At What Age Your Baby Can Use a Walker

Now that your baby is showing rapid signs of growth, you must be keen to see him take his first steps. Walking is an important event in the baby’s life and the parents, too, as it signifies independence. To help your baby along this path of discovery and freedom, you may want to encourage him by bringing home a walker.

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• Objects which are out of reach for a crawling baby may come within reach of a baby in a walker, and this could be the cause of injury.

• Your baby’s toes and fingers could be injured as the walker’s design may have folding parts or hinges.

• A walker with wheels reduces your reaction time if it picks up speed and can lead to an accident.

Does Baby Walker Help Balance?

The natural process of rolling over, crawling, standing, and then walking teaches a baby how to balance himself. When you allow the baby to use a walker, the baby’s position causes him to lean forward from the hip. The child does not have to balance himself in a walker. Whether a baby tips to the side or forward, the walker will prevent him from falling. The baby will need to learn to balance himself, afresh.

Are baby walkers safe?

Experts say baby walkers aren't safe – and they don't help babies learn to walk faster, either.

Baby walkers are circular, wheeled toys with suspended seats. They're designed so your baby's feet can touch the ground while they're seated, so they can propel themself around.

Even as new safety features have been implemented over the years, thousands of babies every year end up in emergency rooms and doctor's offices from falling down stairs or bumping into furniture while in a walker.

Walkers on the market now are required to have "stair-fall protection" – either a gripping mechanism that keeps the walker from going over the edge of a stairwell or a design that prevents the walker from fitting through a doorway. Older walkers (such as those bought secondhand) don't have these safety features.

But even with the extra safety features, experts say baby walkers aren't safe to use. Walkers make babies taller, so they might be able to reach dangerous objects (like hot cups of coffee or knives on countertops) or touch a hot stove. Babies could also tip and fall over objects.

(To find out whether a walker or other baby product you own has been recalled, check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's list of recalled products.)

Activity centers and jumpers are much safer alternatives. And baby walking toys – which have wheels so babies can stand in front of them and push them along as they learn to walk – are safe to use.

If you're looking for a toy that you can set your baby in and have a few moments to yourself, activity centers and freestanding jumpers will keep your baby occupied – and stationary, so you don't have to worry about them wandering off. Both offer your baby plenty of opportunities to safely explore and practice their fine motor skills like grasping, grabbing, and shaking, as well as gross motor skills like standing and bouncing.

Experts recommend a 15 to 20-minute limit on time in a jumper or activity center, though, since your baby also needs plenty of floor time to practice their skills independently.

Baby walking toys – also called push toys – are great for when your baby can pull themself up, stand, and even cruise. They give your baby extra support and help them balance. Once they start taking steps, your baby can push the walking toy in front of them.

Just make sure the walking toy is sturdy enough that it won't tip over if your baby uses it to pull themself up. Block off any stairways, as well as rooms you don't want your baby to go in, and supervise your baby while they're playing with the walking toy.

Should I buy a baby walker for my child?

It is best not to buy a baby walker. Most experts and doctors strongly discourage the use of baby walkers as they are known to cause serious injuries and accidents.

Health Benefits of Riding Bikes and Adult Trikes

Being fit and healthy requires physical activity. Regular activity helps to ward of serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and obesity. Great harm is done to bodies that live a sedentary life style. Most people do not like going to gyms because they find them expensive and boring.

Bicycle and adult tricycle riding is a great way to keep active while also keeping a smile on your face. Cycling is a low-impact activity, which means that it something that can be enjoyed by almost everyone. Running is a high impact sport that does damage to knees, feet, and ankles.

Things About Swing Cars

If you’re honest with yourself, you will admit that you secretly envy your baby a little for being born in a decade where he has access to such cool and fancy toys and baby gear. How you wish you could play with those fine quality wooden toys or ride those cute and colourful swing cars which were popular back when you were a kid, but maybe not so affordable. Now, these are not just new and improved but they also come in various types and price ranges, making it possible for every parent to get one for their little racers. Watching your munchkin giggling and flaunting their shiny new toy is bound to get you excited!