What is Safe Kids Canada's position on baby walkers?

Safe Kids Canada recommends parents do not use baby walkers. There are two reasons for this recommendation: 1) There is considerable evidence demonstrating that the use of baby walkers is associated with increased risk of injury and even death. 2) There is no clear benefit from their use. A baby walker does not help a child to walk earlier and in fact, some research suggests that it may delay this motor skill development. Safe Kids Canada recommends that activity centres without wheels or playpens be used as safer alternatives to baby walkers. Safe Kids Canada supports a ban on the sale of all new-style walkers with friction strips and older-style baby walkers. Safe Kids Canada encourages local programs to collect walkers and destroy them to take them out of circulation. Information in this information sheet is provided under the following headings; 1) What is a baby walker? 2) Why have some prevention strategies failed? and, 3) What is the recommended prevention message?