7 month old baby walker
The Best Baby Walkers of 2022
Baby walkers come in push-behind and sit-in styles, and vary tremendously in stability, durability, safety, style, versatility, and FUN! Most similar to exersaucers in overall design, a walker adds the element of mobility by allowing your child to scoot around the home.
Every year we pull together new releases and improved models, putting them through extensive hands-on testing. The top 5 walkers are ranked below, followed by detailed reviews of several different options.
| Model and Link to Amazon | Our Rating |
|---|---|
| #1. Joovy Spoon Baby Walker | |
| #2. Radio Flyer Walker Wagon | |
| #3. VTech Sit-to-Stand Walker | |
| #4. Hape Wooden Wonder | |
| #5. |
For our reviews, we compile our hands-on test insights with those of other parents, providing a summary review of each model. This year we came away with some awesome options that we think you and your baby will love! For more information about how we did our tests, and factors you should consider when picking a baby walker (including safety precautions), check out the bottom of this article.
At the most basic safety level, be sure all stairways and steps are blocked by a closed door or one of our awesome baby gates, and nothing is reachable on counters or tables.
- Table of Contents [show/hide]
- Top 5 Baby Walkers Comparison Table
- 1. Best Overall: Joovy Spoon
- 2. Radio Flyer Walker Wagon
- 3. VTech Sit-to-Stand Walker
- 4. Hape Wooden Walker
- 5. Tiny Love Walker
- 6. Safety 1st Sounds & Lights
- 7. Bright Starts Walk-a-bout
- 8.
Baby Trend Activity Walker - 9. Cossy Classic Wooden Walker
- 10. Jeep Wrangler Baby Walker
- Additional Information
- Baby Walker Safety
- Test & Evaluation
Full disclosure: Some of these baby walkers, including the Radio Flyer, Safety 1st, and Cossy models, were sent to us as free test samples by the manufacturer.
Here are the Best Baby Walkers of 2022!1. Joovy Spoon Baby Walker.Usually about $90, available in several colors. This top-rated baby walker takes on the classic form of a traditional sit-in baby walker, but with some excellent features and style. When we took it out of the packaging, we were surprised at two things: first, how lightweight it was (only about 12 pounds), and second, how it folded up into a pretty thin format that could slide right under the bed for storage. Popping it open was easy, and the walker takes on a pretty sleek and stylish shape and size.
We liked the simple colors and contemporary lines, without compromising on features. The tray was large and wrapped around the side of the baby, which should increase safety by making it harder for your baby to reach to things to their right or left (like grabbing something off the coffee table or TV stand). What's also cool about the tray is that it includes a removable insert (like some of the best high chairs) that can be popped off and cleaned easily, and thrown right into the dishwasher (if you can fit it in!). The baby seating surface is soft and plush, and easy to wipe clean or remove for machine washing; the fabric is high quality, and we didn't notice any color bleeding or shrinkage. Once your baby is sitting in the walker, it has three height adjustments to help make sure your baby's little feet can actually reach the floor (or the play mat), and can support babies up to 30 pounds. The rolling/gliding action was smooth and our test babies didn't seem to have any difficulty getting this to move on hardwood, tile, or linoleum floors.
Carpets were a challenge of course, though thin-pile rugs or berber carpets were generally fine.
With two parents standing on the second step and baby in the walker, we put it to the ultimate test: we let baby try to roll right to the parents, sending the front wheels of the walker right off the edge of the stairs. Well, the no-slip stair pads on the bottom did their job, and did it well: they stopped it right in its tracks, only letting the front wheels go about 2" off the edge and keeping the vast majority of the walker safe and sound. We didn't need to intervene at all, which was reassuring. Of course, we do not recommend trying that at home! Even with the safety features you need to be very careful when using any walker on any surface. Overall, we were really impressed with features and safety of this walker, all without sensory overload with tons of crazy toys attached. You have enough baby gear to keep track of already, no need to worry about the random toys that have popped off the baby walker.
Cons? Well, the wheels don't lock which is inconvenient, and the tallest height setting leaves something to be desired. If your baby is super tall, check out the Safety 1st option, below. Who else recommends the Joovy Spoon walker? Our friends at Babylist! Impressed? You can check out the Joovy Spoon baby walker here.
Usually about $80, the Radio Flyer Walker Wagon has the classic red Radio Flyer paint with wooden accents and those distinctive logos. It doesn't just look nice and nostalgic, it's also highly capable and durable, and a ton of fun for toddlers! We tested it out with an 11-month old who was just taking his first steps, and a 14-month old who took her first steps a couple months ago. Both of them loved filling up the wagon with toys, stuffed animals, and each other, and wheeling everything around the house. Backing up to when we first got our hands on the Radio Flyer walker wagon, a few points are worth mentioning.
First, out of the box the wagon literally came in 15 different pieces, which made assembly much more involved than any other wagon on this list. It wasn't technically challenging to follow the instructions, it was just a little overwhelming and time-consuming (about 25 minutes) to put together. Second, the wagon wheels come with a cool feature - a tensioning system that puts a little rolling resistance on the wheels, which is definitely helpful if you want to use this with a toddler just learning to walk. The tensioning system makes an audible clicking noise when the wheels are rolling, which can get a little annoying, but it can be disabled by removing the tensioner.
