Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Hi Sheryl,
    
    IMy daughter is 4 months old. We bought her one of those Fisher Price
    Hop, Skip & Jumpers. She loves and it's well made for safety.
    
    Also,the walker we have is a Petrus it's the kind that is round around
    the base so it's easy to get through doorways, the square ones seen to
    get stuck in the doorway. Another thing, look for the walkers that are
    adjustable height, for growth purposes. Our daughter has been in hers 
    believe it or not since 2 1/2 months. She has been pushing herself
    backwards since 3 months! She sure forgot about her infant seat and
    swing real fast. She loves the mobility we've already had to lift the
    seat one notch, that's how fast they grow!
    The directions for the jumper and walker say that as long as your child
    can hold their head up alone they are ready for them
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    Sandy

    I got my son the "Johnny Jump-Up" by Evenflo when he was about 2
    months old and started using it when he was around 3 months old
    (he held his head up real well even at 2 months old).  He loves
    it and can "jump" for hours.  He too forgot about his swing real
    quick.  As far as a walker, he has the Graco "Tot-about" (I think
    that's the name).  It's an adjustable one.  He just got it for
    Christmas and he can get around the room by pushing himself backwards
    with no problem (he turned 5 months old on 12/27).  It's funny to
    see when he's pushed himself into a corner and get's frustrated.
    :-)
    
    Lori B.

    
    	They are certainly a life-saver...My sister-in-law let me borrow
    	her Johnny Jump Up, by Fisher Price, and Matthew loves it!  He's
    	been in it since he was about 3 1/2.  It's adjustable for his
    	height so it works out well.  He's been in his walker (Petrus)
    	since he was about the same age.  Now he's a little speed racer
    	in it...he flys everywhere!  
    
    	I have read some negative advertisements...of course.. on the "jump
    	up" and the walker.  The jump-up is not advised by some physicians
    	because it can cause problems in the little guys ligaments.  And
    	the walker may cause them to become lazy about learning to walk
    	themselves....
    
    	Another warning....make sure all safety gates are up near stairs
    	when using walkers...there have been many deaths attributed to
    	walkers because of this.
    
    	Ellen

    
    My son Tanner will be 5 mos old Jan 12, and we got him the Fisher Price
    Hop, Skip, Jumper for x-mas.  He loves it!  I never had one for
    Spencer, but decided to get one for Tanner.  I also heard that these
    are not good for their legs or whatever, and about the walkers too, but
    my pediatrician says they are fine as long as used in moderation. 
    Tanner has also been in his walker for a month or so now, and is just
    learing to kick himself backwards.  My walker is a Century.
    
    elizabeth
    

    Thanks everyone!  I'm heading out tonight to buy the Fisher Price
    jumper--I'm sure she'll love it!  
    
    We tried her in a walker at Christmas and she got really excited--
    then looked around, paused, and screamed!  I guess we'll wait a
    few more weeks for that...
    
    Thanks again for your help,
    Sheryl

    We got the Johnny-Jump-Up for Steven and used it a bit for David
    as well, but neither one of them liked it much.
    
    --bonnie

    Our friend's baby strangled in a jump-up ... so we warned all our
    friends and family NOT to give one to us as a "gift", as we are
    dead-set against them ... and we will never buy one as a "gift" either.
    
    Unfortunately, it takes a tragic accident to hit home to turn us
    against any type of similar furniture or equipment ... even if there's
    only a one-in-a-million-chance of an accident happening.
    
    Juli had two walkers, LIVED in them and LOVED them!  Yet we have
    friends who are as dead-set against walkers as we are against jumpers.
    So I think it depends on the kid, the parents and a "clean", safe
    history.
    
    Dottie
    
    PS:  We have friends who use jumpers ... fine by us, we just don't
         Juli to be in one.
                                               

Michelle started using her jumper at 4.5 months and loves it (she's now
6.5 months).  She started using her walker at about the same time, mainly
just to play with toys on the tray.

I use both items sparingly.  I don't want them to become a substitute for
playing with me or playing while sitting on the floor by herself.  They 
basically just give her a change of pace.  I only leave her in them for
about 15 minutes or until she wants out, whichever comes first.  I also
watch her while she's in them.  Anotherwords, I stay in the room while she's
in her jumper and I move the walker to where I'm at while she's in it
(even if I'm only going to the bathroom!).  The jumper does help her work
off some excess energy, though, since she's not crawling yet.

The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend walkers because of
the safety hazard, I think because of falling down stairs in them.  So be
extra careful of that.  I have also heard of the joint problem of using
jumpers but my brother-in-law who is a doctor (not a pedi though) says he
thinks that is only a problem if you over-use the jumper.

Kyra

Topic 372 was "Walkers:  Good or Bad?".  I'd like to encourage people to 
go there if they'd like to discuss the pros and cons of walkers, and to
limit themselves here to .0's request for recommendations for the best 
kind.

	-Neil Faiman, PARENTING co-moderator

    
    My feeling on the jolly Jumper.........I feel most people use them
    so that they can ignore their kids....put them in the jumper so
    that they can get their kids out of their way.  I ex wifes mother
    liked to do this.  I wouldn't buy one because I know that is what
    my ex would have done.  Get a walker so that he/she can follow you
    around.  
    
    	HW

RE: >Note 602.10                     "JOLLY JUMPERS"?

>    My feeling on the jolly Jumper.........I feel most people use them
>    so that they can ignore their kids....put them in the jumper so
>    that they can get their kids out of their way.

What a gross generalization, based on experience with exactly one person!

We did not put Michael in a walker because we didn't feel they were safe.  
We got the Hop, Skip, 'n Jump because it WAS safer than a walker in our 
opinion.  No other reason.  Michael spent about 20 - 30 minutes in the thing 
every evening while his mom fixed dinner.  He was about 6 feet away from 
her the whole time.  It was used once a day, no more.  I imagine that sort
of scenario is probably very common among parents who buy the jumper. 

Sheesh!

Steve

    
    	RE: .11
    
    	glad I'm not the only one who disagreed with the "use them
    	so they can ignore the kids" comment!
    
    	Thanks for summing it up Steve.
    
    	/Kim 

    I just thought they looked uncomfortable--I know *I* wouldn't want to
    be suspended by my crotch!!!  Alex's walker had a nice padded back that
    extended up to the top of her head, so some of the weight could be
    distributed there (or she could slouch over the tray).
    
    Leslie