Baby walkers

Yes, baby walkers are banned in Canada. Since April 2004, it has been illegal to sell, import or advertise them, including used walkers sold at garage sales or flea markets. Canada was the first country in the world to ban them.

What Exactly Is Banned

The ban covers walkers that move on wheels (or any other device that lets them move) and have an enclosed seat that holds the baby upright, with their feet touching the floor. The rules apply to:

• New walkers sold in stores or online
• Second-hand walkers sold at garage sales, flea markets or on resale sites
• Imports, including walkers ordered from foreign online sellers
• Advertising baby walkers to Canadians

Why Canada Banned Them

Health Canada studied injury reports from its hospital injury reporting program. The data showed babies in walkers could reach stairs, hot surfaces and other hazards they could not reach otherwise. The most serious injuries were head injuries from falls down stairs. Big retailers had already stopped selling walkers voluntarily in 1989, but small sellers kept bringing them in, so the government made the ban law. You can read Health Canada’s own summary of the injury data behind the ban.

How the Ban Is Enforced Today

Walkers still slip in through online marketplaces. Health Canada regularly issues advisories for walkers sold on Amazon.ca, eBay.ca and AliExpress.ca, has them removed from sale, and tells owners to stop using them. One recent Health Canada advisory found 133 units of a single walker model had been sold through Amazon.ca. When the ban started, news reports said sellers could face fines of up to $100,000.

What It Means for Parents

• If you already own one: Health Canada advises you to stop using it and destroy it so no one else can use it.
• Moving from the US: do not bring a walker with you. Importing one is not allowed.
• Buying online: listings may call them “activity walkers” or “sit-and-push walkers.” If it has wheels and a seat, it falls under the ban.

Legal Alternatives

Stationary activity centres with no wheels, play mats and supervised floor time are all legal. They let babies practise standing without being able to roll toward stairs.

Is It Banned Anywhere Else?

Canada is still the only country with a full national ban. In the US, walkers remain legal but must meet federal safety standards, and pediatricians have repeatedly called for a ban. TabooWorld also covers other child-safety bans, such as the US ban on lawn darts after injuries to children and the FDA rule behind Kinder Surprise eggs.