3 Reasons Why You Should Not Put Your Baby in a Walker

Dr. Sandip Gupta

This video explains 3 reasons why parents should not put their children in a baby walker. Reason 1 — A walker delays walking. It is proven by research that in order to walk, a child needs to learn to stand on their own feet and take their own weight on their legs. In a walker, the child's weight goes onto the walker's wheels, so the child is delayed in learning to walk on their own. Reason 2 — Risk of accidents. A walker has wheels, and when the child pushes with their feet, the child has no control over how far forward they will move. This means the walker can become a cause of accidents anywhere. Many research studies have found that accidents in children happen a lot because of walkers. Reason 3 — Walkers are banned or advised against. For this reason, the use of walkers has been banned in Canada since 2004, and their use is banned in Western countries as well. In India, the health organisation Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) has also advised against using walkers. The doctor's advice: do not buy a walker for your child. Relevant for: parents of babies and infants who are learning to stand or walk; parents thinking of buying a baby walker or already using one; parents asking whether walkers help a child walk faster or delay walking; parents concerned about walker-related accidents, falls and injuries at home; and parents wanting to know what pediatric guidelines and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics say about baby walkers. Disclaimer: This video is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child is different — please consult your pediatrician if you have concerns about your child's walking, standing, or overall development.