Learning to walk is a huge milestone in your baby’s development, and many of us parents will do what we can to encourage and help them get on their feet sooner rather than later.
For centuries, Baby walkers have been used with the intention of helping a baby to learn to walk. In fact, in the 15th century, an illustrated Dutch manuscript even depicts a baby Jesus using a baby walker.
Traditionally a fixed frame on four wheels with a raised seat keeping baby suspended high enough for their feet to reach the floor, they have naturally evolved over time.
In this guide, we’re going to look at the different types of baby walker for infants, safety concerns surrounding them, what to look for, and offer up our suggestions of the 10 best Baby Walkers you should consider.
Table Of Contents
Our top three baby walkers
Best overall
Radio Flyer
Classic Walker Wagon
Best value
VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker
Most unique
Melissa & Doug Chomp and Clack Walker
Types of baby walker
It’s entirely possible that a handful of dads reading this post will each picture something different when they think ‘baby walker’. That’s because there are several different types, and even more names commonly used for those types - everything from ‘baby go cart’ to ‘infant speedwalker’.
Sit-in baby walker
This is probably the most common and traditional version of a baby walker, and indeed the one being used by Jesus in that 15th century Dutch manuscript (albeit a bit more modern).
It’s a fixed (usually square) frame sitting on four wheels, with the baby sitting in a suspended fabric seat with two holes for their legs. More modern versions of these sit-in baby walkers are usually decorated with bright colours and patterns, complete with plenty of engaging toys and buttons on the front.
Push walkers
Perhaps the other common version is the ‘push along baby walker’, also known as a ‘stand-up baby walker’. These walkers also have four wheels, but have a handle on top for baby to hold onto as they walk and… push it along. There’s no seat or frame and is reliant on baby being able to pull themselves up and take their own steps.
The front is usually covered in interactive buttons, flags, lights, sounds and everything else you can think of.
Walker wagon
A 'walker wagon', also known to as a 'push wagon' or 'push walker wagon', is a somewhat traditional looking adaptation of the push along walker, in that they operate in the same way. Your baby will need to pull themselves up and push the wagon along, rather than sitting in a frame on wheels.
Almost always made of wood, these walkers also have a handle to push along but the key difference is that they feature a large, rectangular basket or box which can aid stability and also double as toy storage.
When are baby walkers used?
The answer to this largely depends on the type of baby walker.
Sit-in baby walkers can be used from around the age of six months or once baby can comfortably hold their head up. This is because they will be sitting in the suspended seating position and aren’t required to independently stand up.
The push walker and walker wagons are suitable for older babies because they do require them to be able to stand on their own two feet independently - so you’re probably looking at 9-12 months depending on how quickly your baby develops.
Are baby walkers safe?
You may well have clicked on this article thinking ‘hang on, aren’t baby walkers really unsafe?!’. And there is certainly some merit in that.
Many health professionals actively recommend avoiding sit-in baby walkers on both development and safety grounds.
When it comes to safety, figures suggest that sit-in baby walkers are one of the biggest causes of infant injuries in the US, and they were even banned in Canada in 2004. A study published by the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2018 claims that an incredible 230,000 children under the age of 15 months were treated in the US for injuries related to sit-in baby walkers between 1990 and 2014, ranging from broken bones and skull fractures to burns.
Injuries have been reported from walkers tumbling down stairs or steps, and horrifically even falling into swimming pools because the baby is unable to stop themselves - and they can become entangled in the seat or frame as a result. And other injuries have been suffered as a result of being able to pull things off higher surfaces that they wouldn’t have had access to previously.
Healthcare professionals have long called for a ban on sit-in walkers in many countries. And while most have resisted that step, there have been a range of measures designed to improve safety including public information campaigns, increased safety testing, and the installation of brakes.
The same 2018 study also found that the number of annual sit-in baby walker related injuries dropped from 21,000 in 1990 to 3,200 in 2003. And the US saw a further 23% drop in related injuries in the four years following the introduction of stricter testing and safety brakes by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 2010.
Despite the significant reduction in injuries related to sit-in baby walkers, Dr Gary Smith, the study’s senior author, still believes they should be banned.
He said: “Despite this great success, there are still 2,000 children a year being treated for injuries, many of them serious injuries, in emergency departments.
“Therefore, we support the position of the American Academy of Pediatrics that (sit-in) baby walkers should not be sold or used. There’s absolutely no reason these products should be still on the market.”
On this basis, we won’t be including any sit-in walkers as part of our list. If you do still want to buy one, however, you can find a list of things to look out for later in the article.
The 10 best baby walkers
Now that we’ve looked at the safety considerations and told you what you need to look out for, here are our recommendations for the 10 best baby walkers.
1 - HABA Walker Wagon
Editor's Review
"Excellent for giving that little bit of extra confidence while learning to walk. This beats all the plastic equivalents with coloured ribbons and jingles distracting them from the job in hand."
This HABA Walker Wagon is a simple but effective option that offers something different to the market. With silicone wheel treads and adjustable wheel resistance, it’s suitable for both indoor and outdoor play as well as different surfaces indoors. What sets the HABA Walker Wagon apart is the seat at the front of the walker which helps it to double as a play stroller - perfect for toys and dollies, or even an older sibling.
Type: Walker wagon
Age: From 10 months
Material: Wood (beechwood and plywood)
Size: 13” x 20” x 19.5” (33 x 50.8 x 49.5cm)
Weight: 11.5lbs (5.2kg)
Key features
Adjustable wheel resistance
Silicone wheel treads
Seat for siblings or toys
PROS
CONS
2 - VTech Sit to Stand Learning Walker
Editor's Review
"This was a great toy for my (then) 9 month old to play with. It was very sturdy and helped to stabilise him while he learned to walk. Even after he learned to walk, he enjoyed playing with it until he was about two-years old."
The No.1 bestselling baby walker on Amazon, the VTech Sit to Stand Learning Walker has over 75,000 five-star reviews. Its core feature is a detachable play panel that is packed with interactive piano keys, colour rollers, shape sorters and gears, all designed to aid fine motor development. Brightly designed, it comes in four different colour patterns. And the rear wheels are lockable to ensure safe, static play time, as well.
Type: Push along
Age: From 9 months
Material: Plastic
Size: 16.5” x 14.2” x 18.1” (42 x 36 x 46cm)
Weight: 2.2lbs (0.99kg)
Key features
- Multi-function play panel
- Detachable panel for floor play
- Lockable wheels for static play
PROS
CONS
