| Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE | | | | mistake of buying one. If you decide to get one, |
| MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 | | | | choose a model that is too wide to fit through |
| /* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable | | | | doorways and pay close attention to your child. |
| {mso-style-name:"Table | | | | Sandy Jones and Werner Freitag offier the following |
| e-qformat:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in | | | | advice in "Consumer Reports' Guide to Baby |
| 5.4pt 0in | | | | Products": |
| theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times | | | | Remove the walker's wheels to prevent infants from |
| New | | | | moving too fast and making them more prone to |
| idi-font-family:"Times New | | | | accidents. |
| Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} | | | | Never leave the child unattended. |
| Because they are dangerous, Canada has banned the | | | | Never use walkers near stairs, steps, or thresholds. |
| use of baby walkers. Since 1992, the American | | | | Check that surfaces are flat and free of objects that |
| Academy of Pediatrics has asked the U.S. Consumer | | | | may cause tripping-over either indoors or outdoors. |
| Product Safety Commission to do the same. | | | | To reduce the chance of the child slipping out of the |
| But that request has been denied although the | | | | seat, check that both feet of the child touch the floor, |
| proposed ban is supported by the Consumer | | | | and never carry walkers with the child in it. |
| Federation of America, the American Medical | | | | To avoid burn injuries, keep the child away from |
| Association and other concerned groups. | | | | ranges, radiators, space heaters, or fireplaces. |
| "Opponents of the proposed ban argue that stairs | | | | Always use the walker's restraint system. |
| cause most injuries, not the walkers. But since it's | | | | Follow the manufacturer's height, weight or age |
| impossible to eliminate stairs, it's advisable to stop using | | | | recommendations and stop using the walker when |
| walkers," said the editors of Health News. | | | | your child has outgrown it. |
| To appease consumer groups, some manufacturers | | | | Discontinue using the walker should it become |
| have redesigned their walkers and have come up with | | | | damaged or broken. |
| safety features. Still, the fact remains that many | | | | Most important, keep the child in view while he or she |
| walkers are dangerous and pose a threat to your child. | | | | is in the walker. |
| If your child doesn't have a walker, don't make the | | | | |