| Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE | | | | dangerous and pose a threat to your child. |
| X-NONE | | | | |
| MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 | | | | If your child doesn't have a walker, don't |
| | | | make the mistake of buying one. If you decide |
| /* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable | | | | to get one, choose a model that is too wide |
| | | | to fit through doorways and pay close |
| {mso-style-name:"Table | | | | attention to your child. |
| Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle- | | | | |
| colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style | | | | Sandy Jones and Werner Freitag offier the |
| -priority:99;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style- | | | | following advice in "Consumer Reports' Guide |
| parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in | | | | to Baby Products": |
| 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bot | | | | |
| tom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font- | | | | Remove the walker's wheels to prevent infants |
| size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif | | | | from moving too fast and making them more |
| ";mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-the | | | | prone to accidents. |
| me-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:" | | | | |
| Times New | | | | Never leave the child unattended. |
| Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;m | | | | |
| so-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme- | | | | Never use walkers near stairs, steps, or |
| font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times | | | | thresholds. Check that surfaces are flat and |
| New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} | | | | free of objects that may cause tripping-over |
| | | | either indoors or outdoors. |
| Because they are dangerous, Canada has banned | | | | |
| the use of baby walkers. Since 1992, the | | | | To reduce the chance of the child slipping |
| American Academy of Pediatrics has asked the | | | | out of the seat, check that both feet of the |
| U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to do | | | | child touch the floor, and never carry |
| the same. | | | | walkers with the child in it. |
| | | | |
| But that request has been denied although the | | | | To avoid burn injuries, keep the child away |
| proposed ban is supported by the Consumer | | | | from ranges, radiators, space heaters, or |
| Federation of America, the American Medical | | | | fireplaces. |
| Association and other concerned groups. | | | | |
| | | | Always use the walker's restraint system. |
| "Opponents of the proposed ban argue that | | | | |
| stairs cause most injuries, not the walkers. | | | | Follow the manufacturer's height, weight or |
| But since it's impossible to eliminate | | | | age recommendations and stop using the walker |
| stairs, it's advisable to stop using | | | | when your child has outgrown it. |
| walkers," said the editors of Health News. | | | | |
| | | | Discontinue using the walker should it become |
| To appease consumer groups, some | | | | damaged or broken. |
| manufacturers have redesigned their walkers | | | | |
| and have come up with safety features. Still, | | | | Most important, keep the child in view while |
| the fact remains that many walkers are | | | | he or she is in the walker. |