Advisory

2003-45
June 16, 2003
For immediate release

Health Canada is reminding Canadians about the potential hazards of using baby walkers

Did you know that using a baby walker endangers your baby's health? It does.

Baby walkers have resulted in serious injuries. Children have been injured, either from falling down stairs in a baby walker or by causing objects that are normally out of reach, such as a heated pot, to fall on them.

Health Canada is considering additional options to further restrict the sale and importation of baby walkers into Canada. A consultation paper is currently under development and will be widely circulated to both industry and the public.

Restrictions on baby walkers resulted in a voluntary ban by Canadian manufacturers in 1989. However, baby walkers which are found not to be safe are being imported by foreign manufacturers. Furthermore, baby walkers purchased prior to the voluntary ban continue to be sold at garage sales.

For more information on baby walkers, please see our web site at http://hc-sc.gc.ca/ or contact the nearest Health Canada Product Safety Office listed below:

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Media Inquiries:
Carole Saindon
Health Canada
(613) 946-7242

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991