think that an hour spent in the walker is dangerous for the health of the baby, but a few are already an alarming signal. A measure is needed in everything, and with regard to verticalizing devices, which include walkers, this statement is doubly true.
What is the danger?
Nature ordered in such a way that the child in its development goes through several stages, which is clearly confirmed by the main stages of evolution. First, the baby lies, then masters coups, then begins to try to crawl, sit, and only after that - to walk. This sequence is important for further normal development. An insufficiently strengthened spine does not allow the child to sit on its own, and weak muscles of the back, abdomen, as well as lateral muscles prevent the baby from crawling and getting up confidently.
The child must go through all stages on his own, says Evgeny Komarovsky. He will sit down when his back is ready for this, and will go when the spine and muscular skeleton get stronger. If parents begin to force events, force the child to sit down, stand before the time allotted to him, then the vertical load on the spinal column, weak from birth, will increase significantly. This is fraught not only with poor posture in the future, but also with more serious consequences, which can even lead to disability.
Early verticalization is a sure way to diseases of the spine and musculoskeletal system.
From this point of view, the use of a walker poses a certain danger to children who are not yet able to sit and crawl on their own. Komarovsky strongly discourages the use of such devices for children under the age of 9 months in general.
Further, depending on the skills and development of the child, the walker can be used for half an hour - forty minutes a day. But the baby should not be in them all the time while he is awake, because the baby is not yet able to understand his feelings and inform his parents that his back is tired. And the harm of vertical load is relevant for children aged 10 months, and even a year.
We recommend reading about this in more detail in the article "From how many months can a child be put on a walker and is it worth doing"
How to choose?
The choice of a walker is as simple a matter as it might seem at first glance. After all, the range of such goods in all children's stores is quite large. For a child who has already learned to stand up with support, but still does not know how to take the first steps, you can purchase a walker on wheels. The main thing in them is a solid foundation. Make sure it is wide enough, made of sturdy plastic, and that the casters are secure but can rotate easily.
The seat should be comfortable, the back should be soft. It is best to buy a walker that has the ability to adjust the planting depth.
For children who have already learned how to take their first steps, but are still very wobbly and uncertain, you can choose a walker-pusher. When choosing them, you need to pay attention to the fact that the height is adjustable or is initially optimal for your baby, so that the baby does not hunch over or stretch upward behind the handrails.
The material from which the verticalizing device is made must be strong, environmentally friendly (after all, kids will definitely taste it, by the tooth). The walker must be stable. It is desirable that they be equipped with a developing table so that the baby is interested.
Before choosing, it is best to read the reviews of certain models that were compiled by other parents.
How to use it correctly?
If parents already know about the age and length of stay in the walker, they should definitely check their knowledge of the operation of the device. You should not put a child in forcibly if he resists this in every possible way, does not want or is afraid of a walker. You cannot leave your child alone in the walker unattended. It is optimal if the mother will do household chores in the same room where the child will move in the walker.
Such devices should not be used for children with diseases of the musculoskeletal system - it is very harmful. Also, walkers are contraindicated for boys and girls, who were previously reasonably (based on X-ray) diagnosed by the doctor with rickets. You should not try to put a child with severe neurological disorders in them, such as cerebral palsy, for example.
Even if your family has a perfectly healthy baby, you should definitely consult a pediatrician before using a walker.
If the doctor sees no contraindications, you can plant the child in compliance with safety rules and, of course, wisely.
Doctor Komarovsky's advice
Summing up all of the above, we can highlight the main recommendations that pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky gives in his programs and publications.
If a walker was presented to you for the birth of a child, you should remove them away until 9 months. Until this age, it is best to encourage the child to crawl, since it is this method of movement that allows the child's spine and muscles to get stronger faster.
Claims that walkers will teach you to walk and strengthen muscles are nothing more than a myth. On the contrary, walkers deprive the child of a sense of balance, create the illusion of a safe space. Children who spend a lot of time in a walker usually start walking on their own later than their peers. They are afraid, because they have not learned to group and fall safely in a walker. And muscles are strengthened only by crawling, gymnastics and independent attempts to stand and walk, not restraints.
When placing a child in a walker, his movements should be limited so that the child does not fall on them from the stairs, does not turn over and does not get injured.
The maximum time spent in the walker should not exceed 1 hour. The average "harmless" time spent in the support device is 15 minutes.
It is harmful to be in a walker with a seat for a long time for children who do not lean on their full feet, but on their toes. This can lead to problems with the development of the hip joint, can contribute to problems with the foot. It is much more useful for such children to crawl around the house.
You will learn more about how to choose the correct and safe walker in the following video.
