More than 100 children visit emergency rooms each year from baby walker accidents, according to the national competition regulator.
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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is urging parents and carers to be aware of the dangers involved if baby walkers, which allow infants to stand and move on their feet, are not used correctly.
"Children can suffer serious head or facial injuries from tripping or falling in a baby walker," deputy chair Delia Rickard said.
"Toys and other household objects left on the ground can cause a baby walker to tip over and cause an injury.
"Unsupervised children in a walker can also gain access to hazardous objects such as kitchen utensils and ovens."
The national competition regulator has also warned against buying from online, as the walkers could be non-compliant.
The mandatory safety standard requires baby walkers to be fitted with clear safety warnings and a braking mechanism, but the ACCC says the latter should only be used as a last resort and could still lead to a child falling down stairs or off a step.
Safety tips:
- Always supervise your child in a baby walker. They should always be in reach of an adult who can prevent them accessing hazardous areas.
- Ensure the baby walker is only used on flat surfaces free of objects that could cause the walker to tip over.
- Block off access to staircases, steps, kitchens and fireplaces.
- Do not place any objects on the baby walker that could cause it to tip over.
- Make sure your baby walker has the safety features required by the mandatory standard.
- Do not leave your child in the baby walker for longer than 15 minutes at a time. Overuse can lead to developmental delays when they are learning to walk.
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