Dr. Komarovsky on walkers: all the pros and cons

Although they have been a common baby product for a long time, are walkers actually beneficial for your child? Some parents are thrilled to have a little extra assistance to keep their infant occupied and moving, while others are concerned about developmental and safety issues. What then is the opinion of a reliable specialist such as Dr. Komarovsky regarding them?

Renowned pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky has offered his opinions on the use of walkers, considering both their advantages and disadvantages. He delves into the potential benefits, such as encouraging mobility and providing parents with a brief respite, but he also draws attention to the serious risks and developmental issues.

It is important to have a complete understanding of the situation before making a choice. Let’s examine Dr. Komarovsky’s observations regarding walkers to assist you in making the best decision for your child.

What is it?

Walkers are an auxiliary device for elderly and disabled people, according to Wikipedia. Their primary function is to assist a person in keeping their balance and erect posture when walking. In the middle of the 1940s, adult devices were patented for the first time.

The majority of experts believe that the appearance of baby walkers was a successful marketing gimmick because their history is relatively recent. In 1953, the first of these products—positioned as children’s—appears in England. Additionally, in the USA, devices for babies on wheels were created in 1970; they are essentially the same as they are today.

Walkers were first offered for sale in Russian stores only 20 years ago. The truth is that pediatric guidelines in the Soviet era did not advocate for the use of these devices; instead, because doctors believed walkers to be detrimental to a child’s development, the nation outlawed their manufacture and distribution. These days, a lot of experts are going back to those guidelines and asserting that these restrictions were both reasonable and accurate.

However, walkers have become a part of our lives, and parents now have to carefully consider all the benefits and drawbacks of this invention to determine whether purchasing one for their own child is necessary.

Doctors believe it is quite natural to assist adults who were formerly able to walk but have lost the ability due to illness or injury. However, there are many doubts, paradoxes, and issues surrounding the use of baby walkers for infants who have not yet taken a single independent step in their lives.

Renowned pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky offers his thoughts on the use of baby walkers, stressing both the advantages and possible drawbacks. Walkers come with safety risks and can impede a baby’s natural motor development, but they can also be convenient for parents and entertaining for young children as they explore their environment. Parents can make educated decisions about whether walkers are the best option for their child by being aware of both sides of the debate.

Pros and Cons

According to Evgeny Komarovsky, walkers are a very useful tool for parents rather than for the child. First and foremost, they are made to greatly ease the mother’s life. It is really convenient, after all, to be able to cook, wash, iron, watch TV, or use the computer while the baby is in the walker. The infant will not run into a sharp corner, will not escape from them, or fall.

Nonetheless, parents frequently lament that their child was able to tumble out of the walker. This does not occur on its own; rather, it mostly occurs when a mother fails to take precautions. The movable device may topple over if it collides with stairs, big, hard objects that could jam in the wheel, or if the child is not properly fastened in the walker.

Contemporary walkers come in vibrant hues, nearly every model has a play area with toys attached, and some even have music.

Because it interests him more in the walker than in the crib, the child is generally not against this kind of activity. The devices’ proponents and admirers assert that they serve the most significant developmental purpose. Since there is no evidence to support the idea that having a baby in a frame on wheels has any advantages, this statement cannot be accepted. Despite best efforts, baby walkers’ sellers are unable to demonstrate their therapeutic benefits.

However, there are credible medical opinions that assert that baby walkers are not just dangerous but also detrimental to a child’s health. According to Evgeny Komarovsky, parents alone should decide whether or not to use baby walkers. While he does not think that a baby’s health is at risk after an hour in a baby walker, multiple hours is already cause for concern. Everything has to have a measure, and this is especially true of verticalizing devices like baby walkers.

What is the danger?

The main stages of evolution unequivocally demonstrate that nature has structured development so that a child goes through multiple stages. The infant lies down initially, learns to roll over, tries to crawl, sit, and only then does it start to walk. This particular sequence is necessary for continued normal development. The child cannot sit on their own due to a weak spine, and they are unable to crawl and stand confidently due to weak back, abdominal, and lateral muscles.

Every stage needs to be completed by the child on their own, according to Evgeny Komarovsky. When his back is ready, he will sit; when his skeleton and muscles are stronger, he will walk. A child’s weak spinal column will experience multiple increases in vertical load if parents start pressuring them to sit and stand before the designated time. This carries the risk of future posture violations in addition to more severe repercussions that may even result in disability.

Early verticalization is a surefire way to develop musculoskeletal and spine disorders.

From this vantage point, children who are still too young to sit or crawl on their own run a certain risk when using walkers. Komarovsky strongly suggests that children younger than nine months old should not use any of these devices.

The amount of time a child spends using a walker each day can range from thirty to forty minutes, contingent on their skills and development. However, since he is still too young to communicate his needs to his parents, the infant should not spend all of his waking hours in them when he is not sleeping. Furthermore, children as young as 10 months or even a year old can be harmed by vertical loads.

How to choose?

Selecting a walker is more complicated than it first appears. After all, a wide variety of these products can be found in all children’s retailers. You can purchase a walker on wheels for a child who can stand up with assistance but is still unable to take the first steps. What unites them is a solid foundation. Verify that it is sufficiently wide, composed of sturdy plastic, and that the wheels are firmly fastened while still allowing for easy rotation.

The back should be soft and the seat should be cozy. Purchasing a walker with a seating depth adjustment feature is the best option.

A push walker is an option for kids who can walk for the first time but are still very unsteady and unconfident. In order to prevent your baby from stooping or reaching for the handrails, you must consider whether the height is initially ideal for your child or can be adjusted.

Since babies will undoubtedly test the verticalizing device by taste or tooth, the material used to make it must be robust and environmentally friendly. A stable walker is required. To pique the infant’s interest, it is ideal if they have a development table.

It is advisable to read reviews of particular models that other parents have compiled before making a decision.

How to use correctly?

Parents should definitely verify that they understand how the walker works if they already know the child’s age and how long they will be using it. If a child refuses to sit in a walker, is afraid of the walker, or resists it in every way, you shouldn’t make them. A youngster in a walker should never be left unattended. When a mother cleans the room where her child will be using a walker, it works best.

It is extremely dangerous to use such devices on children who have musculoskeletal disorders. Additionally, walkers should not be worn by boys or girls who have had a rickets diagnosis in the past for a valid reason (based on X-rays). A child with severe neurological disorders, like cerebral palsy, should not be attempted to be placed in them.

See a pediatrician prior to using a walker, even if your family is raising a perfectly healthy child.

In accordance with safety regulations and, naturally, after consulting with the doctor, you can sit the child down if there are no contraindications.

Babies can enjoy using walkers, but they aren’t necessary for proper development. As Dr. Komarovsky points out, they have advantages as well as disadvantages. They may provide parents with a brief respite, but they cannot take the place of supervised play and socialization.

Give babies a safe space to move, explore, and learn at their own pace rather than depending on walkers. This promotes general development, muscle strength, and motor skills.

The decision ultimately rests with each family. Choose what is best for you and your child by weighing the benefits and drawbacks and paying attention to professional advice like that of Dr. Komarovsky.

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