i wouldn't listern to the person that told you that because i have three children and they were all in walkers from 5 months plus and none have bowed legs

My son has been using his jolly jumper since he was four months and he is no were near bow-legged.

that statement is completley false. my son was bowleged before we put him in the wlaker after we put him in he walked fine and was no longer bowleged.

Hi there,
With my patients, I avoid the walker. I refer you to the American Academy of Pediatrics web site, http://www.aap.org/family/babywalkers.htm, but the highlight of the argument is the safety issue.

Dr. J

I was under the impression bowleggedness is genetic. I'm slightly bowlegged and I got it from my father who is bowlegged. What a funny word. :-)

I have read that walkers are not good for muscle development, as they strengthen a different group of muscles than regular rolling/crawling around. But whatever makes your baby happy...

no its not true my 11 month old son was put in a walker when he was two months, the only reson why i regreted doin this was because he was walking but the time he was 9 months

Babies are bowlegged when they are born and this slowly goes away as they develop. Standing actually helps their legs. As long as the baby is able to hold their head up well and hold their back some on their own, they are old enough for a walker or exersaucer.
This is usually around 4 months of age. Walkers are often discouraged because of the saftey issue, but as long as you are using it in a secure area, it isn't a bad thing. I have a kitchen that is baby proofed with cabinet locks, outlet covers, gaits, etc. where we have allowed our son to use his walker since he was 5 months old. He loves it and I cannot imagine my life without it. It has allowed me to get things done because it made him happy. And the biggest safetly issue is that the walker isn't being used where it could topple down stairs. Hugs, Fern

No it does not. Bow legs are caused by rickets, which is just a medical mumble jumble for a deficiency in Vitamin D.

Usually this is caused by a lack of good old fashioned sunshine, but on occasion it can be due to a rare disorder where the child is unable to properly metabolize Vitamin D.

The reason the legs become bowed is vitamin D is essential in the process of building strong bones. We all know that Calcium is important for bones and teeth, but with out Vitamin D, ( along with some other vitamins and minerals) your body can not properly utilize that calcium. Bow legs are the result of the body not being able to properly strengthen the bone, resulting in them being curved.

The myth that walkers, jolly jumpers and other such apparatus causing bow legs is exactly that, a myth.