Young parents are very kind to their child, not having experience and sufficient knowledge. They are very worried when the child later rolled over, sat down or began to crawl. Often, making a decision, they want to be absolutely sure of its correctness. But the relevant and incomprehensible question remains when to put girls on walkers. The child needs to be prepared for this event, but how to do it? In the article, we consider all the nuances that young parents may encounter when dealing with walkers.
When do girls start to sit?
Each child is individual and develops at his own pace, so it is impossible to unequivocally answer the question when the girls begin to sit. Only one thing is clear, until the spine becomes stronger, girls cannot be put on walkers. What time is it possible? As a rule, by the age of six months in children the process of strengthening the spine is completed, it is impossible to accustom yourself to a half-sitting position during this period.
It is important to consider the gender differences between children. So, the girls sit down later than the boys. Despite the fact that the myth of the harm to the genitals of early planting of girls has long been dispelled, it is still not worthwhile to plant girls regularly until they reach 5.5 months of age. The female sex is more fragile of bone tissue, respectively, and in order to sit confidently, they will need more time. As a rule, babies begin to sit down at the age of six months. They demonstrate a desire for activity: they rise on the handles, raise the body in the supine position.
It is acceptable to use a walker when the child confidently holds his back and can sit for a long time. This is usually 8 months old.
How to help your child learn to sit?
There are many different methods that contribute to the development and strengthening of the baby's spine. You can conduct them from birth, the main rule is to engage regularly and comply with the measure.
Pulling up. Starting from 1.5 months you can do pull-ups. Before starting, you should stretch the fingers and joints of the crumbs. Then, putting fingers in the baby’s hands and holding the handles, they slowly begin to pull the baby towards themselves, slowly increasing the angle of elevation.
Coups. You can practice coups from birth. The baby is placed on the tummy, he will try to raise and hold the head, and eventually roll over. Supporting the back and head, it is turned over to the back and back, enough 2-3 times. Exercise develops motor skills, develops joints of the knees and elbows, strengthens the muscles of the neck and allows the baby to learn how to roll over independently.
Massage. Mostly massage relaxes and relieves muscle tone. It should be done in the neck, back and on the extremities. It’s good, if the massage is combined with physical activity, otherwise, being in a relaxed state all the time, the child will not soon begin to move.
Why can't girls be seated early?
When can I plant a girl? Pediatricians advise not to rush and recommend waiting until the child himself is ready for this. The fact is that the muscular corset in newborns is not developed at all and it takes time to strengthen it. For girls, this is fraught with divergence of the pelvic bones, which in the future will affect gait, posture and childbirth.
Accordingly, a negative answer should be given to the question whether girls can be put on a walker when trying to sit on their own. First, the child needs to strengthen muscles and acquire skills.
Influence of walkers on child development
While some experts argue about the physical and psycho-emotional assistance of walkers in the development of the baby, others argue the opposite. In infancy, the physical strengthening of the body is associated with the formation of the human psyche.
According to psychologists and pediatricians, the period when a child crawls is of great importance in its development, the formation of the psyche at a young age and in later life. Therefore, it is so important not to limit the child during this period, during which the body comprehensively develops.
Walkers meanwhile provide the child with the opportunity to move independently, study the world and objects around him, while at the same time delaying psychoemotional formation. As a rule, such children begin to walk 2-4 weeks later. They do not feel enough danger and fear, while at the same time they are moving uncertainly, seeking the support of loved ones. Shyness and a tendency to panic are also observed. Pediatricians note that it is better to occupy a child in the arena without resorting to the use of walkers. It is safe and provides the child with a wide range of actions: walking, holding on to a support, sitting, getting up and crawling.
Pros Walker
We examined how many months girls can be put on walkers. But before deciding on this action, it is worth evaluating the positive and negative points.
“For” the use of walkers:
- New emotions and sensations that have a beneficial effect on the psycho-emotional development of the child.
- He realizes that he can independently move around, get to a certain place, reach out and touch the objects he likes.
- Being in an upright position, the baby differently perceives the world around him.
- Increases motor activity, which develops new movements.
- Physical activity favorably affects the development of mental ability and forms new connections in the cerebral cortex.
- Walkers become a new toy for the baby, with music, bright details and spinning wheels.
- Parents can go about their business.
Cons Walkers
But there are also disadvantages of such a device:
- The development of such skills as stability, walking, and keeping the body on its feet slows down.
- The child gets used to walking on his fingers and does not lean on the whole foot while walking. As a result, an incorrect position of the ankle is formed.
- The baby walker has limited movement. He can’t crouch, stand up, catch up.
