In the United States, there are seven different manufacturers of infant walkers. Two companies are foreign manufacturers with divisions in the United States, and one is a domestic importer. According to the Small Business Administration, an infant walker manufacturer has less than five hundred employees, and an importer has one or fewer. The two domestic manufacturers sell these products, while one importer is a smaller manufacturer. There are some advantages and disadvantages to using infant walkers.
Infant walker-related injuries have decreased significantly in recent years. Between 1990 and 1996, the number of injuries associated with this product dropped from 77.5% to 70.7%. This decrease is attributed to a decline in the number of damages caused by falls downstairs. Most of these injuries are soft-tissue and head-related. Among these injuries, a concussion was the most common type of injury. The federal safety standard has also helped reduce these injuries, according to a new study published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
There are some benefits to using an infant walker but some severe risks. It is recommended that parents educate themselves about the risks before purchasing an infant walker for their child. Even if these walkers are cute, accidents can still happen. Children can fall or hit their heads while standing on them, leading to severe injuries. Those risks are not negligible, and the CPSC should follow Canada’s lead and ban infant walkers in the US.
The CPSC recommends that a walker meet safety standards set by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). These voluntary requirements require that walkers pass tests to assess their stability and durability. A walker must be more comprehensive than a standard 36-inch doorway and contain a braking device. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission adopted the new standards in 2010.
The AAP and ASTM F 977-07 describe a walker as a mobile unit with a seat suspended in the centre. Children can use walkers to sit, recline, bounce, and jump while sitting or standing. An infant walker typically has a fabric seat attached to a rigid tray. This tray is attached to a wheeled base. It is also adjustable, adjusting it to three different height positions.
The use of an infant walker is associated with developmental delays. While these studies don’t directly correlate with infant walkers, they show some link between frequent use of these devices and a reduced ability to walk, crawl, or stand. However, these results are not yet precise, and more research is needed before we can say whether the baby walker causes developmental delays or not. If you’re considering buying an infant walker, read the full report below.
Two clinical trials were conducted in a recent review of the benefits and risks of using an infant walker. Both tests showed no difference between children who used a baby walker and those who didn’t. However, these studies also had several limitations, lessening their findings’ validity. First, the samples were small, and the definition of gait acquisition differed between the groups. Second, the authors did not use a control group to assess developmental delays.
