A Kolcraft Tiny Steps baby walker is Not Acceptable.(Recalls & Safety Alerts)

Baby walkers are supposed to be designed so that they don't allow your child to topple down the stairs. Most manufacturers use friction strips on the bottom of the walker that act as a brake when the leading wheels drop over a stair edge.

But even with bottom friction strips the Kolcraft Tiny Steps 2-in-1 model 14565 failed our test for brake performance, which followed ASTM International's safety standard for infant walkers. Because of the design of this model, the friction strips do not work properly and all three units we tested rolled over the edge of the simulated stairs. Ironically, this model is certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association to meet the standard.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

We have judged this model Not Acceptable and urge the manufacturer and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall the walker.

A similar model, the Kolcraft Tiny Steps 2-in-1 model 14570, passes the test. Kolcraft officials told us that the 14565 had been discontinued and that the 14570 was now the current model. But our secret shoppers had no problem buying the 14565 at retail, and two of the samples that they purchased had a manufacture date as recent as October 2006. The differences between the failing and passing models are subtle, so you must look carefully for ...