Baby walker standard

The Product Safety Standards (Baby Walkers) Amendment Regulations 2005

Baby walkers allow a child greater mobility, and faster access to other objects and situations, in their environment than they would normally have. 

Other people share that environment (adults and other siblings) and it is not always possible to completely remove all other hazards or to focus undivided attention on one child.

The baby walker itself therefore needs to be designed so as to minimise the risk of injury that extra mobility may invite. These risks include children falling down steps or stairs, or from tipping over. Parents and caregivers need to supervise children in baby walkers at all times.

Standard information

The standard applies to both new and second-hand baby walkers. The Fair Trading Act regulations declare the American Safety Standard—Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Walkers (ASTM F977-03) (with variations) to be a product safety standard.

The standard sets out requirements that address the stability of the walker, its structural integrity, performance over steps and the provision of safety warnings.

Purchasing the Standard

American Safety Standard—Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Walkers (ASTM F977-03) can be purchased from American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International).

A document summary is available online [external website]. Copies of ASTM F977-03 are available for inspection at the Measurement and Product Safety Services offices in Auckland, Petone, Christchurch and the Ministry of Economic Development Library in Wellington, for details please phone 0508 MAPSS Info (0508 627 774).

Enforcing the Standard

The Commerce Commission is responsible for enforcing this standard and has published some guidelines.