One of the greatest joys of a mum is the moment when their baby takes its first steps. This delight usually comes with the worry about the safety and the progress of each toddler, and we have to admit it, we could use some help, especially as first-time parents! We all have seen a friend or a sibling using a walker for their baby, and also have some doubts about buying our own.
A baby walker is a device – toy, usually colourful to inspire our toddler’s senses, which assists it to stand up and make its very first steps. Providing support, it includes wheels for easier movement and interactive panels for the entertainment or education of your baby. Usually, the age you will see on the products will be 6 months or older, but it always depends on each child and when it’s ready to stand up. The most probable age for most of them is around 9 months+, and that’s when it’s actually safer for the baby to begin its walking course!
There are two main types of walkers. The first one, which is more suggested, is the Push – Along walker. It doesn’t consist a seat, and the baby has to grab it and try to stand up on its own. After that, it can be pushed along to help your baby take these first steps. In addition, most of them include an interactive panel and several toys which can be played by your little one while it is seated on the floor or a carpet, or even when standing. This way, even if your child is not ready yet to stand up, it will be involved with playable activities while seated! The second type of baby walker is the Sit-In one. This provides a seated section for your baby, usually pretty comfortable, in a way that it can touch its cute feet on the floor to move it around. These also come with a panel with toys to attract their attention. This article’s purpose is to present to you the 11 best baby walkers you can find.
Before buying a baby walker from either type, a parent should be informed about the pros and cons of their usage. There exist researches of experts about the safety of the types of walkers mentioned above, and it is important to know when to use them, what they offer to a baby, for how long they are recommended per day and, at the bottom line if acquiring them is necessary or not.
PRODUCTS
EDITOR’S PICK
- 2,12 kg
- 6 months – 3 years
- Plastic Material
- Requires 3 AA Batteries
- Can be flat – packed to travel of store
- Includes detachable activity centre
BUDGET PICK
- 3.46 kg
- 6 months +
- Plastic Material
- Requires 5 AA Batteries
- Includes non-detachable activity centre
- Includes remote control
- Has adjustable handle
TOP PICK
- 4,18 kg
- 12 months +
- Materials: Rubberwood, Plywood, Rubber, Stainless steel
- Eco-friendly
- Educational block puzzle
BUDGET PICK
- 1,5 kg
- 9 months – 2 years
- Plastic Material
- Manual non-detachable Activity centre
- Vintage style
BUDGET PICK
- 1,86 kg
- 6 months – 1 year
- Plastic Material
- Requires 2 AA Batteries
- Non-detachable Activity centre
V-Tech Stroll & Activity walker
A list of the best walkers should definitely include the VTech Walker. This is a multi-coloured sturdy toy with many exciting features for babies to discover! It provides a base so that the toddler will gain balance, while it offers many fun functions like light-up buttons, gears to move, animal shapes to intervene and music with phrases! It is highly educational, gives the baby a motive to exercise its motor skills with the motion sensor that triggers lights and the detachable activity centre is a wonderful experience while seated.
On the other hand, a drawback is the lack of settings to alter the speed of the wheels and these wheels are also not removable. The music produced is also a little too loud and the device does not have brakes. However, it is safe when used on a carpet where the speed is reduced.
Features and Pros
- 6 months - 3 years
- Includes detachable activity centre
- Can be flat - packed to travel or store
Cons
- Requires 3 AA Batteries
Nuby Interactive Baby Walker
Nuby Walker is a steady toy for a child to grow with. It has incredible features such as a spinning owl in the front along with melody buttons and lights! In addition, it includes a remote control for you or the baby to turn the volume where it is desired but also to surprise your little one with fun noises. It is easy to assemble and the handle is adjustable to cover the different stages of growth.
Apart from the positive facts, it requires too many batteries (5 AA) to work and it is moved with difficulty on carpets. Moreover, it doesn’t fold so you can store it and the activities it offers are limited. Another negative point is that it is not heavy enough for the baby to grab and stand.
Features and Pros
- 6 months - 3 years
- Includes non-detachable activity centre
- Includes remote control
- Has adjustable handle
Cons
- Requires 5 AA Batteries
Le Toy Van Rainbow Cloud Wooden Walker
This high-quality, eco-friendly sturdy wagon is one of the best gifts for your toddler. It is made of rubberwood, which makes it sturdy enough and its cart is filled with a rainbow colour block which aids in developing motor skills and hand-eye coordination. This is an Award-winning design and triggers the imagination of any child.
