If your little one enjoys toddling around in a baby walker purchased at Amazon.com, you should check the product label right now to ensure it isn’t among the thousands of dangerous walkers recently recalled for posing fall and entrapment hazards.
Defective infant walkers and other unsafe children’s products can cause severe injuries and wrongful death. Our Baby Walker Injury Lawyers have a successful track record representing the victims of recalled toys and other products, earning recognition from coast-to-coast for their aggressive pursuit of justice on behalf of injured children and their families.
Kids & Koalas Baby Walker Recall
According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), this recall involves about 3,600 Kids & Koalas-branded baby walkers sold by China-based Utomen, exclusively at Amazon.com, from September 2017 through June 2018.
“The baby walkers fail to meet the federal safety standard,” the recall notice states. “Specifically, they can fit through a standard doorway and are not designed to stop at the edge of a step as required by the federal safety standard, and they have leg openings that allow the child to slip down until the child’s head can become entrapped at the neck. Babies using these walkers can be seriously injured or killed.”
The foldable baby walkers have eight wheels, feature an adjustable seat, and were sold in six colors: grey, black, green, pink, blue, and white. They were priced between $89 and $123.
The “Kids & Koalas” logo appears on the front of the tray and the back of the seat. Model number X002 is printed on the attached hangtag underneath the product and the packaging.
The CPSC urged parents to stop using the recalled baby walkers, dismantle them, and throw them away. Amazon is contacting customers directly to provide further information on product refunds.
Is Any Baby Walker Safe?
While federal safety standards for infant walkers have been in place since 1997, the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) considers all such products dangerous and has called on the CPSC to ban the manufacture and sale of baby walkers in the United States.
Infant walkers – even those that comply with federal standards – send more than 2,000 children under the age of 15 months to the hospital every year. Some of the most common walker injuries and accidents include:
- Rolling down stairs, resulting in broken bones, skull fractures, and severe head injuries.
- Burns, usually from pulling on a table cloth and spilling hot coffee or other liquids, grabbing pot handles from the stove, or reaching out and touching radiators, fireplaces, or space heaters.
- Drowning from falling in a pool or bathtub.
- Poisoning, after reaching up and gaining access to cleaners or other dangerous substances.
Most baby walker accidents occur under adult supervision, as parents and caregivers are unable to react quickly enough to prevent injury. The AAP recommends disposing of baby walkers and ensuring none are present wherever a child is being cared for, including daycare centers or someone else’s home.
Help Your Baby Learn to Walk Safely
While many parents believe a baby walker will help their child learn to walk, this is not the case. In fact, research suggests baby walkers actually delay the ability to walk.
The fact is, your baby will eventually learn to crawl and walk on their own. To encourage the motor skills they’ll need, try placing your infant on their belly on the floor for short periods. During “tummy time,” they’ll have a chance to practice lifting their head, rolling over, and pushing up on their hands and knees. But remember, never leave your child alone and always put your baby to sleep on their back.
Finally, childproof your home to ensure your baby can crawl, cruise, and safely explore their environment:
- Move coffee tables and any other furniture with sharp edges out of their way.
- Use wall anchors to secure the television and other appliances or furniture that might tip over.
- Hide electrical cords and move any wobbly floor laps behind a sofa or chair.
- Ensure all window blinds are cordless.
- Install a screen on the fireplace.
- Place safety covers over electrical outlets.
- Place baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
As a nationally recognized Child injury Lawyer, Jeff Killino has extensive experience with cases involving dangerous baby products and recalled toys. If your son or daughter suffered an injury related to the Kids & Koalas baby walker recall or another defective product, please do not hesitate to contact us at 1-877-875- 2927.
