Posted by admin | Posted in Baby care | Posted on 18-07-2011
Tags: baby walker, baby walker best, baby walker reviews, baby walkers safety, baby walkers walmart
Why Baby Walkers are Dangerous
What makes mobile walkers dangerous? Experts say their very design helps kids move easily – often much too easily for them to sustain serious injuries.
“About three million baby walkers are sold in the United States each year. They are generally used in the 2- to 4-month period after a child can sit up and before he can walk without assistance. But by giving a child added height, a walker suddenly brings him within reach of hazards such as boiling pots, electric irons and unprotected electrical cords. And kids in walkers travel so fast – three or four feet a second – that even the most attentive parents may not be able to avert disaster,” said Diana Willensky in American Health magazine.
“Babies in walkers plummet downstairs, turn over in walkers that are snagged by cords, door thresholds, and carpet edges, roll themselves against hot wood stoves and heaters, fall over concrete curbs, or tumble into swimming pools. Parents should be particularly wary of old-style x-frame walkers that are still being sold in garage sales. These designs have been responsible for many injuries, including finger amputations when a baby’s hand got caught in the closing x-joint of the frame – such models should be discarded,” added Sandy Jones and Werner Freitag in Consumer Reports’ Guide to Baby Products.
The length of time your baby spends in a walker determines how prone he or she is to accidents. In general, the risk of accidents increases in kids who spend an hour or more a day in them. Most accidents occurred in the early afternoon when only one parent was away.
Parents often purchase a walker in the belief that it will help their child walk sooner. Fifty percent of walker buyers had this impression but the facts say otherwise.
Rather than help your baby walk, walkers may make things difficult for your child. Freitag, who has developed safety standards for baby products for the American Society for Testing and Materials, said walkers may “interfere with needed pulling up, crawling and creeping experiences” of babies.
This was proven by a study that showed that the leg actions of babies who used walkers differed greatly from those who didn’t. In that study, babies who spent a considerable time in walkers had stiff legs and shorter steps. They also leaned forward more than children who learned to walk on their own. In another study involving twins, the baby who didn’t use a walker started walking two weeks earlier than the one who used the device for two hours every day.
“Studies are showing that not only do walkers not help babies to walk sooner, they may even impede the walking development of babies who have motor deficits by teaching them abnormal moving patterns,” Jones and Freitag said.
Are newly designed walkers safe? Find out in the third part of this series. To stay alert and sharp while watching your child, take Neurovar. For more information on this powerful memory enhancer, go to http://neurovar.com/prod10.aspx.
About the Author
Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine http://www.HealthLinesNews.com.
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NEW! F&F Baby, Navy, Dinosaur Print, Fabric, Pre-Walker Wellies/ Boots. 0-3m $4.74 |
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Barbie Doll Accessories ( Baby Krissy Purple & Yellow Walker ) $1.99 |
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Disney Winnie The Pooh Baby Activity Center Walker NEW $69.95 |
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BNWT BABY BOYS GREY FLUFFY BOOTS BY NEXT UK SIZE 2 ( 6-12 MONTHS) PRE WALKERS $1.56 |
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BNWT BABY BOYS BROWN VELCRO SANDALS BY NEXT UK SIZE 1 (3-6 MONTHS) PRE WALKERS $6.15 |
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RedRed Mary Jane Baby Shoes Girls Toddle Infanta Walker Embroidered 12-18M#27 $0.99 |
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BNWOT BABY BOYS BROWN & GREY TRAINERS BY NEXT UK SIZE 0 (0-3 MONTHS) PRE WALKERS $1.56 |
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BNWOT BABY BOYS DUNLOP GREEN FLASH TRAINERS UK SIZE 2 (6-9 MONTHS) PRE WALKERS $10.59 |
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PAIR OF BABY WALKING STICKS Walker toys shoes $21.95 |
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Fisher Price Bright Beginings Activity Walker K9875 $20.50 |
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Kept for Her Baby Harlequin Presents Extra by Kate Walker 0373527381 $4.97 |