The question here is if your baby will be interested in a game which includes a complicated puzzle with blocks. Another con is the difficulty of moving on stone surfaces. Also, you cannot control the speed, there are no brakes and let’s admit it, it is a little bit expensive.
Features and Pros
- Eco-friendly
- Educational block puzzle
Cons
- 12 months +
Chicco Happy Hippy Walker
Simple but effective is the right expression for this toy. Chicco Happy Hippy is easily assembled and manually controlled with a lot of delight for your sweethearts. Its activities are on the front side, including a mirror, a turning clock, a moving flower and other attractions, to grasp the attention and develop the child’s skills.
Of course, there are drawbacks. here as well, for example, the fact it is not sturdy enough because it is too light. In addition, it moves fast on wooden floors which might be dangerous.
Features and Pros
- 9 months - 2 years
- Manual non-detachable Activity centre
- Vintage style
Cons
- No Cons
Fisher – Price Zebra Walker
The Zebra Walker provides you with three main things. Playing with the toys to keep hands busy, educating with the book pages in the front including ABCs and 123s, and starting the walking course. Your baby will encounter a colourful, bright world to discover and learn singing phrases at the same time. It is very sturdy and it moves well on carpets.
The bad factor here is you cannot fold it to store it, and again the wheels do not lock. The handle is not adjustable and it goes fast on hard floors.
Features and Pros
- 6 months - 1 year
- Non-detachable Activity centre
- 1.86 kg
Cons
- Requires 2 AA Batteries
Nuheby Baby Walker Activity Toy
If you are looking for an impressive multi-activity wooden walker that can also be used as a storage box, this is the one for you! With four sides and plenty of intriguing games, from a toy clock in the front to a panel with flipping numbers and pairing animals. It educates the baby in many ways, about time, animals, numbers, improving memory, flexibility, and imagination. The thing that caught my eye on this one is the storage room which can be used to put as much weight as needed for the toddlers to move it in the speed you prefer. Also, an added benefit is that the wheels are removable.
All the reviews of this product were similar. There was a doubt about the quality of the wood, also people found it difficult to assemble and a little complicated.
Features and Pros
- 12 months - 5 years
- Wood Material
- Storage Box
- Activity 4 - side centre
Cons
- 6.1 kg
Little Tikes Activity Walker
This is a pretty unique design of a toy and it deserves a place in the list with the best baby walkers. It has three functions as it can be folded, locked on a standing position for the baby to play and also released in a moving position for walking. It inspires your toddler to walk as when it moves, colourful lights hit the floor in the front. The activity panel will make your little boy or girl giggle with the peek – a boo lion, koala and parrot and many more jungle-themed play modes.
Although it has two resistance settings, it slides on wooden floors but is better to use on carpet to make sure you baby is safe. Apart from that, the assembly is difficult and if you do it the wrong way it takes a lot of time to fix it. Another negative to point out is that it isn’t very sturdy and has no brakes.
Features and Pros
- 9 - 18 months
- It can be folded
- 3 in 1 Activity walker
Cons
- Requires 3 AA batteries
Fisher-Price Musical Lion Walker
The Musical Lion Walker is another first steps baby walker that provides two ways of playing for your six-month-old toddler. It comes with lights, music, rolling ears, piano keys and a friendly lion face to make your child smile. Here you can add a handle that is easy to grasp and the exercises motor skills when walking.
The usual issues apply to this one too. No brakes, not heavy enough and not very sturdy.
Features and Pros
- 6 Months +
- Includes non-detachable activity centre
Cons
- Requires 2 AA batteries
Brio Toddler Wobbler Wooden Walker
This walker is simple and traditional, this wooden trolley has an adjustable handle and brake safety. It is also similar to the Le Toy Van toy, but with blocks. It is easy to assemble and its purpose is just one, for your baby to learn how to walk in a non-dangerous way.
This walker is lacking in activities and interesting toys for your toddler to interact with, this walker has one function to aid your baby in learning to walk. No brakes for this one either, but the adjustable handle offers the slow-down needed.