A couple other little features we liked: there is a padded front bumper that helps keep your walls and furniture intact, the wooden side panels are removable, and the wheels are plastic (filled with foam) and have decent grip to prevent side-slippage. The handlebar is at a great height for toddlers, though it is not height-adjustable so it will be a little low once your child reaches 2-3 years old.
Of course, that doesn't really stop them from enjoying it - they will likely just use it in different ways, likely shuttling each other around, using it outdoors to haul toys, and beyond! Everything is high quality and durable, and we are overall impressed with the quality you're getting for only about $80. No big cons to report other than the little ones we've mentioned already - the clicking noise of the wheel tensioner, and the lack of adjustable handlebars. Who else recommends the Radio Flyer walker wagon? Our friends at Babylist and Babygearlab! Impressed? You can check out the Radio Flyer Walker Wagon here.
Usually about $35, the VTech Sit to Stand is available in pinks and purples (pictured) or oranges and greens. When the dangers of sit-in baby walkers spread like wildfire through the press, this was one of the answers. Instead of having your baby sit inside the walker and roll around, this top-rated activity walker serves babies who have already learned to pull themselves up but haven't learned to walk independently.
So it's a slightly different phase of use relative to a sit-in walker. The sit-in style can work for a baby who has achieved head/neck control, but this type of push-walker won't be useful until your baby pulls to stand. Once they do, they can grab the handles on this and get themselves into all sorts of trouble! Usually from about 9 months to 2 years of age or so. VTech calls this the "Sit-to-Stand" because it can be used as a little 2in1 activity center by popping off the play portion and placing it on the floor: baby can sit down next to it and play with the colorful toys. Then, it can be placed back onto the frame and unfolded and used as a push-around baby walker, that's the "stand" part. It's pretty underwhelming as a sit-down activity center, but it does do really well as a push-walker, and at a great price point. It's relatively inexpensive, and we found it to be stable, durable, and have some fun gadgets. For instance, a cute little telephone (probably the only one they'll ever see that still looks like this!), piano keys that play music, rollers and gear cogs, and light-up buttons.
To power the music and lights, it takes two AA batteries which are actually included (that's rare!). Given the features and relatively low price, it's no wonder that it's been the best-selling baby walker on the market for several years now! Note that if you don't want the rolling walker part, but want a standing activity center that is very similar to this, VTech also makes an awesome Learning Table.
Overall, we really liked this basic and inexpensive walker, and thought it was perfect for babies who are around 9-10 months old and ready to explore walking with some support. We also thought that it rolled much better on carpeting and rugs than any of the sit-in walkers, so this is a great option if you have wall-to-wall carpeting or a lot of thicker rugs. One other cool thing is that it has adjustable resistance settings for the wheels, so you can control how fast the wheels will spin. Younger kids will need it on the slower setting, and older kids or carpeting will probably call for the faster setting.
Cons? Well, there's no adjustable handle height to accommodate a growing baby, and the friction of the tires on hardwood or tile could be improved to avoid the walker sliding sideways at times. But we can't really complain about that, since it also makes it possible to turn this walker (unlike with some of the below options) without popping up the front wheels. Overall, we love it, and think it's a great inexpensive option! Who else recommends the VTech Sit to Stand walker? Our friends at Babylist and Babygearlab! Interested? You can check out the VTech Sit to Stand walker here!
Usually about $75. This Hape walker is one of the most adorable and high quality activity walkers we tested. We love the quality craftsmanship, vivid and non-toxic paint colors, and the simple and clever toys that keep a baby interested but not overwhelmed. One of the great things about this walker is that it's basically impossible to tip over, whether it's tipping forward, backward, or to the side.
It's very stable, and that's more than we can say for many of the walkers we tested! When our test babies tried it out, they all seemed to love being able to put random things in the front and push them around. This included toys, stuffies, and in one case the family cat! This is one of the great things about this walker that will keep toddlers enjoying it for a while, and it's a much better experience than simply pushing buttons on electronic toys. When we tested it, we found that it assembled very easily out of the box, and everything worked pretty well.
The only drawback we keep finding with wooden baby walkers is that they are relatively hard to turn. While the VTech will turn by basically sliding sideways or a toddler can pop up the front wheels to turn it, that can't happen with these. The wheels on this walker are grippy and it's heavy enough that it can't be turned easily at all. So a couple of our testing babies ended up going in a straight line until they hit something, and then mom or dad had to turn it in a different direction.
So that was a bit of a pain. The second issue with wooden walkers is wheel speed: it's really difficult to get the wheels to turn at a good speed. On this one, you can't simply tighten the screws more to make them spin more slowly (like you can with the Cossy model, below). So we found that it was a bit too fast on hard surfaces, but really great on carpeting. Outside of those wheel-related issues, we thought it was durable, super sturdy, well-built, and is likely to be a go-to toy for several years. Who else loves the Hape walker? Our friends at Babygearlab consider it a top pick! Impressed? You can check out the Hape Wooden Wonder Walker here!
