Relates to prohibiting the sale of infant walkers and restricting the use of such infant walkers in certain settings

• Democratic6
• Republican1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Cordell Cleare says this is needed

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends banning the sale of infant walkers, as well as banning the use of infant walkers in child care facilities in New York State. Infant walkers are mobile devices used to encourage walking by infants and babies, usually aged five months to 15 months. There has been a lot of controversy concerning the safety of infant walkers. A recent study published in the Pediatrics Journal of the Amer- ican Academy of Pediatrics found that even though there was an overall decline in injuries since the Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission issued safety standards regulations on infant walkers in 2010, the ri of serious injury and death remains. According to the AAP's study, ninety percent of the estimated 230,676 children injured from 1994 through 2014 had injuries that involved the head and neck. A ban on infant walk- ers is already in effect in Canada. New York should follow Canada's lead and ban the sale of infant walkers because of the safety risks they pose. This risk is entirely avoidable and preventable as infants can play in stationary play units that have grown in popularity over the years. Banning the sale of infant walkers will also send a warning message to those who already own infant walkers. This legislation will have immedi- ate effect of severely limiting the availability of infant walkers in New York State, particularly in child care facilities, and the long term effect of discouraging use among existing owners, thereby creating a safer environment for infants throughout the State of New York.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.