The American Academy of Pediatrics recently warned parents about the combination of children and lawnmowers. Citing the inherent danger of lawn care machinery, the Academy recommends that children under 12 years of age not use any kind of lawnmower and children younger than 16 not use riding lawnmowers. The Academy's new guidelines also warn against allowing children of any age to ride along as passengers on lawnmowers. It also suggests that children under 6 years old stay inside while lawnmowers are in use.

In the June issue of the journal Pediatrics, the Academy reports that nearly 9,500 children under age 18 require emergency treatment due to lawnmower-related injuries each year. Approximately 25% of these injuries involve children less than 5 years of age. The Academy also reports that 7% of these injuries involve amputation or other forms of severe injury.

The Academy recommends that children be kept away from the dangerous duty of lawnmowing until they demonstrate the judgment, strength and maturity required to safely operate a lawnmower.