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Their Secret Baby: Expecting Harlequin Presents by Kate Walker 0373124325 $4.97 |
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Mahogany Baby Walker Dolls House Furniture (FR103) $4.90 |
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White Tannis infant Pre-walker baby Girls Boys Sport Shoe size 2 0-6 months $4.76 |
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Pink infant toddler pre-walker boot baby girl shoe high top size 12-18 months $4.76 |
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Brown Tannis infant Pre-walker baby Girls Boys Sport Shoe size 4 12-18 months $6.76 |
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Combi All in One Activity Walker – Red $99.99 |
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White Tannis infant Pre-walker baby Girls Boys Sport Shoe size 4 12-18 months $4.76 |
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Safety 1st Sounds ‘n Lights™ Walker – (Pink/Violet) $43.95 |
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Funny Face (Puffin Baby), Anna Walker, New $9.90 |
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Safety 1st Sounds ‘n Lights Discovery Baby Walker | WA033ASDA $43.00 |
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Baby Kid Safety Harness Toddler Reins Backpack Straps walker Harnesses bat $3.00 |
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Safety 1st Sounds ‘n Lights Discovery Baby Walker – Dino | WA031AOK $48.00 |
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Toddler / Baby Boys Nike SHOX Shoes Size 8 walker shoe EUC $10.99 |
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NEW lot of 5 Scrapbook Stickers Jolees BABY BATH STORK FEEDING WALKER SHOE SIZIN $4.25 |
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GBB Igor First Walker Infant Baby Boys SZ 4 Brown Athletic Shoes $43.99 |
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★White Badminton Stripe Pre-Walker Infant Kid Baby Boy Toddler shoe 6-12 month $4.90 |
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★Brown Leather Stripe Pre-Walker Infant Kid Baby Boy Toddler shoe 0-6 month $4.90 |
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★Brown Leather Stripe Pre-Walker Infant Kid Baby Boy Toddler shoe 6-12 month $4.90 |
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★White Badminton Stripe Pre-Walker Infant Kid Baby Boy Toddler shoe 12-18 month $4.90 |
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★Brown Leather Stripe Pre-Walker Infant Kid Baby Boy Toddler shoe 12-18 month $4.90 |
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★White Badminton Stripe Pre-Walker Infant Kid Baby Boy Toddler shoe 0-6 month $4.90 |
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★Basket Ball Athletic Pre-Walker Infant Kid Baby Boy Toddler shoe 0-6 month $4.90 |
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Chicco Walker:DJ:Caster/wheel/Tire/roller:Rear:U $6.99 |
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RedRed Mary Jane Baby Shoes Girls Toddle Infanta Walker Embroidered 6-12M#27 $0.99 |
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COSCO Beep! Beep! Baby Walker – Fruity Jungle | WA011ALK $43.00 |
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VINTAGE BRONZE BRONZED BABY SHOE ~ WALKER $15.00 |
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Safety 1st Sound ‘n Lights Activity Baby Girl Walker $14.99 |
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Lace Embroidery infants baby pre-walker Non-slip shoes 6-12M 12-18M 18-24M Soft $5.99 |
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Dorel Safety 1st Walker:Front Caster/Wheel/Roller:U $5.99 |
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Dorel Safety 1st Walker:Front Caster/Wheel/Roller:U $5.99 |
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Dorel Safety 1st Walker:Front Caster/Wheel/Roller:U $5.99 |
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Dorel Safety 1st Walker:Front Caster/Wheel/Roller:U $5.99 |
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Dorel Safety 1st Walker:Rear Caster/Tire/Wheel/Roller:U $5.99 |
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Dorel Safety 1st Walker:Rear Caster/Tire/Wheel/Roller:U $5.99 |
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Dorel Safety 1st Walker:Rear Caster/Tire/Wheel/Roller:U $5.99 |
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Dorel Safety 1st Walker:Rear Caster/Tire/Wheel/Roller:U $5.99 |
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New Safety Baby Assistant Walker Harness Moonwalk $3.99 |
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VTech Sit-to-Stand Baby Learning Walker, Toy $19.99 |
