A small child in a baby walker is at increased risk for injury, which can be serious and life-threatening. Some organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have asked for a ban on their sale and use.
Types of injuries:
(1) falling down steps
(2) burns
(3) access to poisons
(4) objects falling onto the child (if the child pulls on a table cloth)
(5) electrical injury
(6) cuts (if the child can gain access to a knife or scissors)
(7) getting hand or foot caught in doors
Risk factors for injury:
(1) lack of safety features on the walker to prevent instability, going down steps or through doorways
(2) failure of the safety feature to work (wider doorways)
(3) absence of backup safety measures (gates in doorways or at stairs)
(4) lack of adequate supervision
(5) hazards in the environment (open fire, ovens, hot liquids, dangling cords, etc.)
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