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.