Hi ladies,

hope your all well, and that your little ones are sleeping soundly

My OH says i cant get my little chap a jumperoo (or similiar) as the hv told us they can damage there hips, so my daft question is how does a baby strengthen their legs???

Gem x

I've not heard that before. My little man's been in his jumperoo since he was 9 or 10 weeks and we've never had any hip problems and he's got really strong legs - he's cruising around and climbing the stairs at 8 months, was crawling at 6 and a half.

But you could stand him up - you take most of his weight and then gradually increase the amount of weight he takes as he seems able - he'll buckle if he can't take it so best to hold him under the arms. Then when he's comfortable bearing his weight pull him to standing so he's holding on to your fingers and increase the time he does it. Be sure to do it gradually though as if they bear weight on their legs too early it can make them bow legged.

Btw not sure if any of that's right but it's worked fine with Oscar! X

Hi, id ask the hv where she got that info from, its just my boys consultant recommended a door bouncer to help develop the leg muscles

xxDBxx

thanks for yout replies,

my hv gave us a leaflet about baby walkers saying they are bad for hips ect, and then she added on herself that bouncers did the same thing.

i know lots of babies who had door bouncers/jumperoo style things and they have no problems at all i just think my oh is worrying unnecessary.

again thanks for your replies

Gem x

Hi girls

I know in america baby walkers have been banned and all hv's will tell you that all walkers and bouncers are bad for their hips but thats when stupid people keep their kids in them all day long!!

But just for half an hour or so supervised play they are fine. Shea had both and loved them but he wouldn't never spend a long time in them.

He's was walking at 13 1/2months so didn't hinder his walking development and he's now 21months and certainly doesn't ahve any issues with his hips.

I think the key is to be sensible with their time in them.

hope this helps
x

yeh I agree that is if you leave them in there too long. Mine have all had walkers/door bouncers. Never had a jumperoo though.

If you cant get anything then just loads of bouncing on mummys lap! His legs will strengthen normally hun you dont need things like that, it will all come naturally anyway. xxx

baby walkers are known to cause huge problems for babies, but I've not heard anything about bouncers - my mum is fairly high up in child development so knows her stuff!

Hi Gem I haven't heard of this before either?!
I have heard of walkers being debated but not jumperoo's.

I bought Charlie one the other day - he loves it! My eldest doesn't like the noise if he's watching tv ;)
xx

Hiya,

We have been advised by Amelie's physio not to buy a jumperoo or similar as they encourage the baby to tippy toe and in worse case scenario's can cause the achilles tendon to shorten therefore needing an operation.

I don't know what they can do to hips but she has strenously asked all the Mums at the Prem Babygroup I go to not to buy them

Sara xx

my hv advised us not to use walkers jumperoos etc. becouse it can cause problems with hips and tipitoes she also said she hears mums who think its really great that their babies walk so early and missing out on crawling. she said it was important that babies crawl first .i bought a walker becouse daisy seemed so frustrated she went in a few times a day but literally for minutes at a time as she gets bored easy. she started walking at 11 months but does walk on tipitoes a lot! advise is there for a reason its up to you whether you choose to follow it.

I see why you were asking me about them now Gem, well like I said in other message I was told once they cause leg problems so we avoid them for this reason... but don't know if it's actually true lol!
x

I never really used either although Nicholas did use a walker briefly before he was diagnosed with haemophilia. Imo if either were so harmful they wouldnt be allowed to be sold in this country.

Jumperoos have settings on them to lower/raise the height. Your child should be able to put their feet flat on the floor before using them, this prevents the walking on tip toes. My lo had a walker and a jumperoo but only had about 20 mins a time in either, she crawled, cruised and walked before the average age so it didn't hinder her development at all.
I bet we were all in one sort of walker or bouncer when we were babies and does anyone have any problems?? I certainly don't.
Like EmmaLou says, if the risks were high then they wouldn't be allowed to sell them would they?
x

donna the instructions say to make sure they arent flat footed?...

See all this advice makes me feel bad because Gabe has always had a walker since he was 6 months but has never spent very long in it. He was always going to be a late developer as he didnt roll until 6 months, I think if anything the walker has helped him, though he was too tall for a door bouncer & we dont have space for a jumperoo. Yet when I see HV she says walkers are bad cos it means your baby will crawl and walk late but personally I dont believe this in Gabe's case.

It really pisses me off because I am a young mum who knew nothing about babies, I didn't know that babies should have tummy time , no HV/midwife told me this, or shouldn't have walkers, and now I am being blamed when Gabe is a late developer because I should/shouldn't have done this or that. My mum was born in 1955 and she didn't have a walker or a jumperoo, her mother was very attentive but she still never crawled and didn't walk till 18 months.

Why is it better if they crawl rather than go straight to walking? Gabe is 14 months and has NEVER crawled he's gone straight to pulling himself up and cruising.

Tiger Lilly don't feel bad!!

This is why at the start of this post I said people need to be sensible with this equipment and give short periods of playtime, adn I don't agree with people saying "you shouldn't use this" " Its dangerous" It will cause damage or health problems" - because they can upset sensitive mummies like us!!!

My little boy had a jumperoo, door bouncer and walker. He was sitting at 5months, crawled at 6/12 months and walked at 13 1/2months and there is nothing wrong with his hips / legs!!!

I think the reason they prefer babies to crawl before walking as it is "supposed" to help develop their motor skills better, but "supposed" is the appropriate word, we are all different. I know plenty of babies who never crawled and went straight walking and they are fine!!

Take no notice and don't feel bad, I'm surprised you say you are young mum as your words on here often sound quite wise!!! You are doing a great job as a mum and you go with your instincts with Gabe.

I've learned over the last 21 months with Shea that my instincts seem to be far better than any advice i've had off an hv!!

i had a walker and i was 10 months when i started walking. i didnt crawl but as i hated being un my tummy its not surprising. i didnt walk on tip toes when i started walking either. as i didnt like being on my tummy i only rolled twice, worked out i didnt like it and never did it again.

my dd has a jumperoo and walker. i was never told to aviod them.