Q. My mother thinks that baby walkers are too dangerous and that I should not allow my toddler to play in one. But stores still sell walkers, so they’re safe, right?
A. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ stance couldn’t be more clear: “Keep your child safe…throw away your baby walker!”
The wheeled seats for toddlers are banned in many countries, including Canada. In the U.S., thousands of children make trips to emergency rooms and doctors’ offices every year for injuries sustained while playing in baby walkers.
Falls down stairs caused the greatest
number and severity of injuries, so
in 1997 standards were raised to
require walker bases to be made wide
enough to prevent rolling down stairs.
Unfortunately, walkers that do not meet
this requirement still manage to make it
into the hands of the public before they
are recalled, and children can still fall out
of the walker and down stairs.
Also, risks of injury rise with baby
walker use simply because the child
gains greater access to dangerous products
and situations. Risks of being
burned or poisoned increase because
toddlers can suddenly reach table and
stovetops, cabinets and shelves.
Drowning risks increase due to the possibility
of children reaching over the side of
the walker and falling into kiddy pools,
bathtubs or toilets.
Many parents think that better supervision is the answer, but according to the AAP, “nearly 80 percent of the infants who suffer baby walker injuries are supervised at the time of the incident.” Face it. Toddlers can find trouble in the blink of an eye. They move lightening fast, and they are even faster on wheels.
Don’t worry, throwing out your
walker does not mean your child will be
the last on the block to take a step. In
fact, the AAP cites studies that show the
walkers may actually hinder motor
development. One alternative is to purchase
a stationary walker with a rotating
seat and toy tray, but no wheels. Better
yet, let your toddler walk while holding
your fingers and create plenty of opportunities
to cruise (walk while holding
onto stable furniture).
We may hate to admit it, but once again, Mother was right.
Source: 365 Ways to Keep Kids Safe by
Don Keenan
