- According to the World Health Organization, babies should spend at least thirty minutes lying on their tummies every day
- Simply putting a child in a walker teaches them bad habits and significantly delays the moment they take their first independent steps.
- Research confirms that daily freedom on a regular mat best supports an infant’s motor development
- Placing your favorite toys just out of reach makes it much easier for your little one to learn to crawl and crawl.
Why does a baby walker delay development? We explain the reasons
Many parents assume that by putting their toddler in a walker or jumper, they will see their first, long-awaited steps faster. In fact these popular devices have a completely opposite effect and postpone the acquisition of new skills. When wearing such equipment, a child does not practice balance, and when moving, he pushes himself mainly with his toes.
The mechanism behind this delay is very simple to understand. When your little one uses a walker constantly, he or she misses the all-important stage of crawling on all fours, which teaches him to put all his weight on his legs.. Instead of naturally strengthening muscles and correct posture, the baby develops unhealthy movement habits that are then very difficult to get rid of.
Floor time and learning to sit. How does freedom affect a toddler’s development?
The best thing you can give your child is to simply lay him or her on a loose mat. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), babies should spend at least 30 minutes a day lying on their tummies before moving around the house. Such a daily routine is great supports the baby’s motor developmentbuilds hand strength and prevents the head from dangerously flattening at the back. It is worth remembering that limiting the time in high chairs, strollers or car seats in favor of free play on a flat floor gives the best possible health effects. The more natural space you provide your child, the sooner he or she will start to sit confidently, crawl and eventually stand up on furniture.
Injuries and accidents in walkers. These devices carry considerable risk
In addition to problems with learning to walk properly, the use of this type of gadgets poses a huge threat to the toddler’s everyday safety because:
- a running child can easily fall down the stairs or hit the wall with great force
- a toddler in a walker becomes taller and can easily reach hot coffee or cables on the table
- While playing with the jumper, little fingers often get painfully trapped in the hard springs
- moving quickly on smooth panels facilitates dangerous falls on home carpets
In the worst cases, a moment of inattention in such devices results not only in superficial tumors, but also in serious burns or broken hands, which then require long-term support from a physiotherapist or the application of a plaster cast.
How to effectively and safely encourage your child to move? Simple fun
To help your baby gain space, just arrange a few colorful toys around him so that they lie just beyond the reach of his little hands. Thanks to this learning to crawl and crawl it becomes an interesting challenge that the toddler wants to pursue on his own. It may be a good idea to scatter soft pillows on the floor and encourage your toddler to climb such homemade hills, which is a great way to build the strength of arms and legs. If you see that your baby is just learning to turn from his back to his tummy, you can gently help him by grabbing one knee and slowly moving it to the other side of the body. In turn, for a toddler who is already sitting stably, it is a good idea to place objects on the side so that he or she has to lean out slightly for them, grab the toy and get back to the upright position without falling sideways.
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