Midwives' knowledge of, attitudes to and practice with baby walkers

Abstract

Objective: to determine community midwives' knowledge, attitudes and practice with regard to baby walkers. Design: survey, using questionnaires. Setting: primary care, East Midlands, UK. Participants: Sixty-five community midwives participating in a cluster randomised controlled trial to reduce baby walker use. Findings: there was a 94% response. Seventy per cent of the midwives, felt that it was part of their role to discuss baby walkers, and 62% felt that giving advice about walkers before birth acceptable. The midwives had a limited knowledge of baby walker injury risk and only one midwife had any baby walker-related health education material. Three attitude scales were computed and indicated that the midwives held a negative view of baby walkers and were positive about baby walker health education, believing that parents hold a positive attitude to baby walkers. Those midwives who had used a walker with their own children were more positive about baby walkers and less positive about baby walker health education. Key conclusions and implications for practice: midwives are willing to be involved in baby walker health education during pregnancy. However, they require evidence-based knowledge and materials rather than relying on personal experience.