Features and Pros
- Material Wood
- Break safety
- Adjustable Handle
Cons
- Not very sturdy
My Child Coupe Baby Walker
Although it is not really recommended to buy a Sit-In walker, this one is fully safety tested. It also provides a detachable car-themed play tray for the toddlers to have fun with. It is comfortable and has three height positions to adjust and it also serves as a rocker. Another positive factor is that you can fold it flat to store it.
The disadvantages of this product include the fact it doesn’t move very well on carpets. Moreover, the wheels do not rotate easily and if the baby is six months and not very tall, it will be hard to touch the floor and move.
Features and Pros
- 3 height positions
- It can be folded flat
- 2 functions: Rocker mode and Walker mode
Cons
- 6.7 KG
- Maximum weight of 11 kg
Red Kite Baby Go Round Twist Walker
Another Sit-In option is the Red Kit Baby Go Round Twist walker. Its features are similar to the previous, but with a different theme, a more colourful and playful one. Filled with fun musical and song activities on top of the activity table, as well as on the side, this padded seated walker will offer your little one lots of entertainment! It also folds flat for you to store it.
The best way to use it is on thin carpet. On a smooth tiled or wooden floor, it might gain a lot of speed rather quickly, and on a thick carpet, it will be hard to move.
Features and Pros
- 3 height positions
- It can be folded flat
- Detachable play tray
Cons
- 5 kg
- Maximum weight of 12 kg
Benefits of Push-Along Baby Walkers
There are a plethora of opinions about whether using babies walkers is an effective tool in aiding your child to walk. In this review, we will analyse the reasons why you should buy a Push – Along walker for your toddler and what it can offer to you and him or her. It is vital to know that your baby should be occupied with it for 20 minutes maximum at a time, according to the NHS health advice, and always under supervision.
First of all, a baby walker is a creative way to encourage your baby to walk. The time to start walking for each toddler is different. A device like this may stimulate and push your baby to stand up and make its first steps. Also, it is a support for them to pull themselves up and helps them to develop balance. Of course, standing up can be aided with the support of a couch or a chair, but they don’t include the entertainment a baby walker offers, and like that we arrive at the second point.
Apart from walking, a walker most of the times includes a toy section which can be quite fun. Even if your baby is six months old and is ready to take the first steps, a baby walker can inspire it to crawl and sit to play with the activity panel. Most of these walking devices include toys which are educational, they improve the cognitive function of your child and they are very stimulating for its senses. Lights, sounds, colours, rolling toys and mirrors introduce a whole world of activities and provoke enthusiasm to your little one!
Baby walkers contribute to the development of mental and motor skills for a baby. Imagine when they start walking, with the support that is needed, they can see their body and legs standing up and gradually learn to use them in the correct way. Moreover, a walker is a device your baby can use for a long period of time, because it serves as a game for it, like a moving cart. It keeps children mobile and eventually helps with motor skills not just by walking, but also by playing!
Disadvantages of Push-Along Baby Walkers
Using a baby walker has a second side of a coin for a mum to consider. According to the NHS experts, using a baby walker might actually be harmful to a child and we should encourage them to start standing up on their own, with help just from us or other furniture, until they are ready to take their first steps. There is a grey line about Push – Along walkers, but they also come with some drawbacks.
The number one reason why a walker for a baby might not be recommended is the safety issue. There lies a danger of an accident when they produce speed above average. An infant, led by its enthusiasm for being able to walk, might start moving quickly with the support of a baby walker. This is why they must always be supervised while using one. A mother knows that an accident can happen in just a second when they are not watching over their child.
In addition to that, a toddler might grow dependent on a walker device. This might slow down the process of learning to walk on their own. A solution to that is to take the advice of the NHS and use walkers for babies for no more than 20 minutes at a time. Also, it is important to encourage it to gradually start walking without any support.
Last but not least, when your baby begins to stand up and walk, being on a higher level allows them to have access to objects they didn’t have before. These objects may just be their toys, but they can also be harmful ones. For example, they may be able to reach your kitchen equipment or tools, or even breakable things. I suppose you can imagine the dangers of this possibility, and here is another reason for constant supervision.
In my opinion, a mum’s view of a baby walker shouldn’t be a way to entertain their baby and provide some free time for her. While it is used for moving around, it should be considered as an educational toy which will help your child taking its first steps, but always with you being around and watching over it.
