Can I Put My 3 Month Old in a Walker? Advantages and Disadvantages

I know it feels like only yesterday you brought home your beautiful bundle of joy! The once fragile little diamond you held in your arms has now grown into a bouncing baby showing you a glimpse of their little personality. Even after having 5 children I sometimes feel at a loss about what I should and shouldn’t be doing with my baby. If you are a mom feeling the same, one of the questions you may be asking is Can my 3 month old use a walker, find out all you need to know right here from what is age appropriate as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using a walker.

Can I Put My 3 Month Old in a Walker? What’s The Right Age?

Your little one is growing and you may now be asking the question can I put my 3 month old in a walker? Baby walkers are typically built with babies from 4 months in mind. This is purely down to the developmental skills your baby needs in order to be safe in a walker such as the strength to hold their head steady and be able to reach the floor with their feet flat. If your 3 month old is displaying these skills then there is no reason that they can not use a walker.

How many months does a baby have to be to use a walker?

You have watched your tiny newborn blossom into a bouncing baby. It is no surprise that you may be eager for him/her to become more independent and take on the milestone of movement. As with many toys now available to encourage development you may be thinking about introducing a walker to your baby.

As previously mentioned there is no time scale as to when you can introduce a baby walker. Every baby is unique and they will develop at different rates. I for one can vouch for this. My 5 year old loved being upright and doing tummy time, hence the strength in his neck muscles seemed strong from an early age. My now 3 year old however hated tummy time and did not have the neck strength until much older than his brother. This is proof that not even siblings develop at the same rate.

You will notice if your child looks comfortable and happy in their walker as they will have good control and balance over their upper body and head and they will have flat feet when they touch the floor.

With this in mind let us look at the advantages and disadvantages of using a baby walker.

Advantages of Using a Walker

There are mixed reviews on the use of baby walkers, below are a few pros of using a walker for your bouncing best friend.

Engaging – Most baby walkers on the market have extra toys and attachments designed to keep your baby entertained. These add-ons can stimulate their intellect whilst also incorporating the sense of touch and movement.
Promote walking – Allowing the opportunity for your baby to stand in a walker can give you the peace of mind that they are safe and practicing the movements needed to develop their walking skills. When you are a baby all of your life has been in someone’s arms, in a car, or in your basket. It gives your baby a new lease on life and a different perspective of the world. It also stimulates the all important first steps.
Enhance mobility – We all see babies that are raring to get going. Many of us moms find it hard to keep them still, especially as they grow. If you have a baby who is bursting to get going then a baby walker enhances this experience. You can safely put your baby in their walker knowing that they are well supported to explore. It also gives you free hands to complete any chores that need doing whilst in the same area.

Disadvantages of Using a Walker

On the flip side of the coin, some people don’t feel that walkers encourage walking at all. Read on to see why this may be.

Too much too fast – Even though as a parent you want your baby to hit all their developmental milestones, using a walker could actually stop the important muscles from developing as they should. Each and every baby should be given the freedom to roam but it is advised that they take the usual sit, crawl, stand and walk stance. Allowing your baby to build their strength can promote their walking skills much quicker than if they are just put in a walker.
Tiny spaces for tiny toes – Baby walkers have folding mechanisms to allow parents to store them safely away. Unfortunately, with tiny hinges and spaces, our little ones can get a bit inquisitive and get their toes and fingers caught resulting in injury, a very upset baby, and an overly guilty mom!
Overall safety – This is the scary part. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a whooping 230, 676 children younger than 15 months were treated for baby walker injury between 1990 – 2014. Now it is important to note here that the injuries were mostly from babies being close to stairs, being able to get to hazardous situations like the hot oven door, grabbing sharp objects that were within reach, and ingesting poisonous liquids. The point of this is that it really isn’t the walker to blame as such. But it is imperative that you never leave your child unattended even if it is for one second! Once they recognize the freedom they have been in a walker you will soon know that you need eyes in the back of your head.

FAQs

What can I use instead of a baby walker?

There are many things on the market to aid your baby’s development such as baby jumpers or exersaucers. They are designed to work your baby’s legs whilst keeping them entertained. Stationary toys can sometimes double up to grow with your child.

Are jumpers safe for babies?

Just the same as walkers, babies should only be placed in a jumper when they have mastered neck stability and can control their head. This is typically any time from 4 months but many babies may be earlier or later there is no set rule to when they gain this control.

When can a baby use a Bumbo?

The bumbo seat is popular amongst moms and is suitable for children from 3 to 12 months. They must be able to hold up their head and be able to sit in a stable seated position.

Conclusion

So, can I put my 3 month old in a walker – well there is no written rule to say that you can’t. But you must ensure they have the skills to support themselves in the standing stance. They will need to be able to support their head and also put their feet flat on the floor while in the walker.

Usually, a baby develops by rolling, crawling, standing, and walking. Each of these big milestones uses the skill of balance that your child will have to master before moving on to the next. Just remember that every baby will develop these skills at their own rate.

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