Walker, jumper, rocker: why is it not worth it?
When preparing for the arrival of a little one and assembling a layette, we want to provide them with everything they need. Advertisements for gadgets, toys, and baby products convince us that they are essential for our little one. However, more isn't always better, especially when it comes to the motor development of a growing little person.
In the selection of accessories and toys for a child, it will be extremely important whether the considered object supports or interferes with development and whether it is adapted to the stage in which the toddler is currently present. Before you decide to buy a jumper, rocker or walker for children, read the article in which we share with you the opinions of specialists about these products.
Accessories and toys and child development
Guidelines from pediatric societies and academies provide information about what skills a normally developing child should achieve in a given month or period. However, we know that each child develops at their own unique pace, and these guidelines are more of a timeframe or developmental window.
Parents often (wanting the best for their child) believe that the sooner a child acquires a given skill (e.g., starting to sit or walk), the better. Furthermore, they sometimes subconsciously compare their child to their peers and other children in their immediate environment. This is a mistake and often leads to misunderstandings, and the desire to hasten the emergence of a new skill, even by using devices like a walker or a jumper, often results in developmental difficulties.
Baby walker and learning to walk
The physiologically developing toddler has time to master the ability to walk independently until he is 18 months of age. There are children who demonstrate this skill when they are 8 or 10 months old.
It's important to remember that development isn't a race, and beyond the quantitative assessment (does the child sit? Does the child crawl? Does the child walk?), the way in which it does so (their quality) is also important. Therefore, the belief we often hear from older generations that a baby should take their "first step" at the symbolic "one-year-old" is false.
A number of skills that occur at earlier stages of development lead to our child's symbolic first independent step. These include:
- standing up from a kneeling one-legged;
- walking to the side with furniture;
- crouch;
- walking forward with one hand support.
Will the child learn to move faster when placed in a walker?
There's a common belief that a baby walker, by positioning a child in an upright position and allowing them to move around by pushing their feet off the ground, makes it easier to learn to walk. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Expert advises
Forced by a stiffened, usually plastic basket, the position of the pelvis prevents the toddler from properly transferring the center of gravity of the body. The child's feet, instead of being fully loaded when the child is in the walker, usually touch the floor only with the front part of the foot, which in turn leads to incorrect loading of the joints of the lower limbs. This way, the toddler learns to walk on the toes, not on the whole feet. It can also result in abnormal distribution of muscle tone in the body and difficulty in maintaining balance.
It's worth noting that thanks to the walker's housing, the child doesn't have to focus on whether they encounter an obstacle in their path, because if they do, they'll bounce off it painlessly. Therefore, they don't learn mindfulness, and the safety and protection from falls are only apparent. In a walker, the toddler won't experience the consequences of their careless behavior, for example, they won't fall on their bottom (falls are also crucial information for a toddler's motor development!).
Baby walker a opinion specialists
According to the doctors' opinions, the use of a walker in a child who is not yet ready for upright standing, whose trunk muscles are still too weak, causes excessive stress on the spine structures. Will he develop a posture defect in the future because of this? We don't know that, the question is whether we want to risk it and check it on our baby's skin.
According to physiotherapists, a baby walker is not a recommended gadget because it actually hinders, rather than facilitates, learning to walk. It can delay mastery of this skill and develop incorrect movement patterns. Instead, it's recommended to provide the child with a play space, the ability to climb, stand up, and walk alongside furniture. When the child is ready, they will take their first step on their own.
Czy rockers they are good for a baby?
Parents' opinions on rockers for children are divided. Some people are absolutely against their use, while others believe that rockers are a good place for their children to play or even sleep. The prospect of putting the baby back in the rocker is also tempting, so that, at least for a moment, the parent can have his hands free, prepare a meal, take a shower or drink hot coffee.
Expert advises
In order to acquire control of the head area, as well as other skills (turns, pivots, crawling, all-fours, sitting, walking), an infant needs "training" of the postural muscles. Right after birth, the muscles of the torso are weak. They get stronger over time under the right conditions, exercising against the force of gravity. The position of the baby in the rocker does not allow full freedom of movement, limits the ability to move the head in different directions, and thus the exploration of the environment. The forced position in the lounger is comfortable for the child, he does not have to lift his head, lift the limbs and pelvis (and thus exercise against the force of gravity). With frequent use of the rocker, the muscles become lazy, making it difficult to change position on a flat surface. For this reason, the child, after a long stay in the bouncer, may be reluctant to play on the mat, and even react by crying, as it will be a real challenge for him.
Baby rockers and opinions: for or against?
Additionally, using a baby rocker, by forcing the child's body position (and preventing them from changing positions), according to experts, negatively impacts the development of the crucial skill of stable support on the forearms. A baby in a rocker has a more difficult time developing body symmetry and learning to shift their center of gravity or rotate. If the rocker is also equipped with sound or vibration features, it can lead to overstimulation of the baby's developing nervous system.
It's not uncommon for a few-month-old baby to rock in a bouncer, kicking their legs to the delight of their caregivers. This can give the false impression that the baby is "exercising" its muscles. Nothing could be further from the truth. This movement is very uniform, occurs in a single plane, and has nothing to do with the movement a toddler needs to roll or crawl. Therefore, the use of baby rockers should be limited to a minimum and only used when necessary.
The total time that the child stays in the rocker during the day should not exceed 30 minutes and should be balanced by the child's activity on a flat, medium-hard surface (a foam mat will work here). The rocker belts should be fastened each time to prevent the child from falling out of the device.
It is not recommended to use recliners in:
- premature babies;
- children before 3-4 months of age;
- toddlers with positional asymmetry, torticollis, or muscle tone disorders diagnosed by a specialist;
- For safety reasons, the rocker is also not a suitable place for feeding or sleeping a child.
Bujaczek: a gadget for a child or a parent?
Without a doubt, it cannot be said that rocking chairs promote children's psychomotor development. They are designed more for parents (to provide them with a moment of respite) than for children. However, using them in moderation and in appropriate situations, while ensuring the child exercises on a flat, medium-firm surface, should not lead to serious negative developmental consequences in normally developing children.
Use common sense and moderation, be careful not to use such a device too long and too often. If in doubt whether the use of such a gadget is contraindicated for your child, it is worth consulting a pediatrician or physiotherapist.
Children's jumpers
A baby around 6 or 7 months of age, supported by the torso by the caregiver, begins to spring up with his legs touching the ground. Usually it is accompanied by the joy and smile of the child - "he likes it!" the parent thinks. So why not go a step further and offer your little one a jumper?
During this period, the baby is usually unable to sit on its own, let alone stand and walk. The jumper seems to be an attractive option because the position of the toddler in it seems to be stable. There is no need to support the child with your hands - thanks to this, the child does not get bored, and the parent can take advantage of the moment for himself.
Expert advises
In proper motor development, the child begins to bounce on its own around the age of 2. It is so for a reason. Only then, the cushioning mechanisms in his body are fully developed, which allows for safe performance of this activity. Offering your child an activity that his body is not ready for can lead to negative consequences.
Children's jumpers a opinion
Experts' opinions on children's jumpers are quite clear. Their use in infants causes improper loading of the baby's feet. Increased muscle tension in the calves, due to repeated bouncing, leads to strengthening only certain muscle groups. This can hinder full weight-bearing of the feet in later stages of development and cause overloading of developing hip joints.
Before purchasing a jumper for a child, it's worth consulting doctors and considering how it affects your child's vision and balance. Eye fixation can be quite a challenge for a toddler jumping in a jumper, and the vestibular system receives significantly more stimuli during such activity than the child's brain can process at this stage.
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