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Evaluation of the effects of using a baby walker on trunk control and motor development
Sabiha Bezgin1, Kamile Uzun Akkaya2, Halil İbrahim Çelik3
1Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Kırıkkale University Faculty of Health Sciences, Kırıkkale, Turkey.
Insights
Baby walker use in infants is linked to lower motor development and trunk control. This study suggests potential adverse effects on early childhood development due to walker use.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric developmental science
- Infant motor development research
Background:
- Baby walkers are commonly used by caregivers to facilitate infant mobility.
- There is ongoing debate regarding the potential impact of baby walkers on child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between baby walker usage and key developmental milestones in infants.
- To assess the specific effects on trunk control and overall motor development.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study design involving typically developing infants.
- Participants were divided into two groups: baby walker users (n=29) and non-users (n=19).
- Motor skills were evaluated using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, and trunk control was assessed with the Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control.
Main Results:
- Infants who used baby walkers demonstrated significantly lower scores in both motor development and trunk balance compared to non-users.
- A statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that baby walker use may negatively impact infant motor development.
- Impaired trunk control is a potential contributing factor to the observed developmental delays.
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the use of baby walkers on trunk control and motor development in typically developing children.
Material And Methods:
Demonstrating standard developmental steps, 29 children (14 females, 15 males; mean age 10±1 month) who used a baby walker and 19 children (10 females, 9 males; mean age 10±1 month) who did not use a baby walker were included. Motor skills were assessed using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale and trunk control using Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control.
Results:
The motor development scores and trunk balance scores were found significantly lower in infants who used a baby walker compared with those not using a baby walker.
Conclusion:
It was concluded that the use of baby walkers might adversely affect the motor development of infants and this may be due to impaired trunk control.
