Push walkers are a great developmental tool for babies as they help them balance and improve their motor coordination skills. Although they have a lot of benefits for babies, push walkers are not a must-have baby product.
This article is a guide for parents who are thinking of getting a push walker for their babies. We will look at the safety risks associated with the push walker, how to use them correctly, their impact on baby development, and the best push walkers for babies.
What is a Baby Push Walker?
A push walker is a baby product designed to help a baby learn how to walk. It is meant to help a baby off the floor or from a sitting position to a standing position. Therefore, a push walker has a sturdy frame and base that can support the weight of babies who have reached the walking stage.
Push walkers have a handle that should be easy for babies to grip. They also have wheels that allow babies to push them around easily. Most push walkers have wheels with the speed control feature. This limits their speed and reduces the risk of accidents thus safeguarding babies.
Some push walker manufacturers have added features such as music, lights, and speed control buttons to make them more appealing to customers. However, a child’s safety should be the priority.
Are Push Walkers Safe?
As with most baby products, safety is a primary concern for push walkers. Below are some of the safety features of push walkers.
- They are designed for stability and support. Their frames are sturdy for that purpose. Push walkers also have a wider base. The wider base allows babies to maintain an upright posture when using the push walker. It also helps them improve their balance. Upright posture and balance are important for the development of a baby.
- The speed control feature allows regulation of the push walkers’ speed. Push walkers allow a baby to regulate their own pace. Speed control wheels and a speed control button on the push walker allow parents to regulate the speed of the push walker and avoid accidents.
- The wide base and frames allow babies to walk with their feet fully on the ground. This design allows babies to learn independent walking faster and helps them avoid problems such as toe-walking when they grow older. Toe walking is where babies walk on their toes rather than their whole feet soles.
Despite the product’s inbuilt safety measures, parental supervision is necessary when using push walkers. Parents should always hover around the baby and steer them from running into objects or venturing into dangerous areas such as stairs.
Another safety user tip for push walkers is that they should not be used for lengthy periods. Experts recommend that babies should only use the push walker for a maximum of 20 minutes per session. Additionally, ensure that you baby have demonstrated an interest in walking before purchasing a push walker.
Are Pushwalkers Good for Development?
Push walkers help in the development of both a baby’s motor and mental skills.
Pushwalkers Help in Muscle Development
Babies have to pull themselves off the floor using the handle to use a push walker. If they do this regularly, baby muscles will start developing.
Pushwalkers Help Babies Improve Their Posture and Balance
Babies must maintain an upright stance when using the push walker, this helps improve their posture and balance.
Pushwalkers Allow Babies to Explore
With mobility comes exploration, children who have started being interested in walking are also in the curious stage. The push walker allows them to access places they could not access otherwise. Exploring speeds up a baby’s development as they encounter and understand new things.
Pushwalkers Help Build a Baby’s Confidence
Walking for babies is akin to exploring uncharted lands. They have never walked before, they do not know what it entails and are therefore naturally scared. Push walkers help build their confidence when they allow babies to move freely while supporting them.
When Can a Baby Use a Push Walker?
Generally, babies can use a push walker when they show interest in walking. A baby’s walking journey usually follows the following steps: hoisting themselves up to stand, cruising, standing unaided, and finally walking.
Typically, a baby can use a push walker when they can hoist themselves up to stand. This step usually happens when they are seven to ten months old. Motor skills in babies vary from one baby to another, but the 7-10 bracket is the general age when babies express an interest in walking and therefore the age when they can start using a push walker.
It is advisable not to rush your baby. Each growth stage is key to a baby’s development and starting them on the push walker early may result in them missing out on the crawling stage. Crawling aids a baby’s coordination and they should not skip it.
How to Get Your Baby to Use a Push Walker
1. Introduce the Push Walker to Your Baby
Purchase the push walker, bring it into your home, and let the baby touch and familiarize with it. Once they are familiar with the push walker, the next task is getting them on it. This step is a bit more tedious as you are supposed to get them to hold the push walker’s handle.
2. Help Your Baby Use the Push Walker
Holding it is one thing and getting to hold and push is another task altogether. Place your hand lightly on top of theirs and give the push walker a push. They will be curious and a little frightened for the first few seconds but your presence will reassure them. You may have to do this for the whole of the first day you bring the push walker home. After helping them hold the push walker and pushing it for them a few times, babies will want to do it by themselves. Nevertheless, you still have to entice them to use the push walker. Push walkers with music, lights or jingly toys help babies learn to walk faster as they are attracted to these features.
