A baby walker consists of a frame with a suspended seat in the center for your baby to sit in. The base of the walker has wheels that allow your baby to move himself around before he is actually able to walk. Baby products are recalled if they present a danger, and walkers are no exception.
Statistics
Healthy Children states that while in a walker, a baby can move three feet in just one second. This causes a safety hazard that can result in a baby falling down stairs, off of decks or into pools. According to KidsHealth website, more children are injured in baby walkers than any other product.
Standards
A voluntary standard was introduced in 1997 that suggested all baby walkers have a friction strip on the bottom that stops it if its wheels drop away from the edge of a step. In 2010, the standard became a mandatory rule. Walkers also need to have a base that is too wide to fit through a doorway. According to Consumer Reports, any walkers not meeting the standard are recalled.
Recall Examples
Several baby walker models have been recalled for various reasons. In 2002, walkers made by Kolcraft Enterprises were voluntarily recalled due to toys on the walker that could detach and expose sharp edges. In 2010, walkers made by Le Hing and Suntech Enterprises were recalled because they did not have the bottom friction strip and had bases that were able to fit through a doorway.
Safe Alternative
"Consumer Reports" states that no standard or testing can make a walker completely safe if it has wheels. Try looking for a stationary activity center for your baby to use. These centers are similar to walkers, allowing your baby to sit suspended in a seat and play with attached toys, but there are no wheels.
Choosing a Walker
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against the use of walkers and has called for them to be banned, some parents still choose to use them. If you do buy a walker for your baby, make sure it meets safety standards and has a base wider than its frame to provide stability. Be sure that the folding mechanism works and that there are no loose toys or parts. Never let your baby use a walker unattended or in a room with access to stairs. Check with the Consumer Product Safety Commission frequently to make sure the walker has not been recalled, and never use or try to resell a recalled walker.
References
- Consumer Reports: Baby Walkers
- KidsHealth from Nemours: Choosing Safe Baby Products: The Dangers of Walkers
- Healthy Children: Baby Walkers: A Dangerous Choice
- Consumer Reports: CPSC Recalls Baby Walkers Due to Fall Hazard
- Consumer Product Safety Commission: Baby Walkers Recalled by Suntech Enterprises Due to Fall Hazard