Usually about $120. For parents who were considering separately purchasing an exersaucer and a walker, this combination might be perfect for you! The Tiny Love "Here I Grow" walker combines an exersaucer, a push-behind walker, and a sit-in walker into one, and at a great price! Starting as a sit-in exersaucer, it has adjustable height, swivel capability, bouncing (like a jumper, which you can disable), and tons of fun toys to explore.
When you're ready to watch your baby scoot around the floor, you can unlock the wheels (there are two switches to lock or unlock the front wheels) and it becomes a sit-in walker. Finally, when your baby starts to pull to stand and transition to the toddler phase, they can use it as a push-behind walker. We loved the concept, and were excited to test it out! Out of the box, assembly took about 15 minutes; basically, you unfold the three legs hiding under the base, attach the seat, attach the tray to the base, and then attach the handle and the toys and rings.
The toys can attach interchangeably to any of the holes on the tray, allowing you customize where you place them. There are three height adjustments that span about 4" of adjustability. There is a lock to stop seat rotation, locks on the legs to prevent bouncing, and two locks to turn on the parking brake and disallow movement (by raising the front wheels off the floor). In walker mode, the seat rotation is locked, the leg bounce is locked, but the parking brake is released to let the journey begin.
We thought the entire walker was surprisingly thoughtful and well-made, and we loved how each feature can be locked out for safety and developmental purposes. Another bonus is that the entire unit can fold semi-flat by detaching tray from the base and folding in the legs. It's a bit too tall to slide under a bed, but we did fit it under our coffee table for temporary storage. The seat fabric is easily removed for cleaning and machine washable. Cons? Like with any walker, we suggest having your baby wear long pants and socks with grippy bottoms; some of the inside edges hiding under walkers can irritate the skin from repeated bouncing or movements. That issue is not unique to the Tiny Love, but worth mentioning. Outside of that, we had a ton of fun with this baby walker and think it's a great option for parents looking to save money and space! Who else loves the Tiny Love walker? Our friends at Babylist! Impressed? You can check out the Tiny Love Here I Grow Walker here!
Safety 1st Sounds 'n Lights Discovery Walker.Usually about $50. This is a much more traditionally-styled baby walker with all the bells and whistles, including the bright colors and noisy toys. But it also includes the non-skid safety catches on the bottom to reduce the chances of rolling down the stairs, so it's a bit of an old-meets-new style baby walker. Out of the box, we thought that it folds down into a good-sized package that can slide right under a normal bed, so that was great for storage. Once it's popped up, it has 3 adjustable height settings to accommodate your growing baby. We did find that at the lowest setting it's most appropriate for babies who are probably around 10-months old or over like 28" height, otherwise they probably wont be able to reach the floor (note that it has a 31-pound weight limit). It's like this one is too high, but the Joovy option is too low. We've yet to find or review the perfect-height baby walker that also meets all the other criteria we care about.
About the toys - it has a lot of them, some with music and lights, some with crinkle-noises, and some relatively simple cause-effect options.
We'd like to be able to tell you what type of batteries these toys use, but we couldn't find that information anywhere and couldn't find a battery door anywhere on the walker! We didn't go through batteries after about 2 months of testing, but it's worth pointing out that we have no idea where they are hidden, what size they are, or if they are replaceable in the first place. Back to the positives. We liked that there were the toys, but they could also be swiveled out of the way (to the side) to expose two snack trays. They don't have washable trays, but they were good sizes for simple snacks. Speaking of washing, the seat cover is removable and machine washable, so that's a nice feature. So overall, we liked this activity walker, and it's worth inclusion on this list. It seemed durable, rolled well on hard floors and rugs, and our test babies seemed to really love the toys.
But if the batteries die you're both out of luck! Note that Safety 1st also makes two additional baby walkers: first, the Safety 1st Ready Set Walk baby walker that is very similar to this one, and also doesn't have a replaceable battery. Second, the Safety 1st Disney Music and Lights baby walker, which is also very similar to this one but has super pink Disney styling and, wait for it, you can replace the batteries! Though assembly and battery replacement were both a major pain. Interested? You can check out this Safety 1st baby walker here!
Usually about $45. This top-rated Bright Starts walker has a lot of great things going for it. Out of the box, just like all the other baby walkers, it was a bit of a pain to assemble. None of the baby activity walkers are easy to assemble, unless it's just a push walker (like the VTech or Cossy). But one of the things we loved after we assembled it is the tall seat back height, which was fantastic for supporting shoulders and heads of especially young babies.
It was definitely a taller seat back than any other walker in this buying guide. Other than that, it is overall pretty similar to the Safety 1st baby walker models. It has 3 adjustable heights to support babies from about 6 to 12 months of age (or 15-26 pounds). In our tests, it worked just fine for even older babies, though we were probably pushing the weight limits a bit. We measured from the bottom of the seat to the floor and it was about 6" at the lowest height, and 9" at the highest height; so it's adjustable, but not really over a dramatic range. The bigger size restriction we bumped into was with babies with chubby thighs, since the leg holes are surprisingly narrow making it hard to move baby in and out of the seat.
The activity center part of the walker was pretty cute: it's a little safari-themed steering wheel with music, sounds, and lights. One of the nice things is that it has adjustable volume control so you can make it low enough to entertain baby without giving mom a headache! One of the random things is that it has these somewhat pointy leaves on the sides, our test babies didn't hurt themselves or anything, but it seemed like a strange decision for Bright Starts.
