| Â Normal 0 false false false EN-US | | | | baby's hand got caught in the closing x-joint |
| X-NONE X-NONE | | | | of the frame - such models should be |
| | | | discarded," added Sandy Jones and Werner |
| /* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable | | | | Freitag in "Consumer Reports' Guide to Baby |
| | | | Products." |
| {mso-style-name:"Table | | | | |
| Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle- | | | | The length of time your baby spends in a |
| colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style | | | | walker determines how prone he or she is to |
| -priority:99;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style- | | | | accidents. In general, the risk of accidents |
| parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in | | | | increases in kids who spend an hour or more a |
| 5.4pt;mso-para-margin-top:0in;mso-para-margin | | | | day in them. Most accidents occur in the |
| -right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso- | | | | early afternoon when only one parent was |
| para-margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;mso-pag | | | | away. |
| ination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-fa | | | | |
| mily:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-font-fa | | | | Parents often purchase a walker in the belief |
| mily:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin | | | | that it will help their child walk sooner. |
| ;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New | | | | Fifty percent of walker buyers had this |
| Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;m | | | | impression but the facts say otherwise. |
| so-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme- | | | | |
| font:minor-latin;} | | | | Rather than help your baby walk, walkers may |
| | | | make things difficult for your child. |
| What makes mobile baby walkers dangerous? | | | | Freitag, who has developed safety standards |
| Experts say their very design helps kids move | | | | for baby products for the American Society |
| easily - often much too easily for them to | | | | for Testing and Materials, said walkers may |
| sustain serious injuries. | | | | "interfere with needed pulling up, crawling |
| | | | and creeping experiences" of babies. |
| "About three million baby walkers are sold in | | | | |
| the United States each year. They are | | | | This was proven by a study that showed that |
| generally used in the 2- to 4-month period | | | | the leg actions of babies who used walkers |
| after a child can sit up and before he can | | | | differed greatly from those who didn't. In |
| walk without assistance. But by giving a | | | | that study, babies who spent a considerable |
| child added height, a walker suddenly brings | | | | time in walkers had stiff legs and shorter |
| him within reach of hazards such as boiling | | | | steps. They also leaned forward more than |
| pots, electric irons and unprotected | | | | children who learned to walk on their own. |
| electrical cords. And kids in walkers travel | | | | |
| so fast - three or four feet a second - that | | | | In another study involving twins, the baby |
| even the most attentive parents may not be | | | | who didn't use a walker started walking two |
| able to avert disaster," said Diana Willensky | | | | weeks earlier than the one who used the |
| in American Health magazine. | | | | device for two hours every day. |
| | | | |
| "Babies in walkers plummet downstairs, turn | | | | "Studies are showing that not only do walkers |
| over in walkers that are snagged by cords, | | | | not help babies to walk sooner, they may even |
| door thresholds, and carpet edges, roll | | | | impede the walking development of babies who |
| themselves against hot wood stoves and | | | | have motor deficits by teaching them abnormal |
| heaters, fall over concrete curbs, or tumble | | | | moving patterns," Jones and Freitag said. |
| into swimming polls. Parents should be | | | | (Next: How to protect your child from |
| particularly wary of old-style x-frame | | | | dangerous walkers.) |
| walkers that are still being sold in garage | | | | |
| sales. | | | | To strengthen your body, take Immunitril - |
| | | | your first line of defense in maintaining a |
| "These designs have been responsible for many | | | | healthy immune system. |
| injuries, including finger amputations when a | | | | |