Sit-Down Baby Walkers
Sit-Down walkers are a chapter on their own because if you are thinking of buying one, you should really know how to use them properly. Though they might be an entertaining activity for your baby, many experts are wary of the dangers that these walkers present!
In April 2007 Canada banned Baby walkers due to a number of accidents and the lack of supervision babies had when using these devices. They apparently had some good reasons to do so. Starting with the NHS they note that using walkers has a negative effect on babies since while sitting on them they touch just the tiptoes of their feet on the ground. This way your child’s development of walking is delayed.
The NHS from Shetland published a leaflet including the dangers of using Sit-Down walkers and offers advice to parents not to buy one. It is stated that there were 4000 accidents of infants because of baby walkers in one year. Also, it notes the drawbacks of using them, such as the access of babies to harmful items, the lack of learning balancing skills while seated, the interference in brain and muscle development and the actual delay of the walking activity. Finally, it points out the use of walkers which roll around have an impact on the walking mechanism of the child and the hip muscles.
If you decide to buy one, after all, you can use some advice from the reports on the website of AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics). Apart from the dangers and the percentage of accidents, they propose which actions must be taken to prevent these issues. These plans include creating a place with barriers where the baby can move, a design of a walker that will prevent falling down and of course your supervision over the toddler! MD Claire McCarthy, a paediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School recommends not to use these walkers at all. Stating all the dangers, she is proposing to let the baby evolve its activity gradually on its own and with a parent’s help.
Nevertheless, there is a way to use Sit-Down walkers, following the advice of the experts and providing the attention and care needed for your little ones. It is quite simple just following the right steps: Just a little time on the walker, an area with barriers and your constant supervision. It is your choice whether to use one or not, so this article includes 2 of the best Sit-Down walkers for you to buy.
Features to check when buying a Baby walker
If you decide to acquire a first steps Baby walker, you should consider some important features about it. There is a huge variety from which you can choose, but the result of your search must fulfil some specific qualifications so that you will be satisfied with the best outcome.
a) Safety
The most important thought when buying the best baby walking device is safety, which has many sides. The walker must have brakes and slow-down options for its wheels to control the speed of your toddler’s steps, to make sure it is protected. Also, the parts and the toys must have the right texture and not include anything that your baby might swallow or something pointy that might hurt your child. Remember that on carpets the speed of the walker can be minimised and the movement is smooth.
b) Weight
The weight of the walker must be analogical to your baby’s weight. If it is a lot heavier than the child, then the child will find it difficult to move around. On the other hand, if it is very light, the result is the reduction of sturdiness and, accordingly, the balance and support of the toddler.
c) Material
You should already know that wood is of better quality and a more steady material than plastic. However, plastic can be good quality and not easily breakable, if you make the right choice. Wooden walkers usually provide smoother walking on all types of floors but also are more expensive and with fewer activities than the plastic ones. A solution would be to buy a plastic but sturdy walker and use it on a carpet. There are also choices of non-toxic and recyclable materials.
d) Activities
Let’s face it. The section which will keep your baby entertained will be the activity centre. Find a baby walker with many toys, activities to inspire your toddler’s senses and educational options. Remember that you want your loving baby to have fun and you always desire to see it giggle.
e) Price
Don’t get me wrong here, I know that every parent doesn’t have the means to buy the most lavish baby walker for their child. The reason for this is to be able to compare the price to what every product has to offer. Stay away from overpriced objects which will be used for a short period of time, and try to find a 2 in 1 walker that will serve more than one purpose.
Final Say
In conclusion, choosing and buying the best baby walker for your baby can be really challenging. When it comes to baby products, there are many factors you need to consider, such as the space and the type of floor you have in your home. If you notice the websites which sell walkers, they state an approximate age for the child to use. The truth is that each individual is different and some walk from when they are 6 months old, while others do it in a year. My advice is always to use the toy on the carpet so that even if the child falls, it will be on soft ground. Also, adult supervision is an absolute much when it comes to the use of any walker!
From this list of the best baby walkers, our Editor’s pick is the Nuheby Baby walker. It might cost nearly £55, but your baby will use it and enjoy it for many years. Apart from the walking activity, it can be used as a standing, educational and fascinating toy. It is heavy enough for the baby to lean on and grab without it toppling on them, and as it grows you can always put an extra weight inside to achieve the right balance. Remember, the top priority is to keep your little one safe and always make them giggle!
