Safety

Infant Walker

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Infant Walker, Baby Walker

  • Background
  1. AAP recommends ban on walker manufacture and sale
  • Description
  1. Used to allow pre-ambulatory children to "walk"
  2. Rigid frame on wheels with attached soft seat
  • Risks
  • Serious Injury
  1. U.S. Emergency Room visit data
    1. Walker-related injuries in 1999 alone: 8800
    2. Most walker injuries involve stairs
  2. Types of injuries
    1. Deaths (34 from 1973 to 1998)
    2. Fractures
    3. Closed head injuries
  • Benefits
  1. None
  2. Walkers do not promote early ambulation
    1. Children using Walkers have delayed ambulation
    2. Delayed sitting, crawling, and walking
  • References
  1. (2001) Pediatrics 108:790-2 [PubMed]