Baby walkers are much loved by some parents and their small offspring. But other parents and some pediatricians consider walkers unsafe.

The main problem is that walkers can tip over and, in a moment of carelessness, roll perilously down a flight of stairs.

In conjunction with the CPSC, the JPMA has sponsored voluntary certification standards for walkers. Also, the CPSC has banned the most hazardous aspects of walker design.

If you decide to have a walker at home, follow these safety guidelines:

* Make sure the walker has no scissoring, shearing, or pinching hinges, springs, or other hardware accessible to your child. There must be no holes (or slots) larger than 1/8 inch in which a finger could get trapped. Make sure the walker can't collapse accidentally while in use.

* Make sure that its base is wide enough to prevent tipping and that the walker is wide enough to block a baby's reach to objects. The wheels should be securely attached to the frame and large enough to minimize the risk of tipping?

* For the safest ride, keep the walker on the ground floor, blocked off from dangerous areas such as the door to the basement. Remove throw rugs, which can cause a walker to tip over. Most important of all, stay close and attentive.

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