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By Robert Steele
More than half of all babies between the ages of 5 and 15 months use walkers. Estimated sales have been as high as three million per year. Babies almost universally love them, and parents love to use them because they may keep an otherwise fussy baby entertained -- often for hours. However, they are one of the most dangerous inventions made for children, causing a lot of harm and heartache each year.
There are several types of baby walkers, but most people are familiar with the typical plastic base, wheeled frame, and fabric seat that have leg holes to allow the child to scoot along the floor. Aside from the entertainment this toy gives a child, parents give other reasons for using the walker such as promoting walking and providing exercise. However, up to one-third of parents have said they use the walker because they feel it will keep their infant safe. Unfortunately, none of these are true. The few studies that have been done looking at the how walkers affect development have shown that they do not affect the time at which a child learns to walk. And in fact, most studies have shown that if there is any effect on walking, it is a delay of a few weeks. Babies who use a walker tend to have an abnormal gait at first, but this tends to resolve quickly with time.
Safety, however, is an entirely different issue, and is one in which there is a lot known. In 1997, baby walkers sent more than 14,000 babies to the hospital emergency room. Walkers were even involved in 34 deaths from 1973 to 1998.
The initial standards for safety of walkers set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission dealt with injuries to the hands from pinching, but did nothing to address the issue of falls. And the majority of the severe injuries occur when the walker goes down the stairs.
About one-fourth of all reported injuries with walkers involved injuries to the head, including fractures. Walkers allow for an infant who isn't normally very mobile to become quite efficient at getting around. So, other injuries including pinched fingers, burns and accidental poisonings have all been reported due to the child being able to get into dangerous areas with lightening speed.
The track record with walkers was so dismal that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended banning the manufacture and sale of mobile infant walkers. This never occurred, and a response was made in the form of a new standard, adopted as of July 1, 1997. To meet the new standard, the new generation walker must have one of two features. Walkers are now made wider so they cannot fit through most doorways and can stop at the edge of a step.
It's important you understand that these new walker designs will not prevent all injuries from walkers. Because they still have wheels, young children can still move faster and reach higher than they could on their own. A baby in a walker can move three feet in one second, so they are not even safe with close adult supervision.
Parents who are considering toys for infants will find their money best spent on playthings other than walkers. There are stationary walkers that have no wheels, but have seats that rotate and bounce while keeping baby in one spot.
5 Things You Need to Know to Protect Your Baby
1. Close the door or gate at the top of the stairs.
2. Keep your child within view.
3. Keep your child away from hot surfaces and containers.
4. Beware of dangling appliance cords.
5. Keep your child away from toilets, swimming pools and other sources of water
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