Parenting Tips for Your 4 Month Old Baby
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that babies NOT use a walker. They are considered to be very dangerous. Many infants arrive in emergency rooms after baby walker accidents. These injuries are usually serious, including skull fractures and other head injuries.
Many of the injuries are caused by infants falling down stairs in a walker. The stairs either do not have gates on them or the gates are left open.
Not only are they unsafe, baby walkers generally do not help babies learn to walk. Some doctors and researchers think that baby walkers do more harm than good for leg muscle development in most babies.
Strollers, on the other hand, can be useful. When buying or borrowing a stroller, look for one that has:
- A firm backrest to help the baby sit up
- A canopy or covering for the head tall enough that a 3-year-old can sit under it
- A seatbelt that is secure and comfortable
- Wheels that can be locked
- A special latch to prevent the stroller from accidentally folding
- A wide base to prevent tipping
When you use the stroller:
- Never leave the stroller in the driveway or behind a car.
- Keep your baby with you at all times.
