Potential confounding factors were not measured

See editorial by Taylor

EDITOR—Garrett et al in their study of babywalkers provide some striking evidence of an association between use of walkers and delay in reaching motor milestones.1 The interpretation they give, that baby walkers cause motor delay, is very plausible. But it is also plausible that use of babywalkers is associated with factors such as lower educational level and social class of the parents, which are associated with rate of development.

These variables could easily have been measured in a survey such as this and taken into account in the analysis. There may be a tendency for babywalkers to be used more often to “mind” toddlers under more stressful or understimulating circumstances, and this could serve as a possible mechanism explaining the apparent relation between dose and response found between use of babywalkers and motor delay.

Perhaps the authors' interpretation is more plausible still, but public good would be better served by checking out alternative explanations before making policy.

Infants using babywalkers are not developmentally delayed

EDITOR—Garrett et al in their …