Plunket renews call for ban on baby walkers, cites study

Plunket has again called for the use of babywalkers to be banned.

Plunket said today a study published in the June edition of the British Medical Journal supported its own view that parents should avoid using babywalkers.

The study found babywalker users started crawling and standing or walking without support at a later age than non-users.

Babywalkers are the seats on wheels that allow babies to move around with their feet on the floor. Plunket has campaigned for years to have them banned here.

Plunket national child safety adviser Sue Campbell called them "accidents on wheels".

"This study provides yet another good reason to avoid using babywalkers altogether. We've known for a long time that babies are hurt far more often if they use babywalkers than if they don't," she said in a statement.

"Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital admits around one child every month as a result of injuries related to use of babywalkers. Babies' bones are easily fractured as a result of falls from babywalkers. Injuries can be severe, and most commonly include head injuries and skull fractures. Even under supervision, accidents still occur."

New mandatory safety standards for baby walkers were implemented in New Zealand in February.

Commercial sellers of baby walkers face fines of up to $100,000 if they breach the new standards.

Under the Commerce Commission-enforced standards, individuals who breach the new sales rules -- including second-hand dealers and those holding garage sales -- could be fined up to $30,000.

The regulations cover retail and private sales such as exchange, lease, hire and hire-purchase of baby walkers.

Baby walkers must be sold with product information and safety warnings, and manufacturers must ensure safety features are included to help stop them from tipping or toppling down stairs.

- NZPA