CPSC Warns Parents To Stop Using Comfi Baby Infant Walkers
These products violate the federal safety regulations and can cause falls and entrapment.
Fact checked by Sarah Scott
If you have a Comfi Baby Infant Walker in your home, you should stop using it and toss it immediately, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). These walkers can cause falls and entrapment.
“The products violate the federal safety regulations for infant walkers because they can fit through a standard doorway, are not designed to stop at the edge of a step and have leg openings that allow the child to slip down until the child's head can become entrapped,” the CPSC says in a release.
The Comfi Baby Infant Walkers were sold online at Amazon for around $100 from October 2022 to March 2023. A few details to look for on these walkers: adjustable height settings, a teal or pink frame, a gray seat with “Babywalker” stitched on the back, and a gray tray with toy attachments. There’s also a push handle with “Comfi Baby” printed on the front top and the letter “M” on the bottom.
The seller, All Merchandise LLC, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, has ceased its business, so it will not offer a “remedy to customers.”
This warning brings attention to the general dangers of baby walkers. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) called for a ban on these products from being made or sold in the United States. Other countries, such as Canada, have already banned baby walkers.
Why Baby Walkers Are Dangerous
Despite federal safety standards implemented on baby walkers in 2010, the AAP explains, infant walkers still send thousands of children to the hospital each year.
Most often, children using baby walkers get hurt by rolling down stairs leading to broken bones and head injuries. They can also get burned or poisoned from being able to reach dangerous items while in the baby walker, and drown from falling into a pool or bathtub.
It’s a common belief that baby walkers can help children learn to walk faster, but research doesn’t back this up. So, instead of using baby walkers, caregivers can try baby walker alternatives. Learning centers and push toys can give caregivers a few moments to themselves while keeping their little ones entertained in a safer way, too.
You can also try pack and plays or baby swings or bouncers. But keep in mind, the latter two are not a safe place for babies to sleep.
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