I was also worried after reading the numerous articles online about how unsafe it is...but after much contemplation i got one...thats cuz my lil boy doesnt like to be carried and he is so much happier and mobile in a walker. He is able to move about on his own and discover the world around him. I got a walker about a month ago when he turned 6 months old and now he can pull himself to standing position with the help of furniture around the house... also he tries to walk when we hold on to his fingers... so i doubt it that the walker actually hampers their development or slows them down .When we were kids, we utilized the walker and we're doing great arent we?