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Each year approximately 29,000 children
are treated in hospital emergency rooms for baby walker-related injuries.
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Many more are injured but go to physicians’ offices and clinics.
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The number of injuries has more than doubled in the past 12 years.
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There is at least one death per year.
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Walkers are associated with more injuries than any other baby equipment
and injuries have increased 45% since the passage of a voluntary
safety standard in 1986 and the addition of warning labels.
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Infants 5-15 months are at greatest risk. 80% of
babies this age are placed in walkers - 1/3 to 1/2 will experience
an injury.
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The most common way a baby is injured is by falling
down stairs in the walker.
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Falls down stairs account for 60% of
hospital emergency room visits. |
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A head injury often results and unlike a broken leg, a "broken" brain
doesn’t heal. These head injuries are usually severe due to the
combined weight of the walker and of the baby hitting the stairs.
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Children in walkers also may be scalded. The majority of these burns
occur to the face and head because of the child’s upright position
and tend to be severe. Long lasting disfigurement can results
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The average hospital stay for a
burn injury is $12,000. |
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A severe head injury costs approximately
$150,000. |
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Baby walker-related injuries are costly: |
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A baby walker does not help a child to walk earlier
and in fact, may delay this motor skill development. |
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