The use of baby walkers is generally discouraged due to the possibilities of falling, tripping, injuries or accidents to the babies. Though mobile walkers are commonly used, it was banned by the paediatric association in the United States. Stationery walkers are dangerous too but infants seemed to enjoy mobile walkers better with its whistles, bells and other interesting accessories available for the little one.

It was estimated that almost 14000 children are admitted to the hospital every year because of accidents or injuries caused to the babies. Deaths have also been noted in the past due to falling.

Many people believe that baby walkers help infants to start walking sooner. However, further research on this topic indicated otherwise. In fact, if the infant walks too much with the support of walker, the independent motor ability develops slower.

Some of the common injuries observed due to the mobile walkers are pinch injuries affecting the toes and the feet, drowning, poisonings, burns and tripping the stairs. This is not because the mobile walkers are dangerous but since they make your child zoom around the house carelessly in good speed, they get hurt if they are not under constant supervision and the house is not child-proof.

For example, the infant can spill a cup of hot coffee and get burnt. He can lay his hand on the electrical wiring which is quite dangerous. He can spill a whole vessel of hot water by pulling the stove. He can go very close to the fireplace or grab those harmful things that are poisonous from the wardrobes.

However, since these baby walkers are so famous and very useful for the infants, banning them may not be practical. The other major step is to make the home child proof, keep the infant under constant supervision, do not allow the baby to walk towards the stairs, pools or those ‘dangerous’ areas at home that are not child-safe.

Some of the aspects that need to be taken care for child-proof include:

• Insulating the electrical outlets.

• Latching cabinets and drawers.

• Keeping harmful and poisonous chemicals, medicines and cleaning material out of reach from children.

• Removing sharp-edged furniture.

• Removing breakable and brittle objects like glassware, mud pots, and the like.

• Keeping your child from harmful household appliances like ironing, heaters, fireplace, electrical stove, gas stove and other appliances containing hot food or liquids.

• Keeping poisonous cosmetic away like perfumes and deodorants which contain alcohol content.

• Locking rooms with a child proof lock.

• Grilling the external doors so that the child cannot go outside to other places like backyard, attic and garage without your knowledge.

Some of the modern walkers have improved the safety standards like having a wide base, so that the walkers cannot easily move out of a doorway. Safety brakes are being incorporated by some walkers so that it stops if the wheels come off the ground. This prevents the infant from tripping from the stairs.

Ideally, baby walkers are suitable only when the infant grows over 9 months and starts crawling and sitting.