> Trus mulai umur berapa ya umumnya Bayi boleh dipakaikan "Baby
> walker"...?
> Terima kasih
> 

Pak Widharma Yth,
saya forwardkan informasi dibawah ini, barangkali berguna

Salam
Renni

------------------forwarded message---------------------------------

Considering a baby walker? Just say no
by Robert Steele 


It has been estimated that at least half of all children between the ages
of 5 and 15 months use walkers. Estimated sales of walkers have been as
high as three million per year. Children almost universally love them, and
parents love to use them because they may keep an otherwise fussy baby
entertained often for hours. However, they are one of the most dangerous
inventions made for children causing a lot of harm and heartache each year.


There are several types of baby walkers, but most people are familiar with
the typical plastic base, wheeled frame, and fabric seat that have leg
holes to allow the child to scoot along the floor. Aside from the
entertainment this toy gives a child, parents give other reasons for using
the walker such as promoting walking and providing exercise. However, up to
one-third of parents have said they use the walker because they feel it
will keep their infant safe. Unfortunately, none of these are true. The few
studies that have been done looking at the how walkers affect development
have shown that they do not affect the time at which a child learns to
walk. And in fact, most studies have shown that if there is any effect on
walking, it is a delay of a few weeks. Babies who use a walker tend to have
an abnormal gait at first, but this tends to resolve quickly with time. 

Safety, however, is an entirely different issue, and is one in which there
is a lot known. In 1997 alone, there were 14,300 hospital emergency room
treated injuries to children under 15 months of age. Walkers have been
involved in 34 deaths since 1973, and the rate of injuries has steadily
increased since 1984. The initial standards for safety of walkers set by
the Consumer Product Safety Commission dealt with injuries to the hands
from pinching but did nothing to address the issue of falls. And the
majority of the severe injuries occur when the walker goes down the stairs.


About one-fourth of all reported injuries with walkers involved injuries to
the head including fractures. Walkers allow for an infant who isn't
normally very mobile to become quite efficient at getting around. So, other
injuries including pinched fingers, burns and accidental poisonings have
all been reported due to the child being able to get into dangerous areas
with lightening speed. The track record with walkers was so dismal that the
American Academy of Pediatrics recommended banning the manufacture and sale
of mobile infant walkers. Obviously, this never occurred, and a response
was made in the form of new standards. To meet the new standard, the walker
must have one of two features. Either it must be too wide to fit through a
standard doorway, or it must have features such as a gripping mechanism
that keep the walker from moving over the edge of a step. 

Parents who are considering toys for infants will find their money best
spent on playthings other than walkers. There are several alternatives on
the market that keep a baby in one spot, but still exercise the large
muscle groups. However, if a parent chooses to use a baby walker, it is
strongly recommended to pick one which meets the new standard requirements.
These are easily identified with the label stating "Meets New Safety
Standard."



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