baby walkers

[Josiah's mom]

Hi, everyone. I haven't posted anything in quite some time. I think the last time I was here, Josiah was going to be having surgery. Well, he has has his surgery and we're about two and half months post surgery. He's getting some movement that he hadn't had before so that's very good. But, we're still waiting for some of those bigger movements. Overall, he's doing really well and I'm so happy it's over with. My question for everyone is this: do you recommend baby walkers? Josiah isn't walking or crawling yet; he gets around by scooting on his bottom. We go to therapy twice a week and we're working on these things. His therapist is completely against them and from the research that I've done, it seems like everyone else is against it as well. I trust his therapist and I like where we're going with his therapy. It's my mother. She is constantly telling me that she's going to get one and use it while she's babysitting and constantly bringing up the fact that not all doctors know about these things and though she respects me as a mother, she's got the experience and I should listen to her. I love her very much but it's really bothering me and I don't know how to convince her to leave it alone. I don't even care about convincing her to believe what I do, just to leave the whole subject alone. Anyway, sorry so long. I hope everyone is doing well and I look forward to any opinions or advice on the topic. Thanks so much. Sarah

[kamren]

Baby walkers can be dangerous...I wouldn't use one. We had one with our first (he is now 12) It colapsed with him in it. It only pinched him, and left a nasty bruise, but it could have been much worse.

I would continue to just let him scoot on his bottom. My mom says that when I was a baby, I never crawled either...I laid on my back and scooted everywhere. I scooted all the hair off the back of my head!!! She was so thrilled when I started walking and my hair got to grow!

[Karen Hillyer]

Throw the walker away!
Josiah will gain so much more from scooting around the floor, my sons therapist told me to throw the walker away and let him get round by himself.
he started commando crawling at 8 months crawling on all fours by 13 months and walking around 17 months.
My older boy had the walker and wouldn't walk until he was 22 months.
Josiah is MUCH better off getting to know his body and how to move it round.
Have faith!
Karen

[Kath]

I never crawled but walked early about 9 months.

All of my children walked early but I never owned a walker I was told how dangerous they were when I had my first child 37 years ago.

I think your son will learn more from scooting around - he will learn how to get up and to move even if his bpi arm cannot help him. he will work his way around things and probably use his arm more on the floor.

Just say thanks but my therapist said no and they know what is best for his recovery... maybe your mom will accept a no better from the therapist.

good luck
Kath