A CR investigation explores why infant walkers, banned in Canada and linked to infant deaths and thousands of injuries, have yet to be banned in the U.S.
WASHINGTON, DC — Consumer Reports (CR) today called for a federal ban of infant walkers, upon publishing an in-depth investigation on their significant safety risks. With this call, CR joined the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which has also called for them to be banned in the U.S. These sit-in baby walkers—not to be confused with push walkers or stationary activity centers—are already banned in Canada, yet continue to be sold in the U.S. despite being linked to infant deaths. While federal safety standards exist, thousands of babies are still sent to emergency rooms every year in connection with the use of infant walkers, and recalls have not been enough to keep children safe.
Oriene Shin, policy counsel for Consumer Reports, said: “The evidence is clear: Infant walkers are unsafe, and the current federal standard fails to address their well-known risks. Thousands of babies continue to be injured by these products every year, and parents deserve better choices for products that support their baby’s development. Congress should ban infant walkers and help parents keep their babies safe as they grow and learn how to walk.”
Since 2004, walkers have been banned in Canada and experts in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and other places have also called for their ban. In contrast to Canada, federal law in the U.S. makes it difficult for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to impose a ban—unless specifically directed to do so by Congress—because it requires the CPSC to prove that banning a product is the only option and that no feasible set of rules would adequately protect consumers. Consumer Reports released a petition today giving consumers the opportunity to join CR in calling on Congress to pass a law banning the manufacture, sale, or distribution of infant walkers in the U.S.
Consumer Reports urges companies to stop making and selling sit-in baby walkers. Despite being a popular product, there is no medical evidence to support the claim that baby walkers aid in children learning to walk sooner—instead, the product can be harmful to babies’ development and put them at risk of serious injury.
Consumer Reports advises parents and caregivers not to buy or use sit-in baby walkers. Alternatively, depending on the baby’s age, parents and caregivers should consider using activity centers, push walkers, and similar toys to keep babies entertained and safe. Consumer Reports also emphasizes that many walkers sold on online marketplaces can be outdated, and all sit-in walkers are unsafe.
Media Contact: Emily Akpan, emily.akpan@consumer.org