Why use a baby walker?
Some parents believe that baby walkers will help a child
learn to walk sooner. Baby walkers do not help your baby to
walk earlier. In fact, they often delay walking. The
muscles used to move a walker are different than the muscles
needed to walk independently. Babies in walkers tend to
walk on tiptoe, which can tighten heel and leg muscles.
This means they do not strengthen the muscles groups they
need for sitting, crawling, and walking.
Parents also use walkers as a way to entertain and stimulate
their children. Children can be entertained in other ways
or placed in a safer piece of equipment. A stationary
activity center is much safer than a walker. Stationary
activity centers look like walkers, but without the wheels.
They allow children to bounce, rock, spin, and play with
lights, sounds, and objects on the center. Playpens, infant
swings, and high chairs are other ways to keep your child
safe and happy.
Are baby walkers safe?
Many countries have banned the sale of baby walkers. The
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that walkers
be banned in the United States because:
- baby walkers put children at risk for injury and
- there are no clear benefits from using a baby walker.
Each year thousands of children are treated in hospital
emergency rooms for walker-related injuries. Walker
injuries can be serious, such as:
- skull fractures, bleeding inside the head, or broken
legs and arms from falls, especially down stairs
- pinch injuries to fingers and toes
- drowning
- burns.
Most baby walker injuries happen while at least one parent
is at home watching the child. A baby in a walker can move
at a speed of 3 feet per second. This is much faster than a
baby can move on his own. Baby walkers put children at
increased risk for burns, poisonings, and drownings. This
is because the child can move around faster and reach
dangerous objects.
Safety tips
If you choose to use a baby walker, make sure that you:
- Use a newer model infant walker that meets new safety
standards. Look for the "Meets Safety Standards" label.
Since 1997, safety standards require that baby walkers
have a way to stop the walker at the edge of a step and a
wide base so that they can't fit through doorways.
- Install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Also
use safety gates in front of forbidden rooms or areas.
Safety gates that fasten to the wall are safer than the
gates held against the wall by pressure. Gates do not
prevent babies from tumbling down stairs in walkers.
Children can take the gate down or the baby walker can
knock the gate loose.
- Use toddler-proof locks on doors and screens. Keep
outside doors locked at all times, even when you are at
home.
- Put corner and edge bumpers on sharp edges of furniture
such as coffee tables, end tables, and your fireplace
hearth.
- Put away all delicate, breakable, and valuable items from
tables and shelves.
- Fasten heavy objects such as TVs, lamps, or stereo
equipment to the wall so the baby doesn't accidentally
knock them over.
- Fasten bookcases and other movable furniture pieces to
the wall with a wall anchor so your child can't pull the
piece of furniture over on himself.
- Keep plants out of children's reach.
- Cover unused electrical outlets with plastic caps. You
can also get boxes to cover outlets that are being used.
Where possible, place furniture in front of outlets and
cords.
- Either avoid using extension cords or tape cords down.
Keep phone cords out of children's reach.
- Turn handles of all pots and pans to the back of the
stove so your child can't reach them. Use the back
burners of the stove when possible.
- Avoid using tablecloths that can be pulled down.
- Put safety latches on drawers and cabinets.
- Store cleaning products and all other poisonous chemicals
in a high cupboard out of a child's reach. Make sure it
has a lock or safety latch.
- Keep hot drinks out of reach of your child. When
handling hot liquids or foods, check to see where your
child is BEFORE you pick up the tea kettle or pan.
- Always keep your child within view while in a baby
walker. Walkers require constant supervision.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.