- Improper body position in walkers leads to premature stress on the hip joints and spine, which can cause it to bend and strain.
- With frequent use of the device, the baby loses an important period of crawling, during which the muscles of the body strengthen, coordination and control over movements improve. This is a natural step in preparing for walking.
- The child does not feel confidence in space, does not hold the balance, which is acquired at the initial stage, when the baby only learns to stand.
- Undesirable effect on the cerebellum, responsible for the vestibular apparatus, coordination of movements and orientation in space.
- The child does not develop a sense of self-preservation. He is not taught to fall, putting forward his hands, as children usually do, which inevitably leads to injuries.
- Walkers can be dangerous, especially if the child moves quickly.
How to choose the right device?
It’s not enough to know how long you can put a girl on a walker. It is necessary to choose the right kind of transport. Keep in mind that pediatricians do not recommend putting a child on a walker earlier than 7-8 months of age. It is also worth considering the weight and physique of the child
What else to look for:
- The base of the structure should be stable and wide, well, if it has a triangular shape.
- The back should be strong and high. So the child will sit correctly and be supported from behind, as his musculoskeletal system is poorly formed.
- It is good if the seat is deep and wide, made of water-repellent material. Not very tough.
- The wheels should be large and rotating in all directions. The more of them, the better.
- When choosing a walker, you should pay attention to the wheel stops.
- The height of the structure must be adjustable.
- A positive moment will be a removable tabletop with educational toys and musical accompaniment.
Features of the development of girls
At birth, the baby has a very thin spine, unable to bear the load, so it is exclusively in a supine position. Over time, this part of the body becomes stronger, thanks to this the baby learns new movements, turns over, crawls, sits down and as a result walks.
Some parents allow the child to sit already at the age of four months, but this is not correct, since his spine is not ready for this yet. On their own, children sit at the age of 6-7 months. Sometimes little men begin to crawl first and only then sit on their own. Before putting a child in a walker, it is important to make sure that he has mastered the stages of development.
It is worth noting that the probability of the formation of hip dysplasia is much higher in girls. If it was not observed in the child in the first months of life, frequent use of walkers can provoke it. Therefore, do not rush to plant a little princess in them.
Features of the use of walkers for girls
We found out when girls can be put on a walker. Advice on individual child development is available from your pediatrician. A doctor at a monthly examination will assess the physical condition of the baby and give recommendations.
Before purchasing a walker, you should familiarize yourself with some features of their use in girls:
- The child should be 7-9 months old. At this age, the girls are strong enough, can be in an upright position, stand independently, adhering to the support.
- Before putting the girl in the walker, she must sit with confidence. This factor is individual for each child, some sit down at 6 months, others at 8.
- The child must be able to crawl well. If you regularly put him on a walker, this important step can be missed.
- The total time spent in the mobile device should not exceed 40-50 minutes per day, while each individual session should not last more than 15 minutes. Long stay in walkers increases the load on the spine.
How to use walkers: recommendations
When girls can be put on walkers, we found out - do not do this before 7-8 months of age.
Here are some tips doctors give about using walkers:
- You can not force a child into a device, especially if he resists.
- Walkers should not be abused. Strictly limit the time spent in them.
- While walking, you need to wear shoes for the baby. It should be soft, light with a rubber sole.
- It is strictly forbidden to leave a child alone unattended.
- Items that could harm the child and injure him should be out of reach.
When it’s impossible and delusions
We suggest you familiarize yourself with the video, where Dr. Komarovsky answers a question of interest.
When can girls be put on a walker? We examined the nuances of using the device. We will pay attention to aspects of life when the walker is strictly contraindicated:
- Decreased or increased muscle tone in a child. Walkers are designed in such a way that the baby most often moves on toes. Therefore, it is important to correctly adjust the height of the structure.
- The child has diaper rash or other skin lesions in the area of contact with the walker.
- The child is ill with rickets.
- Pathology of the musculoskeletal system.
Common misconceptions regarding walkers:
- The kid learns to walk. This statement is erroneous because the center of gravity is shifted while walking in walkers.
- Walkers strengthen the muscle tissue of the legs. The child’s muscles train while crawling, crouching and walking without assistance.
- The child is protected from falling. For proper physical development, the girl needs to learn how to fall and stand up on her own. Walkers do not allow the child to form a sense of danger and group muscles at the time of the fall.
We examined how much girls can be put on walkers. It can be noted that this is a useful device from the point of view of the game and the knowledge of the surrounding world. But such a device is not able to replace exercises, physical activity, when the child tries to stand on his own.