Show me your baby walker!

So I know baby walkers are notoriously unsafe, can lead to injury/death, and even delay mental/physical development, BUT I'm still pretty set on getting one for DS.

I have absolutely no intention of ever putting him in it and walking out of the room, leaving him unsupervised. I do understand how quickly babies could speed around in the things, that I might be chasing after him at some points, but we also don't have a staircase he could accidentally fall down or a patio he could walk off of. I just like the idea of being able to place him in a contained area that can entertain him for when I need to throw in a load of laundry or put dishes away, while keeping him in my line of vision. We do have a bouncer for him, but it doesn't allow him to move around freely and lugging it around from room to room is taxing (why do they make those things so damn heavy!)

That said, I'll give you a few details about DS in hopes of being able to be pointed in the right direction. He's a little over 9mo, has been able to sit unassisted since 4mo, has been pulling himself up on any surface he can reach since 5mo and has been crawling at super speeds (totally skipped scooting - wish I coulda seen him do it) since 6mo. Definitely hasn't mastered standing unassisted, but started doing it for short little intervals (5 seconds or so) here and there at 8mo. No idea when he'll start really standing and walking, but he's a very, very quick and mobile child, so I wouldn't be surprised if it happened here pretty soon.

What walker do you have? Links would be helpful. What specs should I look for in a walker and what specs should I stay away from? How have your experiences with them been? Do you feel they've delayed or endangered your child at all?

WOW this is quite a statement!
So I know baby walkers are notoriously unsafe, can lead to injury/death, and even delay mental/physical development, BUT I'm still pretty set on getting one for DS.

Anyway it sounds like your LO is about to start walking on his own. I would just let nature take its course and I am sure he will be walking soon

I have a generic Graco walker from Walmart for like $30. I used to put him in it from 4 months but now he hates being IN it and walks behind it pushing, I figure im still getting some use out of it (sorry only picture I have lol)

My daughter uses one, she does live this one though since we have two
This one makes it easier for her to walk in since its shorter than the other one she also has

This is the other one she has, its higher, so she cant really touch the floor

<blockquote><b>Quoting applelove:</b>" WOW this is quite a statement! So I know baby walkers are notoriously unsafe, can lead to injury/death, ... [snip!] ... your LO is about to start walking on his own. I would just let nature take its course and I am sure he will be walking soon "</blockquote>

Oh smurf, lol. I didn't realize it would come off that way. I meant to have more honour behind it. I know there are risks involved with it, but there are also reports of injuries and death with the bumbo chairs and a lot of those risks have to do with poor parental supervision. I would NEVER let him leave my sight if he was in it and he's never be in it for more than 5-10 minutes.

I'm not trying to rely on the thing to teach him how to walk, nor do I want to expedite the process. I just thought he'd have fun in one and it could let him simulate walking around while I'm in the room with him doing household duties. I just think the mobility of the thing would interest him more than his bouncer because anytime I place him in it and do what I need to, he hates the fact that he can't move around. All he can do is jump, but not go anywhere, and he gets frustrated.

I got my almost 6mo old this a weeka ago and she loves it, still can't go to much in it yet (shes short and small for her age) but she loves the toys on it. my 10mo old niece uses it too and she goes all over the place. good on carpet too.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12995936

Quoting kr.r:" <blockquote><b>Quoting applelove:</b>" WOW this is quite a statement! So I know baby ... [snip!] ... I need to, he hates the fact that he can't move around. All he can do is jump, but not go anywhere, and he gets frustrated."

lol no need to explain yourself... I loves walkers, used them when my 5yr old was a baby and nothing bad ever happened cuz he was always watched and we have no stairs or anything to fall down.

Quoting kr.r:" <blockquote><b>Quoting applelove:</b>" WOW this is quite a statement! So I know baby ... [snip!] ... I need to, he hates the fact that he can't move around. All he can do is jump, but not go anywhere, and he gets frustrated."

My lo started to walk at 9 months. I think your LO will start walking soon and then the walker will be useless. Because your LO will want to try walking on his own.

That is just a guess, I can't know when your LO will walk. I think that it will probably be soon. And walkers are dangerous (even thought we know you will be as safe as you can with it) It will be a waist of money if your LO dose start to walk soon.

Is your LO cruising well? Puling up on tables on his own and walking like that? I don't know your baby but mine was all about doing things on his own and would not use things like a walker. Someone gave us one and we returned it for somthing like this. (one of the toys they can push or ride)
http://www.amazon.com/Step-Start-Walk-Ride-Colors/dp/B00004T2WP

He loved it and we still get use out of it at 15 months. Just somthing to think about.

<blockquote><b>Quoting applelove:</b>" My lo started to walk at 9 months. I think your LO will start walking soon and then the walker will ... [snip!] ... He loved it and we still get use out of it at 15 months. Just somthing to think about."</blockquote>


That's a really great suggestion, thank you! I think we'll check that out and see how he likes it. I'm just a little scared he'll trip over that thing when walking and come crashing down on his face. How early did you try it with your LO? Could he already walk independently before you tried it?

He pulls himself up on EVERYTHING and is always walking from on end of the surface to the other.

Quoting kr.r:" <blockquote><b>Quoting applelove:</b>" My lo started to walk at 9 months. I think ... [snip!] ... before you tried it? He pulls himself up on EVERYTHING and is always walking from on end of the surface to the other."

We received the baby walker when my LO was about 8 months. At the time he was cruising very well and sometimes letting go for a second or so. I did not want to keep it because I had read that they could be unsafe. And since he was cruising so well I did not see the point, it just was not going to work well for our lifestyle.

So we returned it when he was about 8 months and 2 weeks and we got this.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3230458&prodFindSrc=prodCrossSell
At that age all he did was craw over to it and push the sound buttons, he really liked it.
Then about 2 weeks later he started to walk on his own. He took a step away from a table and with in a few days he was basically done with crawling. I was surprised(he is my first so I did not know it would happen so fast like that)
Then at 9-10 months all he wanted to do was walk walk walk. he would get up in the night to walk.
Then at 10 months he had walking down and wanted to play with his little car again. At this point he started to sit or stand(yikes) on it.
Then he discovered it had a hidden compartment and he loves to hide toys in it. Anytime I can't find a remote or sippy cup that is the place I find it.

Over time he has learned how to walk while sitting on it, at first I had to push him. He really enjoys it and I am glad we got this. I think if we would have stuck with the walker that he would have only used it for about a month.