In the News
Your baby may be close to walking, and while it’s exciting to watch – and tempting to help them progress with a walker – there are important things to know before using one. Baby walkers do not help babies walk sooner, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) cautions that they are unsafe. Christopher Klunk, M.D., a board-certified neonatologist at Pediatrix® Neonatology of Texas, noted that the AAP has taken a firm stance against baby walkers, calling for a ban on their manufacture and sale because they are linked to thousands of hospital visits each year. Dr. Klunk said the safety concerns, combined with no proven evidence that walkers help babies learn to walk, make them not worth the risk. He suggested safer alternatives that still give babies a chance to play and build strength. "Consider stationary activity centers, basically walkers without wheels, or having them play in their highchair,” said Dr. Klunk. “Play yards/pens are also a good option as it limits their ability to find danger while giving them freedom to work on their sitting, crawling and walking skills."
View the full article on Babylist