Baby Walker Safety
From 1998 to 2001, babywalkers caused more injuries to children under 12 months (23%) than any other piece of nursery furniture.
Babywalkers and babies are a potentially dangerous mix, as they provide babies with more mobility and reach than they may be ready for.
There is no conclusive evidence that babywalkers assist with a child’s development and many safety professionals including the Office of Fair Trading actively discourage their use.
Injuries = Almost all babywalker related injuries from 1998 to 2001 (92%) in Queensland involved children less than 12 months old, with 14% of the injuries. More than 90% of cases involved a fall with more than 70% involving stairs. More than a third of the babywalker related injuries were to the head.
All head injuries are potentially serious. The national injury data is just as alarming. About 500 babies in Australia are injured each year in a babywalker with around half requiring hospital emergency room treatment. Babywalkers give a child access to hazards such as heaters, ashtrays, electrical connections, and hot substances.
Babies can suffer burns and scalds from reaching hot objects such as oven doors or pulling down hot irons.
Babies can be poisoned after reaching and swallowing dangerous substances.
Research indicates that up to 57% of babies injured as a result of having access to hazards require hospitalization.
Before you buy:– Give some thought to the alternative types of products that would be just as entertaining but safer. All babywalkers supplied in trade or commerce in
Australia from 1 November 2002 must meet certain safety features as prescribed under part 11A of the Queensland Fair Trading Regulation 2001. This standard is based on the US Standard ASTM F977.
The new standard includes:–
Stability – a series of tests to minimise the risk of the babywalker tipping over either forwards, backwards or sideways.
Prevention of falls down stairs – normally achieved by friction strips or some other form of braking mechanism, on the undercarriage that operates when the edge of the walker moves over a step.
Product warnings – consumer safety warnings. Some types of babywalkers have other additional safety options such as being made too wide to move through a standard doorway, design features that limit their speed or the ability to be made stationary by raising the wheel carriage. Check with the retailer about these types of products.
Check the babywalker will support the weight of your baby. It will probably need to be able to take a 12kg baby to be useful up to the walking stage.
Make sure your baby’s feet can touch the floor while sitting in the walker.
Look for a babywalker with a wide base for stability and big wheels at least 50mm in diameter.
Check for any finger, arm or leg traps, sharp edges or pinch points.
Second-hand babywalkers may not be as safe as new ones. For example, it may have been through a fall and been weakened without any obvious signs of damage.
It may also not have the safety features to stop the walker going down the stairs. Do not buy a babywalker unless you are able to make your home safe for one.
How to make your home babywalker safe:–
-
Do not let your baby have access to areas which are not babywalker safe.
- Only use the babywalker on flat, level surfaces.
- Place child resistant barriers at the top of stairs.
- Block access to open sliding glass doors or windows at floor level.
- Sliding aluminium tracks can cause walkers to topple.
- Block access to heaters and fireplaces
- Check for electrical cords on floors that could cause the babywalker to topple.
- Remove hazards that a baby in a babywalker could have access to.
As a guide, look at things that are less than 900mm from the floor. Babies have little sense of danger and the injuries caused to babies by having this extra access can be horrific.
Remove or tack down the edges of loose rugs or carpets.
Never use babywalkers in kitchens, bathrooms or laundries – there are too many hazards.
It is critical that you place child resistant barriers across all doorways to these rooms.
Never carry a babywalker while a child is in it, babywalkers are not designed to be used like this. It could hurt the child or cause a fall-related injury.
Follow the safety instructions provided with the babywalker, especially those for locking the frame into position and adjusting the seat.
Most importantly, never leave a baby unsupervised in a babywalker!
Our thanks to the Queensland Department of Fair Trading for permission to use this article.
Disclaimer:– This fact sheet aims to provide consumers with a general understanding of their rights and responsibilities in the Queensland marketplace. It is not a comprehensive statement of the law. The laws referred to in this fact sheet are complex and various qualifications may apply to the provisions in different circumstances. You are encouraged to obtain independent legal and financial advice if you are unsure how these laws apply to your situation. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within this document, the Queensland Government disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you might incur as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in any way, and for any reason.