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Hot Safety Baby Assistant Walker Harness Moon walk USA baby toddler space $12.99 |
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Boon Squirt Baby Food Dispensing Spoon The Squirt baby food dispensing spoon allows for convenient feeding, one bite at a time. The easy-to-fill bulb holds up to 3 ounces of baby food and attaches firmly to the spoon end. Simply squeeze the bulb to dispense just the right amount of food. Squirt comes with a protective cover to seal food in and keep the spoon clean between feedings. By combining the spoon and food container into one pro… |
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Boon Benders Adaptable Utensils When first-time eaters start using utensils, their motor skills are not fully developed. Benders adaptable utensils were designed to help make the transition to regular utensils a little easier. Parents can position the adjustable end to the perfect angle to accommodate the childs grip. As motor skills develop, adjust little by little, until straightened…. |
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Skip Hop Zoo Lunchie Insulated Lunch Bag With friendly faces and matching zipper-pulls, Zoo Lunchies make lunchtime fun time! Sized just right for little kids, or a mom and baby on-the-go, these soft bags have a roomy main compartment that holds sandwiches, snacks, drinks and more. An insulated, wipe-clean interior keeps food and drinks cold, plus an inside mesh pocket holds lunch money, an ice pack or utensils. ZOO LUNCHIES coordinate … |
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Baby Einstein – Baby Van Gogh – World of Colors $19.99 The Baby Einstein Company’s “video board books” were designed as music-focused developmental tools to stimulate babies’ brains (prompted by research proving that exposure to classical melodies can improve verbal ability, spatial intelligence, creativity, and memory in youngsters). Now the company is expanding into other art forms, including color and art. The idea remains the same–taking bold… |
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Baby Einstein – On the Go – Riding, Sailing and Soaring $11.45 Baby Einstein celebrates things that go–from trains and planes to boats and bikes–in this 40-minute foray into the world of transportation for the toddler set. Called a “digital board book,” the film is divided into segments of land, air, and sea. The deliberately paced scenes feature classical music by great composers (such as Haydn and Mozart) integrated with puppets, live action, and compute… |
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Baby Einstein – Baby’s Favorite Places – First Words Around Town $9.88 A playful introduction to words and sign language — my street to main street!– Exposes babies to words and sign language– Presents a fun way for parents and little ones to “go exploring”As babies turn one year old, they continue to develop their communication skills. Meanwhile, with you as their guide, they also begin to explore the world beyond their front door. Baby’s Favorite Places presents… |
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Blue’s Clues – Meet Joe! [VHS] $9.95 Steve’s younger, and much taller brother is introduced in this pair of episodes, preparing the kids for Joe’s eventual taking over of the franchise as Steve heads off to college. (And star-coproducer Steven Burns leaves the blue screen behind for the bright lights of Hollywood.) In “Joe’s First Day,” Steve follows the clues to find out what Joe (Donovan Patton) will bring for show-and-tell. In “Jo… |
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Blue’s Clues – Blue’s First Holiday [VHS] $3.99 … |
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Bringing Up Baby [VHS] $4.88 “The love impulse in man,” says a psychiatrist in Bringing Up Baby, “frequently reveals itself in terms of conflict.” That’s for sure. For a primer on the rules and regulations of the classic screwball comedy, which throws love and conflict into close proximity, look no further. A straight-laced paleontologist (Cary Grant) loses a dinosaur bone to a dog belonging to free-spirited heiress Katharine… |
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Boon Glo Nightlight with Portable Balls, White $59.95 Boon GLO nightlight with Portable BallsWe’ve seen the light and it’s awesome; Kids will beg you to turn off the lights because that’s when GLO really shines. This multi-colored, interactive nightlight has removable, illuminated GLO balls that turn a night time game of catch into something extraordinary. And there’s nothing electronic in them, so they don’t get warm and they won’t break. You can ev… |