Locations:
Search IconSearch

Are Infant Walkers Safe? Here’s What New Parents Need to Know

Thousands of head and neck injuries occur every year

baby boy playing in walker

For first-time parents, the sheer amount of gadgets available to growing babies can be overwhelming. But there’s one device that experts say parents should avoid: the infant walker.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

A recent study shows that even after new safety standards were issued in 2010, infant walkers are still associated with thousands of injuries to children each year.

The study shows that while injuries have decreased in the last 10 years, infant walkers are still responsible for many injuries to the head and neck — including skull fractures.

What are infant walkers?

Infant walkers, designed for use by children between the ages of five to 15 months, are circular, wheeled devices with a suspended seat in the center for your baby to sit in. The suspended seat allows your baby’s feet to touch the ground and “walk” around.

And while these devices used to be must-haves for parents helping their babies learn how to walk, they have become serious safety hazards and should be avoided at all costs.

Injuries can happen in a split second

“It may seem obvious that a child could get away from you quickly and tumble down the stairs. But some of the other injuries that people don’t frequently think about are from being able to reach up higher and pull things down on top of themselves — reaching for a stove or grabbing for a candle,” says pediatrician Kimberly Giuliano, MD. “They can get into things that would otherwise be out of their reach.”

“Children can be very fast in a walker — capable of moving several feet in a manner of seconds — even faster than a running adult,” Dr. Giuliano says.

Advertisement

And don’t even think about placing your baby in an infant walker outdoors. The ground may be flat and they may be near soft grass, but the danger of wheeling into a pool or out onto the street is very real.

Walkers don’t always help children walk either

In addition to being a safety hazard, Dr. Giuliano says there’s also a general misconception about the value that infant walkers provide to children.

“They can delay a child’s motor development,” she says. “The walking motion that you do in a walker is using muscles very differently than when you’re actually walking on your own. Therefore, a child who walks in a walker may walk later than a child who’s given the time to explore those muscle groups independently and figure it out themselves.”

Another study conducted in 2019 further proves Dr. Giuliano’s point, sharing reports of lower locomotive development test scores for babies who used baby walkers than those who did not.

Try safer alternatives

For parents who are just hoping to have five minutes to fold some laundry or get dinner on the stove, Dr. Giuliano says there are stationary play devices that are a much safer alternative. A simple solution is to safely place your baby in a high chair.

Other options include the use of a playpen or blocking off a portion of the room with baby gates. However, even when using these recommended methods, Dr. Giuliano advises parents to make sure their child is in sight at all times.

And when it comes to using any infant device, it’s best to make sure the device is right for the size of the child. “As a child gets to be bigger and taller, there is the concern that they could potentially topple over a play device,” Dr. Giuliano says. “A child who lunges a lot, if their waist is very close to the top of the device, there’s a possibility that they could topple it over.”

If you have additional questions about devices that pose a safety risk to children, ask your pediatrician or follow our guide to childproofing your home.

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Adult having a serious talk with a child in living room on a couch
December 20, 2024/Children's Health
How To Talk to Kids About Your (or Another Loved One’s) Serious Illness

It’s important to share the news in an honest and age-appropriate way and to open the lines of communication going forward

A parent holds a mug while their child is in bed with flushed cheeks
Should My Child Take Tamiflu?

Tamiflu can shorten your child’s illness and even help prevent the flu

Baby receiving a shot in their leg by healthcare provider
December 5, 2024/Children's Health
COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids: What To Know and Why It’s Important

Children as young as 6 months should get vaccinated, but dosage guidelines depend on kids’ ages and past vaccines

Happy, laughing child and caregiver sitting on couch holding video game controllers, playing video games
December 2, 2024/Brain & Nervous System
Are Video Games Good for You? Your Brain Thinks So

Imagination, completing tasks and social interactions are all key benefits for your brain

Parent hugging child within a glass house, with other siblings in the background outside of it
November 29, 2024/Children's Health
What To Know About Glass Child Syndrome

First things first: It doesn’t mean anybody did anything wrong

Baby, lying down, eyes closed, yawning
November 27, 2024/Children's Health
15 Signs That Your Baby Is Tired

Yawning is a clear signal, but frowning, ear-pulling and finger-sucking can be, too

Face of sleeping newborn baby, face being lightly touched by caregiver hand
November 19, 2024/Children's Health
Newborn Lip Blisters: What Causes Them and When To Seek Care

Your baby can develop lip blisters from an infection or because of the way they feed

Caregiver holding baby in babysling while pushing shopping cart in grocery store
November 18, 2024/Children's Health
Babywearing: What Is It and What Are the Benefits?

When done safely, carrying your baby in a sling or other device can free your hands and soothe your little one

Trending Topics

Person sitting on floor at night next to bed in deep thought, with partner sleeping in bed
Understanding Mental Load: What It Is and How It Affects You

When you get bogged down with mental tasks, you can experience mood changes, sleeplessness and more

Hands holding two different kinds of pain medications separated by a white line
Can You Take Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen Together?

You can alternate these OTCs to help with pain management and fever reduction

Smiling person with headphones on, sweeping floor in living room
Understanding Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT Exercise)

Non-exercise activity thermogenesis is all the activity we do that’s not technically exercise but is still important to your health and well-being

Ad