Along with a baby comes a staggering amount of stuffed- toys, rockers, high chairs, strollers and exercisers to name just a few. Be aware, though, that some baby equipment has potential pitfalls.
Walkers are accidents waiting to happen, because they suspend your baby above the floor, enabling her to walk by rolling around. The problem is babies tend to walk right into walls, down staircases, and into other brain damage- causing obstacles. About 20,000 injuries per year are directly attributed to walkers.
Don't trust your strollers brakes. The best stroller models have brakes on two wheels; cheaper ones just have one wheel that brakes. Yet, even with the best brakes, don't leave the stroller on an incline. Many accidents occur when the brakes fail.
Install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs. The most sturdy are the ones that mount directly into the walls even a toddler is heavy enough to push down a pressure-mounted gate and tumble down the stairs after it.
Even high chairs ran be dangerous if a baby is not strapped in. Sadly, four or five deaths occur each year when babies submarine under the tray.
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