We also didn't think the seat was very comfy, made of very thin fabric, and though we thought it was nice to have the higher-back seat, it made it impossible for us to fold up and slide under our bed (it just didn't fold up small enough to do that). Anyway, this is a great overall baby activity walker with some good features, and an excellent price that might make up for some limitations. Oh, did we mention that you can replace the batteries!? It was a pain because you need to remove the toy entirely, but it's nice to have the possibility. Interested? You can check out the Bright Starts baby walker here!
Usually only about $30! With a price like that, we had to get our hands on this cheap baby walker and see whether it was a "great bang for the buck," or a "you get what you pay for" situation! Out of the box, it felt similar to the Bright Starts and Safety 1st walkers: lightweight, thin plastic, and somewhat questionable build quality.
The wheels pop onto the bottom, the tray pops up from the bottom, and you need to attach the toy bar. The toy bar was the most challenging part of assembly, as you need to carefully align the small protruding notches by twisting them to the side as you push them together. Without the toy bar, assembly would be about 5 minutes, but the toy bar at least doubles that estimate. Once it's put together, the Baby Trend is ready to support babies and toddlers from about 5 to 12 months old. The more important factor will be their height and leg length, as we found that most 5 month old babies will not have long enough legs to reach the floor, even at the lowest height setting (height is adjustable between three settings). Our estimate is about 6-12 months, unless you have a particularly tall baby. Baby Trend recommends a maximum weight of 30 pounds, and maximum height of 32".
Some little benefits of the Baby Trend: the tray is a good size for little snacks, and relatively easy to clean (but not removable).
The seat is comfortable and supportive enough, and can be removed for machine washing. The bottom does have the stair safety bumpers, but we advise you to never trust those and always make sure all doors and stairs are secured. A few negatives: the quality is pretty poor, which was expected for this low price. That means that the plastics are a bit flimsy, as are all of the adjustment clips. Nothing broke during our testing, but we could see the potential. Another con is that the wheels are not very good at rolling, which was surprising because that's really their only job! Getting this walker to roll is more challenging than most other walkers, which means that younger babies might have some issues getting it to move. We also wish there were more of a buffer on the back to prevent your child from swinging their head back and hitting something in your home (a wall, corner, table edge). Overall, we think this is decent bang for the buck, but honestly we would invest 10 more dollars and get something with higher build quality! Interested? You can check out the Baby Trend Activity Walker here!
Cossy Classic Wooden Baby Walker.Usually about $75. We're suckers for super cute wooden toys that are well-constructed and durable, like the awesome line of wooden toys and baby gifts by Melissa & Doug, and Hape. This Cossy baby walker is no exception. It has bright primary colors, wooden construction, an adorable look, non-toxic paint, and good craftsmanship. When we pulled this out of the box, there was some minor assembly required, which took us about 5 minutes. Easy-peesy. There were several features that stood out to us, like the rubber trim on the wooden wheels to help protect your floors and prevent sideways sliding, and the adorable xylophone for making music. To be fair, the xylophone doesn't sound so great, but you need to remember it's just a toy! The wooden wheels don't have preset adjustments like the VTech, instead you can tighten or loosen the screws to make it easier or harder to push around.
The height was great for a baby around 12-18 months of age, and we liked the little storage basket on the back where you can put the xylophone stick and the included wooden shape blocks that fit into slots on the side of the walker.
The toys were overall well-executed and high quality, and kept babies busy for a good amount of time. On the side you can wind cars and a stop sign around on a road-like track, and on the front there are balls on rails that your baby will love sliding around. So overall this is a really adorable baby walker that has some fun toys and features while maintaining a style suitable for the more discerning parents out there! The only downfall we found with this walker was the wheels: it was hard to get them all to equal tightness, and then over time they would loosen and spin faster than you might desire. For handy parents this might not be an issue, as you could put on some teflon washers and use them to change the friction; but for most other parents it will prove a bit of a pain in the rear. So this is an excellent activity walker with only one detractor.
Usually about $75. There is not much more iconic than the classic look of a Jeep Wrangler, and this baby walker brings it in all its glory! From its trademark grille and headlights to the flared fenders and vintage green color, this Jeep baby walker hits all the right visual elements.
There's no doubt that it's a great looking baby walker, but how does it function? Well, the best part of this walker is that it's marketed as a 3-in-1 baby walker, which means that it can convert from a traditional bucket-seat style baby walker, to a walk-behind baby walker, and also a rolling toy car mode. The second walk-behind mode is the same as the walker mode but works well thanks to the well-positioned grab handle on the back. The walker works for kids up to 25 pounds or 30 inches tall. In our testing, we found it simple to assemble out of the box. A couple notes here - be sure to remove the stickers on the rear-view mirrors, bring along a small phillips head screwdriver for the battery door, and don't forget two AA batteries to make the turn signals and sounds work.
Once you get it up and running, you'll notice a few things. For one, the bottom of the seat is about 7" above the floor at the lowest setting, which is great for toddlers just beginning to toddle around. There are adjustment straps on the seat so you can raise it up a bit (about an inch or two) as your baby grows taller.
