Experts say their very design makes kids move easily - often much too easily for them to sustain serious injuries. About three million baby walkers are sold in the US each year. But by giving a child added height, a walker suddenly brings him within reach of hazards such as boiling pots, electric irons and unprotected electrical cords. The length of time your baby spends in a walker determines how prone he or she is to accidents. In general, the risk of accidents increases in kids who spend an hour or more a day in them.
Most accidents occur in the early afternoon when only one parent was away.
Wrong Impression Parents often purchase a walker in the belief that this will help their child walk sooner. Fifty percent of walker buyers had this impression but the facts say otherwise. Rather than help your baby walk, walkers may make things difficult for your child. This was proven by a study which showed that the leg actions of babies who used walkers differed greatly from those who didn't. In that study, babies who spent a considerable time in walkers had stiff legs and shorter steps.