Dispense with baby walkers

Children do not need help to learn how to walk

08/08/2012

Most parents can not wait for their child to take their first steps. Learning aids for running, so-called baby walkers, are therefore quite popular. But „the belief in promoting or accelerating the development of movement through baby-walkers is a mistake“, so the statement of „Federal Working Community (BAG) More safety for children“.

Also Maria Flothkötter from „Network Healthy in life“ warned against forcing the first steps of a toddler with the baby walkers. Parents should in their opinion prefer to do without devices such as a baby walker or other aids to learning to walk. Because these not only lead to restrictions on natural movement sequences, but also entail a considerable accident risk.

Impairment of motor development by baby walkers
According to the opinion of the experts of the „Network Healthy in life“, „the Federal Working Group More safety for children“ and the professional association of paediatricians are generally not recommended walkers. „Because of such devices, the babies receive no incentive to move themselves“, explained the project manager of the „Network Healthy in life“, Maria Flothkötter. Also the manager of the „BAG More safety for children“, Martina Abel, emphasized that the nice well-equipped devices with game board, rattle and figures rather affect the motor age appropriate development of the little ones. According to Abel, the baby walkers provide the children „Movement possibilities that extend their range of motion, but severely limit natural movement sequences.“

Increased accident risk through baby walkers
In addition to the motor impairments also threaten accidents with serious head injuries through the use of baby walkers, so the warning of the experts. The Association of Paediatricians estimates that around 6,000 children suffer an accident each year from the use of baby walkers. Head injuries are most common, ranging from abrasions to skull fractures. often „The little ones, including baby walkers, fall over door sills or even down stairs“, reports the „BAG More safety for children“ On your webpage. At speeds of up to ten kilometers per hour, which even small children can achieve with baby walkers, a risk that can hardly be underestimated. For as fast as the accident happens, parents often can not respond. For good reason, for example, baby walkers have been banned in Canada since 2004.

Children need their individual motor development time to learn how to walk
In general, the impatience of parents when waiting for the first steps of the child is quite understandable, but they should not force them with a baby walker. Every healthy child learns to walk, but needs his own individual motor development time, according to the experts. Also running through often quite new problems, because much that does not belong in children's hands, is suddenly accessible. Parents should therefore by no means underestimate the danger that children in baby walkers can get to elevated objects from tables or shelves. For example, the Association of Pediatricians has many cases in which children with a baby walker have torn cups or bowls of hot liquid off the table and scalded themselves. (Fp)

Image: Pierroa