Sit in baby walkers – what has research found?
When you hold your baby they may take a little weight on their legs, and they might seem to prefer being held in a standing position. If you're thinking about getting a baby walker as they become stronger, you'll be interested in what research into baby walkers has found.
The use of baby walkers is not recommended by health professionals for two reasons: the first is linked to safety concerns and the second is that using a walker might delay walking.
Risk of accidents
The Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists suggests that the use of baby walkers, even when supervised, is associated with a high number of accidents each year, including bumps, head injuries and trapped arms and legs.[1] The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) discourages the use of baby walkers due to concerns about accidents.
No evidence to suggest they support earlier walking
Interestingly, there is no evidence from research that supports the view that baby walkers support earlier walking. In fact, some evidence suggests that baby walkers might affect the development of crawling, sitting and walking. However, this evidence is from studies that are not considered to be high quality and a research review carried out in 2017 suggested that there is not enough evidence to support calls for a ban on baby walkers.[2]
Other ways to support your baby's development
The Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists have suggestions for how to support your baby’s development without the use of a baby walker. They recommend encouraging:
- Tummy time on the floor
- Rolling and sitting
- Crawling and pulling to stand
- Supported standing[1] (standing while holding the furniture)
So, keep giving your baby time to play and move on their tummy and in other positions. This will help them to develop strength and control of their muscles, as well as body awareness, and will help them to progress as they become stronger to standing and walking. Just remember, learning to walk will take lots of time and practice – and there's no rush!
References:
[1] Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists. (2020). Babywalkers – are they necessary? Information for parents.
[2] Badhian S, Adihan N and Yaghini O (2017) The Effect of Baby Walker on Child Development: A Systematic Review. Iran J Child Neurol. 11(4):1-6
More information
https://www.rospa.com/home-safety/resources/policy-statements/child-safety