Choosing and Using an Baby Walker

There’s no doubt that baby walkers are dangerous. A walker gives increased mobility and added height that can put a baby in dangerous situations. In Canada, the sale of baby walkers has been banned since 2004. But elsewhere around the world, including the United States and Australia, baby walkers are still sold. Fortunately, both the US and Australian governments have taken great pains to make sure that the manufacture of new generations of baby walkers meet certain safety standards.

Parents who insist on getting a baby walker should know what to look out for when buying one and how to make the home baby walker-safe.

New Safety Measures

In the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) worked with the industry to develop a new standard – the ASTM F-977 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Walkers – to make baby walkers much safer. Baby walkers using this safety standard and certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) must meet the following requirements:

• Too wide to fit through a standard doorway
• Has gripping mechanism to stop the walker at the edge of a step

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission also urges consumers Down Under to check that baby walkers comply with the US ASTM F-977 safety standard.

Choosing a Baby Walker

Here are useful tips before buying a baby walker:

• Buy a brand new walker that complies with the mandatory safety standard. The safety warning label or sticker should be clearly displayed. If there is none, do not buy it.
• Look for an automatic braking or gripping mechanism that prevents the walker from being ridden over a step.
• Check that there are no sharp edges or places that can trap little fingers.
• Make sure the baby fits into the walker properly and that it supports her weight.
• Make sure the baby’s feet touch the floor when seated in the walker.
• Choose a walker with a wide, stable base and wheels at least 50mm wide in diameter.
• Avoid buying a used or second hand baby walker as it may not comply with the new safety standard.

Baby Walker Safety

Parents should ensure safety at home when the walker is being used.

• Never let a baby use a walker unsupervised.
• Do not leave the baby in the walker for more than 15 minutes as prolonged use can cause developmental delays when the baby learns to walk.
• Use baby walkers only on flat and level surfaces.
• Block off access to staircases, fireplaces or heaters, kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, swimming pools and sliding doors with aluminum tracks that can cause the walker to topple over.
• Beware of dangling cords.
• Remove loose edges or rugs or carpets or better still, do not use them at all.
• Do not carry a walker while the baby is in it.
• Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

Because of their potential dangers, parents must choose baby walkers that meet all the new safety standards as well as ensure home safety at all times. To be even safer, opt for a stationary play center instead. It has all the fun elements, minus the perils.