Baby walkers fail safety tests
Consumer NZ is "strongly" advising against the use of baby walkers, saying they are not a safe place to leave a child.
Only one of 10 baby walkers tested recently by Consumer NZ passed all the safety checks it carried out, but the organisation said it strongly advised against putting a child in a baby walker, regardless of whether it met safety standards.
"Because babies in walkers are much more mobile, and can move faster than a parent often expects, they can get into dangerous situations," Consumer NZ said.
Most injuries associated with baby walkers were caused by falls down steps, scalds, burns, and poisonings from household chemicals.
The report noted comments by child-injury prevention service Safekids that babies did not need baby walkers.
Consumer NZ said all baby walkers sold in this country must meet a product safety standard set by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
Of the 10 baby walkers it tested, only one - the Chicco Girello DJ - met all the standard's requirements.