It’s the holiday season and you’re looking for the perfect gift. You may have heard that baby walkers can help babies learn to walk faster and have seen them in stores or online. But before you wrap up a baby walker as your child’s holiday present, consider both the pros and cons of giving one.
Pros of Baby Walkers
The biggest pro to giving a baby walker is that they can help babies learn to walk faster. When babies are placed in an upright position, they can push against the ground with their legs without worrying about falling over.
This encourages them to build leg muscles and practice walking movements, which can give them an edge when it comes to developing mobility skills and also give them the confidence they need to take their first steps.
Additionally, many models come with toys attached, making them fun and stimulating for babies.
Baby walkers come in a variety of styles and sizes so you can select one that best suits your baby's individual needs.
Cons of Baby Walkers
However, there are also several cons to giving a baby walker as a gift. For starters, although they do help some babies learn to walk faster, studies have shown that this isn't always the case; in fact, some research suggests that baby walkers actually delay children's development by interfering with natural muscle development and balance.
Another downside is that baby walkers limit babies' ability to explore their environment on their own terms by confining them within a frame which cannot pass through doorways or down stairs.
Furthermore, since most baby walkers lack brakes or other safety features, they may be hazardous if used around stairs or other hard surfaces; this means you'll need to constantly supervise your child while using one.
There have been some incidents of baby's injuring themselves on stairs with baby walkers, so be sure to block off the entrance or exit to any stairs in your home so baby can't get to them.
If you are thinking about purchasing a baby walker as a gift then it's a good idea to get the parents take on whether or not they think a baby walker is beneficial for their child. I, personally, have had baby walkers for both of my kids and found it helped them learn to walk more quickly, but every parent has their own perspective on this.
If you do decide to purchase a baby walker as a gift, then you can check out my guide here to see the best on the market.
Conclusion
Baby walkers are certainly popular gifts during the holidays - but before you decide whether or not one is right for your little one, it’s important to weigh both the pros and cons of giving such a gift.
On one hand, it could be beneficial in helping your child develop walking skills more quickly - but on the other hand, it may not be appropriate for all children’s developmental needs and could even pose certain risks depending on where it’s used.
So if you choose to give a baby walker this Christmas season make sure you do your research first!