Second, while most sit-in baby walkers have an empty tray up front, this one packs a serious entertainment punch with its horn, dashboard, and blinkers. Our test toddler really loved it and had a great time trying everything out and scooting herself around the kitchen and dining room. It worked great on hardwood, tile, or linoleum. It did OK on low pile berber carpet, but was a no-go on any thicker carpet. It wheeled around pretty freely. The front wheels pivoted but the rear ones do not, which is a bit limiting in terms of direction but we found it completely fine. It's a pretty big baby walker and takes up a decent amount of space; this is helped by the fact that it folds up for storage, but keep it in mind that it does take up a lot of room on the floor. Cons? It seemed much lower quality than the Joovy or Hape options, which was surprising since it's about the same price as the Joovy. The quality limitations were mostly in the plastics and their attachments and connections, but we also want to point out that the flimsy plastic also makes it somewhat lightweight which can be a plus.
Overall, we liked this option and think it's worthy of a spot on this list, especially for the Jeep lovers out there! But realistically, we think you can get better bang for the buck with one of the other options. Interested? You can check out the Jeep Baby Walker here.
The baby walker is a transitional development toy for supporting the transition from standing to walking, helping to get your baby confident and ready for independent walking. While there is no convincing scientific data that baby walkers help your baby learn to walk (in fact they might do the opposite), there is no denying that they are super fun activity centers that give you some control over their mobility.
Baby walkers come in two primary styles: first is the classic sit-in walker that is half exersaucer, half walker. Second is the push-walker that baby can hold onto and push around the house, usually doubling as an activity walker on one side. Neither option provides any reliable developmental advantage: they probably won't make your baby walk sooner or better, and definitely won't guarantee they are track stars when they grow up.
Instead, think of them as entertainment for your baby until they learn to walk, just like a bounce-bounce exersaucer, activity jumper, or activity center.
We don't want to freak you out, but the traditional sit-in roll-around baby walkers were pretty dangerous. So dangerous that Canada banned them a few years ago, and the American Academy of Pediatrics is calling for a similar ban in the USA. Babies in the classic type of sit-in walker could reach higher and more dangerous things around the house (they can roll right up and grab something off the counter!), roll down a staircase, or even roll into a pool. Babies move really fast in a walker, and one little mistake (like forgetting to close the basement door) can lead to disaster. So pay attention, and don't take your eyes off a baby in a walker; baby care is serious business. So take the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and don't accept an old second-hand walker from a cousin, be sure to buy a new one with modern safety features.
Also double-check your childproofing and make sure any baby gates are closed and secure.
In the past few years, several improvements have been made to increase safety of sit-in baby walkers. Most models now include lower rails that (in theory) will catch on a stair edge and use friction to stop the walker's momentum before a disaster happens. Think of it like a super low-rider car: any little pot-hole and you will be scraping the bottom of your car when your tire drops into the hole. New baby walkers operate on the same principle, using bottom edge friction to slow the walker down and bring it to a stop when a wheel drops off any ledge over about half an inch deep. This safety feature reduces the risk of your baby careening down the stairs, off a ledge, or into a pool.
One of the baby walkers we tested, the Delta Children Deluxe Lil Drive Baby Activity Walker, did not have the lower rails. Though the Lil Drive walker was a lot of fun and babies loved the race car walker styling, we didn't think it met our safety standards.
Newer designs will also increase the width of the tray area surrounding the baby, making it harder for them to reach beyond the width of the walker pushing up against a kitchen counter (and also making it harder for them to pinch fingers when bumping into a wall or furniture). In fact, our best-rated baby walker does both of those things, and does them really well. Even though baby walkers are safer than ever before, please be sure that your house is baby-proofed before you let your baby loose in a new walker! If you're interested in an exersaucer that doesn't roll around, you can see our exersaucer reviews here!
Regarding our test procedures, we test all of the baby walkers in our own home, and in the homes of volunteer parents (and children!). For walkers, the test babies and toddlers typically range in age from 7 to 22 months, and the households vary quite a bit - some with hardwood, some wall-to-wall carpet, and some with a mix.
In our testing, we unbox and assemble each model, and then turn them over to the parents.
Parents report back to us about each product they tested, giving us honest feedback about the performance of each model. And they are sometimes brutally honest!
After we get them back from the parents, we test them out ourselves and try to confirm or disconfirm all of the positives and negatives reported by the parents. Then, we compile parents' reviews with our own and put together a ranked set of the best walkers. Over the past several years, about 25% of the walkers we test are not included on this list. This is usually due to faulty or broken parts, missing components, missing safety features, or horrendous reviews.
Regarding the stairs test, we only subjected the Joovy and Safety 1st models to that test. It made us really nervous when we tried it, but it was worth it for our peace of mind. Overall we found that the Joovy performed a bit better than the Safety 1st in the edge-of-stairs test, presumably due to the configuration of the Joovy base and its nice anti-slip surface on the bottom rails.
Of course it's just one test and your situation might differ, so always watch your baby carefully and make sure your home is safe before using any baby walker. While the new walker safety features are great, they do not guarantee safety in all situations.
