Walking Chairs, Enemies Of Babies First Step?

Many of us began to learn to walk with the help of wheelchairs. That is why our mothers or mothers-in-law, now grandmothers, insist that we use them to help our children take their first steps.

However, pediatricians do not recommend using walking chairs. Why is this appliance not good for babies?

Walking chairs are not only ineffective when it comes to teaching babies how to walk, but also alter their natural neurological and motor development.

They also represent an imminent danger to children in the home, according to studies conducted over the past few years.

Neurological and evolutionary perspective

Walking chairs are being questioned by neurologists and specialists in evolutionary psychology. Walking chairs interfere with the activity of crawling.

Crawling is fundamental to every child’s evolutionary development as it connects the cerebral hemispheres. It also creates important information routes, for the maturation of various cognitive functions.

According to experts, crawling allows children to coordinate opposite movements. This creates the crossed pattern, a neurological function that allows a bodily shift in balance.

When the child alternates the left leg with the right and right arm with the left, it promotes an integrated brain status.

In addition, the movement of crawling – which is skipped using a walker – tones the muscles that will let the child keep the spine straight.

It also trains the focus of the eye. When looking at the ground to distinguish where the hand or knee is, the little one stares at a close spot.

Similarly, when the baby rests on the palms and supports himself using their shoulder and wrist couplings , they perceive gravity and learn to handle it.

This helps them measure the world and enables a “lateralization” of the brain, with one of the hemispheres dominating and the other serving.

Walking chairs in the eyes of orthopedic surgeons

According to specialists in this field, walking chairs alter the natural development of both legs and back as they force certain postures and movements.

Using a walker not only requires learning to walk with the legs apart, but also involves abnormalities in the knee and foot positions, and movement.

In addition, bending the legs inevitably affects the development of the back. At that age, the backs are not willing to keep the child upright when they still have no strength to stand.

Trauma specialists also say that deforms the legs’ natural sway.

Walking chairs also force children to stay on top of their feet. This is an abnormal position that is usually maintained for a while when using walking chairs.

This shows that infants are not prepared for the level of motor ability to be used to deal with balance, height and distance calculation problems when using a walker.

Walking chairs do not teach babies how to walk

As specialists point out , babies first learn to sit, then crawl and then start standing and walking. This process is associated with mental development, which should not be forced because each child has his or her own rhythm.

Therefore, placing the child in a walker, when they still do not know how to walk, distances their mind from the movement. What their legs can do coordinates with their mental development.

It does not allow them to incorporate spatial thoughts about their own body, with respect to the environment: they cannot see their feet move.

Several scientific studies, including the one published in the British Medical Journal, conclude that the use of a walker delays the onset of gait, as well as inhibits the child’s motor skills and cognitive development.

And what about accidents in wheelchairs?

Specialists discourage the use of wheelchairs, as they lead to a fourfold increase in the number of serious accidents. According to figures from the Society of Pediatrics in Argentina, about 45% of children who use a walker suffer an accident during use.

It’s a fact: the wheels and the small amount of control that babies have can cause accidents of any kind.

Children who use a walker are twice as likely to suffer a blow to the head than those who do not. Children who use a walker also have twice as many chances of fractures of the arms and legs.

These probabilities also increase by four when it comes to falling down the stairs. Increased exposure to burns, puncture wounds, suffocation and even death due to the walker.

How serious can it be?

While wheelchairs in some countries, such as Brazil or Canada, are completely banned, they are still sold and used elsewhere. Educators and health specialists advise against walking chairs due to the many disadvantages.

Some people may think that the scientific observations are exaggerated, especially if their child uses a walker or if they appreciate the fact that several generations grew up on these chairs with wheels.

They can say things like “I love it,” “Nothing happened to my child,” and “I learned to walk fast.”

Of course, if the walker is used with moderation, control and extreme care, accidents can be prevented.

But there are still some issues that endanger your child’s health, well – being and development when it is a completely insignificant element.

In the end, the decision is up to the parents, walker yes or no?