Babywalkers: prevalence of use and relationship with other safety practices

Kendrick, Denise; Marsh, Patricia

doi:10.1136/ip.4.4.295

Cited by 25 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…For those in the control arm, 42.2% reportedly owned a baby walker and 97.4% had used one ). An earlier survey of parents with a child aged 3 -12 months found that 50.4% of parents reported using a baby walker occasionally or often (Kendrick and Marsh 1998). Thus, it is reassuring that fewer parents in this present survey reported using a baby walker than in previous studies, but clearly there is a need for further advice to parents on the hazards associated with the use of baby walkers.…”

Section: Comparisons With Previous Worksupporting

confidence: 51%

An independent evaluation of a home safety equipment scheme in a high-risk community: views and safety practices of families

Mulvaney

Watson

Smith

et al. 2013

International Journal of Health Promotion and Education

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Unintentional injury is a major public health issue across the world. The home is the most common location for unintentional injuries for young children, with children living in socio-economically deprived circumstances most at risk of injury. The provision of home safety education, with or without the provision of free or low-cost safety equipment, has been shown to improve home safety practices undertaken by parents. An evaluation was undertaken of a home safety equipment running in northeast England. A randomly selected sample of families participating in the scheme was sent a questionnaire and data were sought on home safety practices, possession and use of home safety equipment and satisfaction with the equipment scheme. The majority of families (87.9%) reported never drinking hot drinks while holding a child and 96.2% reported almost always keeping medicines locked away. Many families (88.3%) reported that they never leave their children in the bath alone. Of families with children under one year, only just over a third (37.4%) said they never use a baby walker. Satisfaction with the scheme was generally very high. While the prevalence of many safety practices was reportedly high in families, this survey found deficiencies particularly in use of baby walkers and storage of cleaning products. Surveys identifying prevalence data on parental safety practices are essential for evaluating and informing future interventions.

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Section: Comparisons With Previous Worksupporting

confidence: 51%

An independent evaluation of a home safety equipment scheme in a high-risk community: views and safety practices of families

Mulvaney

Watson

Smith

et al. 2013

International Journal of Health Promotion and Education

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This is surprising given the well recognised high incidence of injury with these devices and the fact that recent data would tend to suggest their continued use. 9 It is not surprising that in the BC/CS group there was an increased risk of falling onto a hard surface given the common siting of the chairs in the kitchen, but no significant increase in risk of skull fracture was found in this small study population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Head injuries in infants: the risks of bouncy chairs and car seats

Wickham

Abrahamson²

2002

Archives of Disease in Childhood

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Aims: To establish whether the incorrect use of bouncy chairs (BC) and car seats (CS) is a significant cause of injuries in babies. Methods: Prospective study over a 12 month period. All babies under the age of 1 year, presenting to the department with a head injury were eligible. Results: A total of 131 cases were recorded, 17 (13%) of which were associated with either BC or CS, the second largest aetiological group. All BC cases (11/11, 100%) were caused by a fall from a surface with the baby in the chair. In the CS group, 2/6 (33%) were caused by such a fall. The carer was aware in only one of the 13 cases involving a fall from a surface that there was any chance of injury from this mechanism. Conclusion: Falls from inappropriately placed bouncy chairs or car seats form a significant proportion of head injuries in infants, resulting in unnecessary and preventable morbidity.

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“…1 They do not aid walking 2 but do pose risks to babies as a result of injury. 3 The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends banning their manufacture and sale.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Baby walkers: paediatricians' knowledge, attitudes, and health promotion

Rhodes

Kendrick²,

Collier³

2003

Archives of Disease in Childhood

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Paediatricians were surveyed about baby walker knowledge, attitudes, and practice. Advising about walkers was associated with working in community paediatrics, treating walker related injuries, knowledge about walkers, and positive attitudes towards walker health promotion. Greater knowledge about walkers was associated with more negative attitudes to walkers. Educating paediatricians and parents about the risks of, and alternatives to using walkers is important.B aby walkers are used by approximately 50% of infants in the British Isles.1 They do not aid walking 2 but do pose risks to babies as a result of injury.3 The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends banning their manufacture and sale. 4 Until such time that baby walkers are banned in the UK, health professionals will need to rely on parental education to reduce their use. To do this they need knowledge about walkers, a belief that such education will be effective, and that they are appropriate people to undertake this education. This paper reports a survey of paediatricians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices with respect to walker use. METHODSWe developed a questionnaire covering paediatric experience, advice regarding walker use, attitudes towards walkers, and knowledge of walker use and walker related injuries. All consultant and community paediatricians working within the UK in the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health handbook (1999)(2000) comprised the sampling frame. A total of 180 consultant and 150 community paediatricians were randomly selected and sent the questionnaire in October 2001. Non-responders were sent one reminder after three weeks. Data were double entered into and analysed using SPSS version 11.0. Scales were developed for attitudes towards walkers and towards walker health promotion by summing responses to attitudinal questions (as indicated in table 1) and dividing by the number of questions answered. The scoring was reversed on questions making a positive statement about walkers, so that a high score indicated a more positive attitude towards walkers or walker health promotion. The minimum possible score was 1 and the maximum 5. Summing the correct responses to each of the seven knowledge questions created a knowledge score. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with giving advice about baby walkers, and linear regression for factors associated with attitudes towards walkers and walker health promotion. RESULTSThe response rate was 73% (222/306). Responders had worked as consultant or community paediatricians for a mean of 10.9 (SD 6.7) years. Half (56%) were community paediatricians, 12% were general paediatricians, and 12% were neonatologists. Half (52.5%) had cared for a child following a walker injury, but only 27% did so more than once a year. Most (90%) were parents, of whom 36% used a walker with their children. Three quarters (74%) offered advice about walkers, with 74% always or often advising against their use. Most (89%) did not have any resources for discussing walkers with p...

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Babywalkers: prevalence of use and relationship with other safety practices

Cited by 25 publications

References 23 publications

An independent evaluation of a home safety equipment scheme in a high-risk community: views and safety practices of families

An independent evaluation of a home safety equipment scheme in a high-risk community: views and safety practices of families

Head injuries in infants: the risks of bouncy chairs and car seats

Baby walkers: paediatricians' knowledge, attitudes, and health promotion

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