The top rated baby walkers on our list can get pretty expensive. If you're not willing to max out your credit cards on a fancy walker, and you can't find any random gift cards left over from your baby shower, then there are some excellent cheap options like the VTech Sit to Stand. Just like with all of our articles, as we receive and test additional baby gear, we will continue to update this list throughout the year. We hope our hard work pays off, and helps you find the perfect baby walker for your situation!
Are Baby Walkers Safe? Risks Involved And Alternatives
Baby walkers can help babies learn to walk, but their safety isn’t assured.
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Baby walkers are intended to help babies or infants learn and adapt to walking. Although different babies develop their skills at different ages, statistically, 12 months is the average age by which babies start to walk (1). During this time, most parents (50-77%) resort to walkers to help their little ones (2). However, certain experts may have a different opinion about it. This post will tell you why.
Is It Safe For A Baby To Use Baby Walkers?
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No. Baby walkers are unsafe and are a leading cause of injury in children under the age of four (2).
Pediatric experts unanimously discourage the use of this equipment. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has also called for a ban on baby walkers with wheels (3).
Therefore, parents must avoid using walkers to keep the baby safe.
Related: Are Baby Jumpers Safe? Tips To Use, Risks, And Alternatives
What Makes Baby Walkers Unsafe For Infants?
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As per the American Academy of Pediatrics, walkers eliminate a baby’s desire to walk, rather than help them learn how to walk (3). Apart from these, there are other reasons to think twice before using a walker. These are:
- Risk of falling from the stairs: Baby walkers are a hazard when you have stairs in your home. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), most walker-related injuries happen when a baby in a walker moves to the edge of the staircase and falls (4).
- The baby can lose balance: Babies could lose their balance when gliding on the floor in a walker and take a fall. According to the AAP, a child can move at a speed of three feet per second in a walker.
Moving at such incredible speeds is overwhelming for a baby and can result in the loss of balance.
- The head gets hurt the most when a baby falls from the walker: When a baby loses balance in a walker, it is their skull that takes the brunt of the fall. A study has found that 82% of falls from a baby walker lead to a head injury in the infant (5). The head is extra delicate in babies due to their soft skull bones and developing brain. Any grievous injury can cause a lasting impact on the baby’s life.
Related: 4 Things To Do If Your Baby Falls Off The Bed & Ways To Prevent
- A walker increases the risks of accidental death: Baby walkers could lead to not just falls, but a variety of other incidents. Medical experts state that a baby on a walker can have access to upper shelves from where they may pull down large items that can fall on their heads. The easy accessibility increases the risk of the baby getting access to poisonous substances, hot food items, and also places like the swimming pool or the bathtub where they can fall, choke, and even drown.
Accidents with baby walkers can happen even when elders are around. Parents can do little during an untoward incident since things happen quickly with barely any time to react. Baby walkers are not only risky but can also interfere with the baby’s development.
Did you know?
Some parents consider baby jumpers to be safe. However, like baby walkers, they are unsafe and may cause accidents (10).
Do Baby Walkers Help In Baby’s Development?
Image: Shutterstock
No. Unlike the popular belief, baby walkers neither help in the physical development of the baby nor do they make the baby walk better. An infant will stand up and start cruising (walk with support) once their legs are ready, irrespective of whether they use a walker or not.
- A study conducted on 109 infants published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics showed that the infants, who used walkers, sat, crawled, and walked later than the ones who did not (6).
This documents that baby walkers can delay physical development by making the baby use their leg muscles differently than they usually do. - Also, walkers reduce the baby’s time on the floor. This causes a miss on practicing important, repetitive movements needed for them to reach their walking milestones. Babies use their toes when they are in a walker. This tightens their leg muscles and interferes with normal walking development. This habit remains even when they are out of the walker, and they often want to keep using their toes. This impacts their walking practice.
- Also, babies sit and pull themselves up while learning to balance. A baby doesn’t balance in a walker, delaying their learning of this important skill. Being in a walker also means less time on hands and knees in a crawling or pre-crawling position. This is important to developing weight bearing through both the pelvis and shoulders.
Image: Shutterstock
Related: Baby Sleeping On The Floor: Safety, Benefits And Precautions
What Are The Alternatives To Baby Walkers?
Image: Shutterstock
Play yards or playpens and stationary activity centers are safer alternatives to a baby walker and are known to boost a baby’s physical development without causing any risks.
Stationary activity centers are like walkers with no wheels and can be used for a few hours every day (7).
You can get these activity centers when the baby is around eight months old (1). Play yards can be used for babies of any age since the baby can sit, stand, lie down, or try to walk in them safely.
Quick tip
Older babies may be given high chairs to sit. They often enjoy sitting at a higher position while playing or eating (3).
1. Why are baby walkers banned?
Baby walkers are banned in Canada because of the risk of injuries for babies. Similarly, in the US, the AAP has advised people against using baby walkers. According to a study, 230,000+ babies were in emergencies to get treated for injuries related to walkers (8).
2. Can baby walkers damage legs?
Baby walkers apply strength to the legs’ wrong muscles, which can impact the normal development of the muscles and joints. Additionally, walkers can lead to babies managing their weight with the help of their knees and hips, leading to abnormal walking patterns and an increased risk of hip problems in the future (9).
