Four ways walking rings can be dangerous for babies

WITH gifting season almost upon us, many people might be thinking the seemingly innocuous walking ring could be the perfect gift for little ones or expecting parents.  

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However, the use of the popular mobility aid could lead to a potentially-life-threatening accident. 

According to Rene Grobler, Netcare’s national quality and systems manager for trauma and emergency, 47 babies – around eight months old – have nationally been rushed to their emergency departments after an accident with a walking ring.

“Of these, four per cent had been critically injured, and 72 per cent had serious to moderate injuries,” said Grobler.

The majority of the recorded injuries involved the baby’s head or face, and such injuries can be serious at a young age, she added. 

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Here are four ways in which babies can get injured while in a walking ring: 

• The wheels can easily get stuck on carpets or furniture, which could lead to the baby propelling themselves downstairs or even into walls. 
• Walking rings also increase the risk of babies suffering burns. The mobility could create opportunities for them to pull on electric cables or pull boiling kettles or pots onto them. 
• Babies could also injure themselves by pulling other heavy objects onto themselves, such as appliances and glass decorations.
• Some babies have also been injured when the folding mechanisms have failed, causing the walking ring to collapse. 

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At the time of publication, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.

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