Injury caused by baby walkers: the predicted outcomes of mandatory regulations

OBJECTIVE: To examine the potential of the New South Wales baby-walker regulation to reduce injury. DESIGN: Injury surveillance data were used to reconstruct baby-walker injury incidents, which were examined in conjunction with the 2000 NSW baby-walker regulation, which requires a specified level of stability and a gripping mechanism to stop the walker at the edge of a step. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Injury surveillance data on injuries to 381 babies collected from hospital emergency departments in South Australia and Victoria, 1986-2000. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Injury events that would still have occurred with the regulation in place. RESULTS: About half (46%; 95% CI, 32.5%-59.8%) of the serious baby-walker injuries (ie, requiring admission to hospital) are caused by the walker enabling babies to reach hazards other than steps and stairs. CONCLUSION: The New South Wales regulation has the potential to eliminate only about half the baby-walker injuries. Banning baby walkers altogether is preferable.