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Do baby walkers delay onset of walking in young children?
Patricia Burrows1, Peter Griffiths
1Southwark Primary Care Trust, Aylesbury Health Centre, Thurlow Street, London.
Insights
Baby walker use may delay infant walking onset by 11–26 days, according to a review of studies. Research indicates walkers do not aid walking development and may pose accident risks.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Child Safety
Background:
- Baby walkers are controversial, with debates on developmental benefits versus risks of accidents and delays.
- Concerns exist regarding potential negative impacts on infant motor development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if baby walker use delays the onset of walking in infants.
- To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies.
Main Methods:
- Searched Cochrane library, Embase, CINAHL, and Medline for relevant studies.
- Included two RCTs and two cohort studies comparing walker users with non-users.
- Analyzed studies examining the effect of infant walkers on walking onset.
Main Results:
- RCTs found no significant effect of baby walkers on the onset of walking.
- Cohort studies suggested a delay in walking onset, with a pooled analysis indicating a delay of 11–26 days.
- Studies did not support the claim that walkers aid walking development.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence does not support the idea that baby walkers aid walking development.
- Cohort studies suggest a potential delay in walking onset, though the clinical significance is unclear.
- Further research is needed to investigate the causal role of walkers in accidents.
Abstract:
Baby walkers have been a source of considerable controversy. Some people suggest developmental benefit from their use while others focus on the potential harm that stems from accidents and even suggest developmental delay. This mini-review aimed to determine if use of a baby walker delays affects the onset of walking. The Cochrane library, Embase, CINAHL and Medline were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies, which compared the onset of walking in infants who used baby walkers with a group who did not. Two RCTs and two cohort studies were identified and available for consideration. All of the studies examined the effect of infant walkers on the onset of walking. The results of the two RCTs did not demonstrate a significant effect on the onset of walking. The cohort studies suggest that the use of infant walkers delayed the onset of walking in young children and a pooled analysis of the four studies suggested a delay of between 11 and 26 days. Although the quality of the studies was relatively poor these studies lend no support to the argument that walkers aid the development of walking. The significance of a delay of this magnitude is however unclear. Further work is required to determine whether walkers are an independent causal factor in accidents.