3. Allow the Baby to Use the Push Walker on Their Own
Therefore, you can choose a push walker with these added features to help your baby walk faster. Turn on the push walker’s music or shake the toys to draw your baby’s attention and they will come “running”. After they get a hang of using the push walker, clear the playroom/home of obstructions to help your baby move freely. It is important to let the baby use the push walker by themselves after a few practice sessions. Pushing the push walker themselves helps them adjust their pace and learn to walk quickly.
Activities and Games to Do with Your Baby Using a Push Walker
Parents play a primary role in the development of their kids. The role does not manifest when a kid grows older and starts becoming independent, it begins as soon as the kid is born. One of the areas of a child’s development where a parent or caregiver plays a huge part is walking. Children do not just grow, wake up one morning, and start teetering around the house.
Below are reasons why parents should play an active role in their babies’ development:
- Safety: Babies at this stage do not have a developed sense of danger and may participate in activities that may end up harming them. For example, if unsupervised they may try to go down the stairs and get badly injured.
- Parental support and encouragement build a child’s confidence: Parental support and encouragement are connected to a child’s learning competence. Therefore, when you participate in the baby learning to walk, chances are they will learn faster. Additionally. Parents can bond with their babies under the cover of participating in their learning.
- To monitor their progress and guide them accordingly: When participating, parents can note how their babies are progressing in learning to walk.
Below is a list of activities that parents can take part in to help their babies learn to walk:
1. Create a “path” with other toys for the baby to walk through
2. Throw a ball around for the baby to walk and find it
3. Peekabo: Repetitively hide objects and later reveal them and your baby will walk towards you to try and find them
4. Hide and seek
5. Collect toys around the room and place them in a container and your baby will mimic
What is the Best Push Walker for Babies
There are several types of push walkers, they include:
- Push walkers with music: This type of push walker has a button that activates music or sound. The music draws the baby’s attention to the push walker.
- Push walker toy: This type of push walker resembles a toy. Its appearance draws the baby’s attention and encourages them to practice walking.
- Convertible baby push walker: This baby push walker can switch from a push walker mode to the sit-in baby walker mode. It allows parents to use either of the two.
Below are the best push walkers for your baby:
Baby Car Push Walker with Music
This push walker is creatively designed to look like a racing car. The design stirs interest, especially in babies who have started to show interest in cars. This walker can adapt to a baby’s growth stages. It can be used when they start sitting and also supports them when they are ready to take their first steps.
This product can be used when babies enter the sitting stage and when they transition from sitting to walking. This will help you save on costs as it’s a one-time buy.
Cute Push Walker Toy
This push walker will help develop your baby’s motor coordination skills. It boasts of an easy-to-grip handle and a speed control feature. Its smooth grip surface helps the baby to improve their gripping and pushing strengths.
Additionally, the push walker has a three-in-one design that allows it to switch from a walker to a tricycle to a scooter. Therefore, apart from learning to walk, the baby can also use it as a toy. A speed control button aids the speed control wheels in regulating the walker’s speed and avoiding accidents.
Convertible Baby Push Walker
This walker can seamlessly switch between four modes: sit-in walker mode, push walker mode, bounce mode, and bounce with music mode. This multifunctional feature makes it a must-have for parents who are raising a toddler and a baby at the same time. Both babies can use the walker and a parent will save the money that would have been used in getting another walker.
The distance between the guards in this push walker not only enhances safety by preventing the baby from falling backward but also allows a balanced distribution of force and prevents the baby from becoming bow-legged.
FAQ
Are Your Push Walkers Safe?
Yes, Clafbebe push walkers are safe for baby use. Their handles are designed for baby grip and their frames and base are sturdy to support your baby. Additionally, speed control wheels and a speed control button to regulate the walker’s speed should ease your mind.
Are Push Walkers Safer Than Baby Walkers?
Yes, push walkers are safer than sit-in baby walkers. Sit-in baby walkers are more prone to accidents and delay babies from walking on their own.
Do you Have a Walker That Can Alternate Between Push Mode and Seating Mode?
Yes, we have multifunctional walkers that can switch between the two modes and several other modes.
Can I Buy a Single Push Walker
No, most of our baby walkers are retailed at wholesale. The minimum number of units you can order is 200
Conclusion
When looking for a push walker, there are several important factors to consider. They include safety, their impact on a baby’s development, and whether your baby is old enough to use one. However, parents should note that push walkers require constant supervision and that babies should not spend more than twenty minutes at a time on the push walker.
Clafbebe is an experienced manufacturer of baby walkers that offers a wide variety of styles of walkers at wholesale prices that will please distributors and retailers. Contact us for any further queries on push walkers. Contact us for a quote and product catalog!
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