Although it is a popular belief that baby walkers help babies learn to walk, pediatricians confirm that parents should not use them as they pose a risk to the baby’s safety. Baby walkers are considered unsafe because they increase the risk of children falling down the stairs, losing balance, or hurting their heads. Moreover, walkers delay the development of leg muscles and prevent them from spending time on the floor. If you want to help your baby learn to walk, stationary activity centers and play yards are more beneficial. Further, it is important to remember that children learn skills at their own pace, and hurrying or forcing them will create stress.
Related: 16 Important Developmental Milestones In Baby’s First Year
References:
MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
1. Movement: 8 to 12 Months; American Academy of Pediatrics (2009)
2. Shervin Badihian et al.; The Effect of Baby Walker on Child Development: A Systematic Review; National Center For Biotechnology Information (2017)
3. Baby Walkers: A Dangerous Choice; Healthy Children; American Academy of Pediatrics
4. Baby Walkers; United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (2008)
5. Al-Nouri L and Al-Isami S; Baby walker injuries.; National Center For Biotechnology Information (2006)
6. Siegel AC and Burton RV; Effects of baby walkers on motor and mental development in human infants.; National Center For Biotechnology Information (1999)
7. Baby Walker Safety; Nationwide Children’s Hospital
8. Parents: Don’t use a baby walker; Harvard Health Publishing
9. Myths & Truths About Baby Walkers; NHS Shetland
10. Baby walkers and exercise jumpers; Pregnancy Birth and Baby
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Walkers and jumpers: friends or enemies?
What do Chelyabinsk orthopedists think about them: pros and cons of popular devices.
How not to harm the baby? Safety regulations
In the USSR, they were discontinued: it was found that they fix the wrong position of the feet and hip joints. In Canada, they were withdrawn from sale: they allegedly pose a serious danger to babies. But half a century later, they again conquer the world. Walkers and jumpers, bright, funny, so comfortable .... Friends or enemies to your baby?
The health and development of a baby directly depends on how much and variously he moves, and what emotions he experiences. Best of all - in the hands of my mother: you can turn your head, touch it with a pen, try it on the tooth .... But, alas, mom needs her hands for a lot of other things. And it seems a good decision to buy a special device that will free both mother and entertain the child. So walkers appear in the house.
Baby walker - a device that allows the baby to move without parental assistance. This is a frame on wheels, inside of which a special “saddle” for the child is fixed.
The child sits in this saddle and rides around the apartment, pushing off the floor with his feet.
— Walkers have their pluses and minuses, says Alexander Semyonov, traumatologist-orthopedist of ChDOKB. “Mostly, there are pluses for the mother: she has free hands, she rests from the baby. But for a child, there are still more disadvantages - putting in a walker affects the position of the leg, a child in a walker refuses to walk on his own, does not learn to crawl, he is already comfortable, the walkers support him. But from a medical point of view, this is wrong.
So, on the one hand, baby walkers open up a new world for the baby, transferring from a horizontal position to a vertical one, which, of course, has a positive effect on his intellectual and emotional development. Walkers satisfy the child's need for movement and at the same time do not allow reaching dangerous objects, protect against sharp corners and falls. But in these pluses, the minuses are also hidden: without learning how to fall correctly, the baby will not learn to group when falling, to protect his head from a blow.
He does not learn caution either, because he does not feel pain when he hits a wall or a corner. In the future, these "failures" can lead to serious injuries. Walkers also have a negative effect on the function of the cerebellum: getting used to the support, the baby does not learn to balance. And when he then begins to walk on his own, he often collapses and falls. Finally, a prolonged load on fragile legs can lead to their deformation, and overstrain of the back muscles - a constant vertical position and the inability to change it on your own - to a curvature of the spine.
— When parents keep a baby in a walker for a long time, he starts walking on his toes, and this is the wrong position of the foot, - the expert notes. - Therefore, if parents want to put the baby in a walker, they need to remember that walkers can be used from 6 months, and by this time the child should sit up and hold his back on his own. The time that can be spent in a walker without harm to the health of the baby is on average up to 40-60 minutes a day.
And of course, it is necessary to accustom a child to a walker gradually, starting from 3-5 minutes.
Don't lose sight of your baby in a walker. Walkers can get stuck in the doorway, and when moving from one floor to another, for example, from linoleum to carpet, the structure can roll over with the baby. And this is much more dangerous than if the child fell himself. By the way, the child is able to develop a decent speed in a walker: up to 10 km/h! Therefore, the choice of walkers must be taken very seriously.
Ideal walker has a wide, stable base and many wheels around the perimeter, a deep, wide seat with a soft inner bumper and a high rigid back. It is also possible to adjust the height of the seat according to the height of the child.
Jumpers are another popular device.
Baby jumpers - a special seat, similar to a kangaroo backpack, with a high chest, back and springy straps. Usually jumpers are hung in a doorway. The kid hangs, touching the floor with his feet, and pushing off with his legs, he can bounce a few centimeters.
— I have a more loyal attitude towards jumpers, — Alexander Semenov admits, — this device also unloads the mother, but at the same time there are pluses for the baby himself: jumpers stimulate coordination, the child in them can push off the floor, jump, turn, and while experiencing a lot of positive emotions.
