Consumer Reports calls for a federal ban on baby walkers. Here are the risks.

Consumer Reports is calling for a federal ban on toddler walkers, saying the products injure thousands of babies each year, even though federal safety standards have slowed — but not stopped — the heartbreaking incidents for parents.

The consumer group’s stark warning and its newly released report on injuries and deaths from walkers come two decades after Canada banned them following an investigation into serious pediatric injuries from falls by toddlers using the products.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also pushed for a ban in 2018, saying that walkers do not help babies learn to walk and can actually delay normal motor and mental development.

“One thing that is really not well understood by the public in general is how fast young children can travel in these walkers – several feet per second,” said Dr. James Dodington, a pediatric emergency physician, told CR. “The risks are numerous,” the doctor added, pointing out that in addition to head and neck injuries, babies can also suffer burns if they come into contact with a hot stove or accidentally roll into a pool or other body of water.

Over the years, manufacturers have voluntarily tightened safety standards, with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission requiring brakes on walkers in 2010 to prevent falls on stairs. However, these measures only served to slow the injury rate, as thousands of children are still treated in hospital emergency rooms each year.

Between 1990 and 2014, nearly 231,000 U.S. children under 15 months of age were treated in the emergency room for injuries caused by toddler walking. Most suffered head or neck injuries, and nearly two-thirds of incidents involved falls from stairs, according to a 2018 AAP study. In the four years after the federal safety standard went into effect, injuries fell by nearly 23%, yet thousands of children are still injured each year.

“Because there is no clear benefit from their use, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a ban on the manufacture and sale of portable walkers for infants,” AAP said.

Between 2021 and 2023, an average of 2,467 children under age 5 ended up in the emergency room each year after using walkers, sweaters or exercise equipment, according to the 2024 CPSC Kindergarten Products Report, citing data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System.

Asked for comment on Consumer Reports’ call for a ban on walkers, a CPSC spokesman said agency staff “continually review incident data to ensure standards continue to address product hazards.” To the extent that staff recommend additional improvements.” When the mandatory standard is established, the Commission will consider how best to implement these recommendations.”