The Dangers of Baby Walkers

If you’re a parent, you know how difficult it can be to keep a toddler entertained. Not surprisingly, many parents turn to baby walkers for help. But research indicates that baby walkers can have a serious negative impact on your little one’s physical and intellectual development. And although some countries, including Canada, have banned the sale of baby walkers, their use continues to be widespread. (Pediatr Emerg Care 1996; 12:1280)

Chiropractors have warned against the use of baby walkers for decades. As a preventive health-care specialist, Dr. Edelson is committed to educating the community about the potential hazards of this seemingly innocent staple of 70% to 90% of households with children. Why does Dr. Edelson advise parents to avoid baby walkers? Read on to learn about scientific research that will convince you to wave good-bye to the walker.

Walker Woes
Injuries from baby walkers are so prevalent that the American Academy of Pediatrics and other child advocacy groups have called for an outright ban on these products. Baby walkers are associated with falls down stairs, broken bones, and burns. Roughly one-third of all cases of childhood head trauma — such as skull fracture, concussion and brain damage — are due to baby walker use.
(Ann Emerg Med 1991;20:652-4)

Since 1984, 11 children have died as a direct result of baby walkers. A 1994 report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) cited baby walkers as responsible for more injuries than any other product for children. Altogether, 20% of children who use these contraptions will experience a walker-related injury. (Eur J Pediatr 1994; 153:531-4) In fact, children are as likely to be hurt in a baby-walker accident as they are in a motor-vehicle collision. (Arch Emerg Med 1991; 8:52-5)

Spinal Snares
Baby-walker use can also have long-term effects on your baby’s health. Dr. Edelson is a spinal health-care specialist. As such, Dr. Edelson is particularly concerned with the effects of walker use on growing spines. Toddlers naturally begin to walk when they reach a crucial developmental stage. By forcing an infant to maintain an immature upright position, walkers add stress to the baby’s delicate spine — stress that the child’s body may not be strong enough to support. This stress may trigger a disorder called vertebral subluxation, a condition where spinal movement is restricted or bones (vertebrae) are out of alignment. Scientific studies link this disorder with an increased risk of headache, neck discomfort, and back pain. Preliminary scientific evidence also suggests that vertebral subluxations may have a detrimental effect on the immune system. (Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1992; 15:83-9)

Therefore, if your child has been using a walker, you should have him or her evaluated by a chiropractor. Doctors of chiropractic remove vertebral subluxations with maneuvers called chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractors use special pediatric adjusting techniques that are custom tailored for growing spines.

The Crawl Factor
Alarming, researchers now believe that walker use may also have detrimental effects on babies’ motor skill, intellectual, and emotional development.

For instance, crawling is a vital step in mental and physical maturation. Using a walker cuts down on an infant’s crawling experience, and can delay motor-skill development. (Percept Mot Skills 1991; 72:75-9) In addition, a growing body of psychological research indicates that crawling is essential to a child’s emotional well being. In fact, “crawl therapy,” where therapists encourage individuals of all ages to engage in crawling exercises, benefit many patients with behavioral disorders.

For a Smart Baby, Walk Away From the Walker
A late-breaking study, which enrolled 109 children in the Buffalo, New York area, indicates that walker use also impedes intellectual development. Specifically, infants who use walkers are slower than other infants to sit upright, crawl, and walk. Walkers — especially the new larger tray variety — obstruct toddlers’ view of their legs, restricting visual feedback. This lack of feedback interferes with the spontaneous process of learning to walk, resulting in coordinating problems.

Babies who use walkers also score lower on tests of mental and physical development, compared with other infants, according to the new study. Subjects were followed from age six months to 15 months. Half of the children used walkers, while half had never used a walker. Researchers evaluated infants for cognitive and physical ability, and asked parents to record developmental milestones.

The study found that, although children who used walkers scored within established norms, they had lower scores on developmental tests, including mental performance. This deficit was evident for up to 10 months following walker use. Children who used newer-style walkers exhibited the highest risk for developmental problems, say researchers. It seems that the large trays on new walkers prevent infants from grabbing at and inspecting nearby objects, an experience that bolsters cognitive development. (J Dev Behav Pediatr 1999; 20: 355-61)

Take Action to Prevent Baby Walker Injuries
Now that you’re aware of the potential dangers of baby walkers, please help your doctor of chiropractic spread the word. If you know parents who use baby walkers, share this handout with them. And, if your child, or a child you know has used a baby walker, make sure to schedule him or her for a chiropractic checkup. As part of this checkup, your chiropractor will evaluate the child’s spine for postural or spinal conditions associated with walker use, and will work to eliminate these disorders before they provoke future health problems.