So, jumpers develop leg muscles, stimulate the vestibular apparatus. It is not difficult to understand whether the baby has grown up to them. Place the child on a hard surface, hold under the armpits. If the baby begins to actively push off from this surface, bend and straighten the legs, and this usually happens at 4-5 months, then you can introduce jumpers and live for 15-20 minutes for your own pleasure. Claims to the jumpers are almost the same: violations of muscle tone, squeezing of the perineum with the wrong design. In addition, in jumpers, the child pushes off the floor with both legs at once, and then, starting to walk on his own, tries to do the same.
And often falls.
When choosing jumpers, pay attention to the seat: it should be deep, ideally fix the child to the armpits, have a rigid orthopedic back. "Jumping" possibilities depend on the type of belts that are attached to the seat. The best option - the belts are connected to the spring, adjustable in length.
Despite all the disadvantages, both mom and baby like walkers and jumpers - this is an interesting new toy with which you can explore the world. The main thing is to keep the child in sight, observe safety precautions and keep track of time. But the main criterion for the duration of the use of walkers and jumpers should be the mood of the baby. If he is tired, capricious, then it's time to move on to other activities.
- Category: Useful information
At what age should a walker be used?
Maybe, except that they can compete with jumpers in the popularity of discussions of benefits and harms in various forums for parents, in communities of conscious mothers and similar sites.
Doctors' opinions are also divided.
Well, of course, and we also have our own opinion on this matter.
We are not doctors, but we are mothers ourselves, and we have been working with other parents for a long time, so we have formed a certain selection of opinions.
So, some doctors and some parents are sure that walkers are the worst evil for the musculoskeletal system. That muscles and bones are somehow not loaded in them, which subsequently leads to health problems. Is it so?
Let's talk about regular walkers and wheelchairs
healthy for the child and harms rather than brings at least some benefit.
But, friends, any thing should be used for its intended purpose.
Frequently asked question: At what age can a walker be used?
For children's products, as a rule, age limits are indicated, but the most important thing is not the numbers of your baby's age, but his skills.
Instructions for walkers often say “from 6 months”, assuming the ability to roll over, pull up, sit by this age.
But not all children who are 6 months old can do all this. And someone knows much earlier.
Therefore, for walkers in which the baby is put inside (not a wheelchair), the following rule applies:
The child should already be able to sit confidently.
Do not try to sit down, do not collapse when you do not hold him, sitting, but in all seriousness, sit like an adult.
He may be 4 months old or 8 - in this case, the figure is not important.
The ability to sit indicates that the child has already formed enough bone and muscle apparatus for a new type of exercise such as walking with support.
No, you won't ruin his spine, because if the baby is already sitting, then the spine and pelvis are ready for vertical loading.
No, you won't break his legs, because he doesn't lean on them with all the weight of his body.
But at the same time, the legs get freedom and can learn new movements. And it does so safely, because the baby does not fall, supported by a wide bumper and fabric seat.
He can't hit, he can't reach what he doesn't want to reach yet.
He cannot crawl or roll in an unknown direction and disappear from view.
In addition to the fact that he gets the freedom of movement and new sensations, the baby now opens up new horizons of visibility.
If before he only lay or sat still and looked around the limited space, now he rides all over the apartment, from a vertical position he opens up a much wider view.
And it still doesn't say anything about the fact that all walkers are also a great educational toy. Everyone has musical panels with toys that you can play on the go and during the “halt”.
The pads are removable, so when the baby has walked up and is tired, but does not want to part with the toy, it can be removed and played separately.
Now about wheelchairs.
For them the same story on age restrictions. Usually the manufacturer writes "from 9 months."
And we'll talk about skills again.
The stretcher can be given to a child who can already stand confidently without support. At least a few seconds.
Often children who are ready to take their first steps do not dare to take them for a long time.
And this happens not because something is wrong with their health, but because they are just scared. And don't worry about support.
In general, walking with a wheelchair is no different from walking by the handles. Of course it's for the baby. But it's very different for mom!
We all know how the back hurts from endless walking in a bent position. By the way, doctors have practically no complaints about wheelchairs. Again, if you use them when you can already.
A wheelchair is also not just a walker that helps the baby to master the skill of walking. These are development centers that you can play with while sitting.
Some strollers are transformable, offering even more options for play.
Look after his condition: if he is tired, if he starts to collapse and lean on the bumper.
On average, it can be 10-15 minutes at a time and about 1 hour per day in total.
This is for a walker that you put your baby in.
For walkers, the range may be wider depending on how active and energetic your child is.
Because his skills allow him to walk for as long as he wants.
So what are the pros and cons of walkers?
Pluses: this is an aid in mastering new skills, a variety of games and sensations.
Cons: fears and doubts of parents.
First of all, you always decide what is good and what is bad for your child.
You listen to the many opinions of the surrounding competent and not very competent people and form your own - the most important, the most correct opinion.
Yes, yes, because in the variety of judgments one can easily get lost, but still never know the truth.
In any case, you can always try a walker and stop using it if something seems to be going wrong.
If you decide to try it, you can choose a walker or walker from our range here.
