When babies can crawl but not walk, many mothers are willing to put their babies in a baby walker, thinking that it is both effortless and safe. However, in reality, it is very detrimental to the baby's growth. Baby walkers should be used less or not at all, especially not too early. Do not use them before the baby has learned to crawl. Using baby walkers too early and too often can have many negative effects on the baby.
1. Missed exercise opportunities
Baby walkers keep the baby fixed inside them, depriving them of the opportunity to learn various movements. If the baby is in the crawling stage, they will miss out on the exercise of crawling. If the baby is in the standing and walking stage, they will not be able to stand on their own, which may delay their ability to walk in the future. Using baby walkers can also lead to poor body balance and overall muscle coordination in babies, causing sensory integration dysfunction and increasing the occurrence of "X" and "O" shaped legs.
2. Negative impact on cognitive development
Using baby walkers can also hinder the baby's ability to connect with various objects around them. They will only know how to rush towards the left or right. Without anyone approaching them, they may become aggressive and impulsive. Parents who are busy with their own affairs do not talk to their babies or hold their hands to practice walking, which can affect the baby's sensory learning, thinking, and language development.
3. High risk
When using baby walkers, accidents are more likely to occur because parents cannot keep an eye on the baby. With no one close to the baby, they may rush around in the walker and accidentally touch the edges of doors, stones, or carpets, causing the walker to tip over. They may also hit their hands on the corners of walls or tables, resulting in injuries.
