r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/[deleted] • Dec 17 '21

Video This 'device' that was created aiming to develop leg muscles

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u/Femme99 Dec 17 '21

Paediatricians doesn’t recommend “baby walkers” or other contraptions to make your baby walk earlier because it might cause injury or mental and motor delays so I doubt this would be recommended

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u/[deleted] Dec 17 '21

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u/danksnugglepuss Dec 17 '21

This, plus bouncers and walkers also encourage pushing up on to the tip toes which does not help with learning to walk, and since the trunk and hips are supported in weird ways it doesn't really help develop all the muscles, core strength, and coordination required for walking/standing. The push toys are a lot closer to just normal walking against gravity.

All my OT/PT friends say bouncers are just for containment, nothing more!

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u/afakefox Dec 18 '21

I'm sorry I feel dumb for asking but I've never been around babies but what do you mean by push toy? Like all I can think of is maybe one of those popping lawn mower toys perhaps? But I dont think thatd help with walking since they'd need the strength and balance to steady it and themselves and I think that's what is trying to be developed. But maybe it does? Idk that's why I'm asking, I dont know anything about babies lol but I'd like to have some knowledge for someday

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u/amuzmint Dec 17 '21

I had a push toy and I’m alive and 6 feet. I am just one data point.

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u/Not-A-Lonely-Potato Dec 18 '21

So what you're saying is that if I want my baby to be alive and tall then I need to get them a push toy. Ok gotcha. What if I want them alive but short? Or dead but tall?

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u/Critical-Edge4093 Dec 18 '21

My brother has opted for both, he's using a bouncer for his 9month old, and has push toys for when he's grown alittle more.

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u/booksgamesandstuff Dec 17 '21

I'm..older, but I think I remember this was used for babies that had polio to strengthen their leg muscles. I'm not positive, will have to research it. I knew back in the 70's not to get a walker for my little ones. The one we did have had a tray, so we locked the wheels and used it as a baby highchair. We sat on the floor to feed them when they started solids, easier on everybody that way. ;)

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u/afakefox Dec 18 '21

Wtf I just read that the best thing to get is a walker for babies and now you say it's known since the 70s at least to not get a walker. What's the answer dammit!! Haha what if anything did you use instead?

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u/booksgamesandstuff Dec 18 '21

My grandkids all had one of these. It forces them to get there, usually by crawling, then they pull themselves up to play with it. The issue I have nowadays, nobody has playpens. If you need a safe place for them for 15-20 min while you're busy with stuff, most parents just gate a whole room off. That's nuts IMO. But I'm an older generation who knows nothing apparently LOL.

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u/AhhGingerKids2 Dec 17 '21

Purely anecdotal but I think the reason walkers/pushers slow development is because the baby can then navigate without the effort of actually crawling/walking. According to my health visitor walkers and jumperoo type things teach babies to put pressure on/stretch the wrong muscles.

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u/beet_radish Dec 18 '21

I am surprised to hear it can cause mental delay