U.S. GOVERNMENT SHOULD BAN BABY WALKERS
Canadian ban applauded

Washington, DC---The American Academy of Pediatrics is once again calling on the U.S. government to ban wheeled baby walkers in order to prevent infant injuries. The effort has been renewed since the Canadian government yesterday prohibited new and used baby walkers from being advertised, sold or imported.

"We urge the United States to follow Canada's lead and ban this dangerous and useless product," said AAP Executive Director Joe M. Sanders, Jr., MD. "It is time to get baby walkers off store shelves and out of American homes and child care centers."

The AAP has recommended a ban on baby walkers since 1995, and over the years has petitioned the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), but to no avail. The CPSC has worked with manufacturers on voluntary safety features, but the wheeled walkers are still sold.

Parents may be aware of the dangers associated with baby walkers, but infants continue to sustain injuries in walkers even under supervision. In 2001, over 6000 children in the United States were injured in baby walkers. Most of the injuries resulted from a fall down stairs or falls out of the walker. Other injuries, such as burns and poisonings, happen because infants are more mobile in walkers and able to reach objects that would be otherwise out of reach.

"We're still seeing head injuries, bruises, cuts and skull fractures and for what?" said Dr. Sanders. "There is no developmental benefit to children using walkers. They're really just uncontrolled rides, and your baby is doing the driving."

Instead of wheeled baby walkers, the AAP encourages parents to use safer alternatives such as stationary activity centers.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 57,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.