Baby walkers are often provided with a play sheet/play panel so that your little one always has toys at hand. For the safety of your little one, baby walkers are equipped with stair stoppers so that the seats block at the stairs. Countless children sat in it and took their first ‘steps’ with it: the famous baby walker. The principle is simple: a child ‘hangs’ in this, as it were, with its feet on the ground and is supported by the chair, the frame, and the wheels on the ground.
General information and useful tips:
A walker is play equipment for small children who can already sit properly but cannot walk yet. Your child is supported to sit upright in a seat that is supported by a metal or plastic frame on castors. The frame is usually provided with a bumper with caps.
A baby walker can be useful for children who get frustrated because they can’t walk yet, but really want to. The seat gives a little more mobility and they can rattle it to the TV or their toys themselves.
Many baby walkers also have all kinds of built-in toy elements: mirrors, rattles, and sounds. In other words, it offers the necessary entertainment for a toddler who likes to sit on everything and want to be entertained.
Because your child hits the ground with his / her feet, he/she can move himself/herself. Most walkers consist of a seating area on a round ring with 6 or 8 wheels and a tray that is provided with fun toys with sounds.
Walkers are suitable for children between 6 and 14 months.
What should you pay attention to?
If you want to buy a walker, make sure that it meets the European safety standard (NEN-EN 1273: 2005).
Studies have shown that it is a myth that a child learns to walk earlier by using a walking chair. In addition, it is not the intention that a walker is seen as a substitute for playing in the box.
The moment your child wants to move with the walker, your child will have to stand on his / her legs and try to walk in order to get the walker moving (this stimulates the transition from crawling to walking). If your child sits with its full weight in the seat of the walker, the brake pads will hit the ground and immediately block the walker.
Safety, Because it is known that many accidents happen with walkers, we recommend that you read the safety instructions very carefully.
Of particular importance is:
Never let your child play unsupervised in a baby walker.
Only use it for children who can reach a sitting position independently, but cannot walk yet (7 to 8 months). In any case, stop using it if your child can push off its feet against the ground or reach the edge of the frame with its feet.
Do not use the baby walker for more than 20 minutes a day in total.
Avoid access to the stairs. Close (cellar) doors.
Prevent access to uneven surfaces. Also, consider thresholds.
Because a child can reach dangerous places more easily and more quickly in a walker, it is necessary to screen them off. Think of heaters, hot pans, glasses with hot tea, sockets, etc.
Make sure that the brake pads are properly clicked into the frame at all times.
Many children really enjoy playing in a baby walker. It stimulates him/her to discover the world around them for themselves.
Do you think your child will benefit from this? When purchasing, make sure that you buy a walker that meets the current standard (NEN-EN 1273: 2005). Never leave your child unattended in the seat and no longer than 20 minutes a day.
