I found the below info at http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/745582.html
I thought it was worth a repost and sharing.

WALKERS

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against using walkers,
but primarily because over 8,000 babies are injured in them each year
(See “Injuries Associated with Infant Walkers,” American Academy of
Pediatrics: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/108/3/790
and “Baby Walkers:” http://www.aap.org/pubed/ZZZZDGTUP5D.htm )

These articles primarily stress the safety concerns of baby walkers,
but the Academy also says “walkers do not help children walk sooner.
Walkers can delay normal muscle control and mental development.”
(“Baby Walkers:” http://www.aap.org/pubed/ZZZZDGTUP5D.htm )

Some doctors think that even short amounts of time in a walker might
be harmful. “Because the babies can get around too easily, their urge
to move across the floor is satisfied, and many of them will not
undertake the important task of crawling, creeping, scooting, or
hitching. This stage is important for developing strength and
coordination.” (“Baby Walkers,” Dr. Greene:
http://www.drgreene.com/21_810.html )

State University of New York at Buffalo and Case Western Reserve
University studied 109 infants; “about half had never used a walker,
about a third used newer-style walkers with large trays that blocked
the infants’ view of their feet, and the remainder used older-style
walkers that allowed them to see their moving feet and grab at objects
around them.” It’s important to note that all the infants scored
within “established norms,” but those using the new-style walkers “sat
upright, crawled, and walked later than infants who had never used a
walker.” Infants using older-style walkers learned to sit and walk at
about the same age as the infants who did not use a walker, “but they
learned to crawl at about the same age as the children who used the
newer-style walkers.” (Newer style walkers have large trays,
preventing children from seeing their feet move, and making it
difficult for them to grasp objects around them.) (“Baby Walkers May
Impede Child Development,” Center for the Advancement of Health:
http://www.cfah.org/hbns/newsrelease/babywalkers10-12-99.cfm )

Other doctors see no harm in walkers, as long as they’re only used for
short periods of time. “A few minutes spent and a few steps safely
taken in a walker each day won’t harm baby, but too much time in his
first little car is neither safe nor healthy.,” advises Dr. Sears.
(“Walkers,” Ask Dr. Sears:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t110235.asp ) But even his more
moderate view ends by saying “We discourage the use of walkers or any
device that encourages baby to rely on outside assistance for
locomotion rather than on his own creativity or initiative.”

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