And you thought the smoking ban was a radical intrusion on personal choice

dod · 08-04-2004 06:53AM #1

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3609723.stm

Seriously... what next? They ban CD players for discriminating against Vinyl? Ban paracetamol because of an adverse impact on the aspirin market?

Baby walkers outlawed in Canada

Canada has become the first country in the world to ban the sale, advertising and import of baby walkers.

"Canadians must know about the dangers posed to infants through the use of baby walkers," said Health Minister Pierre Pettigrew.

A voluntary ban on the walkers - essentially baby chairs with wheels - has existed since 1989, but continuing injuries prompted the outright ban.

The most common accident occurs when babies fall down stairs.

There have also been reports of infants being able to reach dangerous objects that would otherwise have been out of their reach, said the minister.

Distance and speed

Baby walkers are designed for infants who are able to sit up but not yet able to walk.

They enable them to propel themselves around using their legs.

But baby walkers also allow babies to travel distances and at speeds their parents may not be accustomed to.

Babies have been injured and killed falling down stairs, and even falling into swimming pools.

Between 1990 and 2002, the ministry said, there were 1,935 reports of infants being injured using the walkers.

The health ministry said it had determined that young children "do not have the necessary skills, reflexes or cognitive abilities to safely make use of these products".

Though many companies have adhered to a voluntary ban on walkers, said the ministry, it had become apparent that walkers were still being sold at garage sales, online and by street vendors.

Safety inspectors would work with first-time offenders found in possession of baby walkers to dispose of them, a ministry spokeswoman told BBC News Online.

Repeat offences could be punished with a fine or seizure of the walkers, the spokeswoman said.

woolymammoth · 08-04-2004 07:44AM

the smoking ban is a radical intrusion on personal choice.. its just one that protects
everyone who doesn't smoke and everyone who has to work in a smoking
enviroment from the inconsiderations of those who do smoke..

That ban on baby walkers is a radical intervention in the safety of children.. young
children who shouldn't be using them. Babies don't walk for nearly a year for a
reason, that they're not ready for it, nor are they ready for all of the dangers that
comes with being vertical. Its a proven fact that baby walkers do absolutely nothing
for the child, and infact, they actually hinder developement and cause a child not to
walk for longer.

As someone who suffered at the hands of one of these, i say fair play Canada.

It's nice to see a government that really cares..

Sleepy · 08-04-2004 09:00AM

That's just the way the world is now: people need laws to force them to be good parents. Why do you think we've so many scumbags in this country? Because we've a lot of godawful parenting going on.

You need a licence to own a dog in this country yet if you get up the duff, the government give you money.:rolleyes:

ixoy · 08-04-2004 09:26AM

Originally posted by Sleepy
That's just the way the world is now: people need laws to force them to be good parents. Why do you think we've so many scumbags in this country? Because we've a lot of godawful parenting going on.

You need a licence to own a dog in this country yet if you get up the duff, the government give you money.:rolleyes:

Admittedly that's to ensure the baby doesn't suffer because you've gotten pregnant but I take your point and agree with it. This is why I repeat calls for enforced sterilisation of mass swathes of the community with the procedure reversible only if you've proven yourself, at the very least, in a social/financial situation where you're capable of raising kids.

As to the original post - I never thought the smoking ban was a radical intrusion on personal choice. In fact, prior to that, the smoke clouds near me were a radical intrusion on my personal choice not to smoke....

Panda · 08-04-2004 10:43AM

I don't think its an intrusion.

Those walker things are dangerous and they are also bad for the development of the babys hips.

parents need a kick in the ass sometimes.

Stark · 08-04-2004 11:17AM

baby walkers also allow babies to travel distances and at speeds their parents may not be accustomed to.

Like greater than the speed of light, which we all know is against the laws set out by Albert Einstein

Babies may experience stunted development due to time dilation and increased mass makes them harder to control

And you thought the smoking ban was a radical intrusion on personal choice

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