Well, some of you will say yes - probably my children - but research published this week calling for a ban on babywalkers made me think of other dangers that children face in the world.

True, accidents are the biggest cause of death in children in this country, and more could be done to reduce this toll, but I don't see that focussing on banning one particular fiend like a babywalker is the answer.

It is sometimes apparently innocuous things that are dangerous. I noticed in the papers this week a Member of Parliament who is trying to get small toys within chocolate eggs banned - and not because chocolate eggs have now been shown to carry salmonella!

One of the most vulnerable parts of a child is the larynx, which is smaller than an adult's, and therefore prone to being blocked up by small objects which I'm afraid are in abundance in these eggs.

However, peanuts are small objects, and hopefully most parents know not to give them to young children under three years, but should we ban peanuts? I don't think so.

It reminds me of the old pre-Anne Robinson Watchdog days where the presenter would highlight 'dangerous' things like: "This oven door gets incredibly hot when cooking". Well, 'scuse me for butting in, but what do you expect?

I then imagined taking this to the extreme: "Do you know we managed to purchase these pointed sharp objects called forks that the manufacturers claim are suitable for children to stick into their food and then their mouths. We then discovered that if these objects were rammed into the skin they caused a nasty abrasion!".

Potential for harm

Children can find trouble almost everywhere

The point I feel is that virtually any household object has the potential to cause children harm, so rather than banning everything hot, sharp, small, or poisonous, educating citizens in the dangers that these hold specifically for children will be the most helpful.

A first aid course that teaches you what to do with an ill or choking child would save you standing around helplessly when a life could be saved.

I imagine more children will die this year from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by faulty gas appliances than from falling out of their babywalkers.