Your thoughts on...

[pinkiebabii]

What are your thoughts on walkers, jumpers, and activity centers for baby? Are they bad for baby?

[schultzal]

I will never use a walker because something on wheels screams danger to me. We can't be 100% aware 100% of the time, and I'd be unable to live with myself if my baby fell down stairs or something in a walker.

I'm opposed to jumpers because I have read so much about how they *can* delay walking in some children. I know this is not the case for all children, but I'll pass.

With activity centers (exersaucer, etc.), I think it is important to wait until baby can support his or her own weight for the most part, and not to leave them in it too much, to avoid hip problems. It's also important to me that the seat is very supportive for sitting, and not the "crotch-dangling" type of seat.

[TrentsMom84]

ds never liked his movements restricted i'm not sure if it was a cause or effect of not being in an exersaucer/jumperoo.  we had a playmat that he would use sometimes and then he got an activity center that he could sit or stand at and move around and play.

[mommyjenn84]

Ill use most but not a walker.

[jellyphish]

I dont like the idea of walkers, I'd rather she learn to walk independently from the beginning.

I have a jumperoo that I'll probably use when she's old enough the same I did with my first- occasionally and not for too long.

I think a lot of these things can have negative effects when they are over used, I feel the same is true for most other things as well, though. These things are not to be used in lieu of encouraging a child to walk, and I wonder if that's where the negative impacts come from.

[sreichelt26]

100% agree. We had a jumperoo (an exersaucer that bounced) that dd loved for a little while, but as soon a she could move around/started to crawl, we stopped using it and she didn't like it anymore because she wanted to move.

Quoting schultzal:

I will never use a walker because something on wheels screams danger to me. We can't be 100% aware 100% of the time, and I'd be unable to live with myself if my baby fell down stairs or something in a walker.

I'm opposed to jumpers because I have read so much about how they *can* delay walking in some children. I know this is not the case for all children, but I'll pass.

With activity centers (exersaucer, etc.), I think it is important to wait until baby can support his or her own weight for the most part, and not to leave them in it too much, to avoid hip problems. It's also important to me that the seat is very supportive for sitting, and not the "crotch-dangling" type of seat.

[turtle68]

Loved them all :-)

Being careful and sensable with all of them.

[Sarah725]

 We used all those things for a short period of time.  They grow so quickly that I got everything at rummage sales, I wouldn't buy them new.

[lundaylove]

when used for short periods im ok with them. used properly under supervision of course.

[melindabelcher]

Ehhh, I don't bother. My kids usually don't like being down for more then a couple minutes, not worth the cost for me

[WackadooMom]

We got a jumparoo and a walker as hand-me-downs. My son LOVED the jumparoo for a couple months. He would play for 15 minutes or so. Just enough time to prep a meal. He didn't really care for the walker although my hubby kept trying lol. I think they're fine if the child likes them but just like everything else, in moderation.