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If your baby started to scoot, crawl, or even trying to stand up on his or her own, maybe it’s time to consider purchasing a baby walker. This item could be an excellent gift idea for the child’s first birthday. Your little one’s push walker is a fun tool that will help your baby develop walking skills.
Let’s see the things you must consider when buying a baby walker and review some of the finest options on the market.
| Best Overall: Tiny Love Meadow | Check Price |
| Premium Choice: Joovy Spoon Walker | Check Price |
| Most Versatile: Bright Starts Ford | Check Price |
| Most Affordable: VTech Sit-to-Stand | Check Price |
Contents
How to Find the Best Baby Walker – a Brief Buying Guide
Below, I have gathered some of the most important aspects of purchasing a baby walker that you should be aware of, starting with the right time to use it and several essential features you should pay attention to.
The Proper Moment to Start Using a Baby Walker
Close to their first birthday, most babies start cruising furniture items in trying to stand up on their own. Some babies will even walk before they turn one year old.
If that’s not the case with your little one, don’t push him or her. All children are unique and they develop and grow at their own personal pace.
According to specialists, the proper age when the baby walker can be safely used starts at around 6 months old and the child can continue to use it until the age of 3 years old. Most manufacturers, however, recommend parents to get a push walker between 9 and 12 months old.
Other people say that parents should focus more on their child’s physical abilities and go from there in choosing the right period for a baby walker. Once your infant pulls to an upright position and can balance his or her body weight, you’re good to go.
Things to Look for When Buying Baby Walkers
There are many options out there when it comes to baby walkers so, it can be tricky to choose one single product. Therefore, I advise you to consider the following aspects:
- Think about how mobile your baby is – while some walkers are suited for babies who’re just beginning to stand up, other products are more flexible and versatile and they can cruise fast and entertain your child if he or she is already an independent walker;
- Consider the flooring type inside your home – based on both material and weight, some products will work well on carpets, whereas other walkers will glide easily on tile or hardwood floors;
- Consider your lifestyle – if you’re staying at home most of the time, a bulky baby walker won’t represent an issue. However, if you’re on the go a lot, you might think about a lightweight alternative. So, bulkier walkers are good for the playroom, whereas lightweight and foldable walkers are more portable;
- Don’t forget about your budget – what’s your budget? How much are you willing to spend? The price of a baby walker starts around $20 and it can go up to more than $100;
- Do you want certain extra features? – Basic walkers are quite simple and they don’t provide any additional features. More complex models will come with safety options such as locking wheels or rubber wheels. Other walkers feature appealing lights, sounds, or music. In the end, it’s all about your personal preference;
- Could you use a hand-me-down? – You could, although it is better to purchase a new walker because some older models could be recalled or lack certain safety options. Some old walkers might even come with broken parts.
Choosing a Baby Walker – Safety-Related Aspects
Normally, walkers aren’t dangerous but, at the same time, not all of them are considered completely safe. Some say that plush toys are safer than sit-in walkers. Other parents might be worried that a sit-in walker could make their baby lazy because they don’t have to sit in an upright position on their own.
Push toys or walkers are those that your baby holds with his or her hands and walks behind them. Sit-in walkers feature four wheels, while push walkers can have four or even two wheels, based on the model.
Sit-in options might offer your baby increased mobility even though the infant might not be prepared or ready for it.
Regardless of the type of walker you choose to buy, you should always keep an eye on your baby while he or she is in the walker. Moreover, make sure to remove all reachable hazards from the area in which you use this baby product.
Top 6 Best Baby Walkers on the Market
I’ve chosen the following products based on their reviews, ratings, safety features, designs, and functionalities.
1. Joovy Spoon Walker
The Joovy Spoon baby walker features a clean design with elegant yet simple and modern lines. This walker will definitely be appreciated by those parents who’re into avoiding clutter and minimalistic baby products.
There are 4 available seat colors that you can choose from: blueberry, charcoal, greenie, and red. This adjustable walker comes with a super-sized tray that is featured as a removable insert that’s also dishwasher-safe. The base part is wide so that your baby’s feet don’t get injured or trapped.
The seat is padded for extra comfort and it is very supportive of your baby’s body weight. The cover of the seat is machine-washable. You can adjust your desired height position because there are three different alternatives. Moreover, the wheels have a non-slip pad.
This product is made of safe materials that are BPA-free and it is a great option for travel because it folds flat. This particular feature will also help you store it very easily. The downside of this walker is the lack of toys. Also, its price tag is quite high.
2. VTech Sit-to-Stand Baby Walker
This VTech learning walker is incredibly engaging, entertaining, and appealing to children and parents alike. It’s so much more than just a walker. This product is an interactive learning toy that will help babies walk on their own while also keeping them engaged due to all its amazing buttons and sounds.
The play panel is removable and it features numerous activities and toys: 5 piano keys, colorful spinning rollers, light-up buttons, a pretend telephone set, three shape sorters, and many other mechanical elements that encourage role-play.
You can choose from four available color schemes: orange, lavender, blue, and pink. According to the manufacturer, the walker and the removable board come in simple and frustration-free packaging. There are also a couple of AA batteries included in the box.
This product is made of plastic and is suitable for babies between 9 months old and three years old. The walker makes over 70 different music sounds and other types of sounds. The annoying part about this walker is the fact that’s not foldable. Also, it isn’t very sturdy if you ask me.
3. Melissa & Doug Alligator Push Toy
This wooden walker made by Melisa & Doug has many engaging activities suitable for your little one. The construction is very sturdy and the craftsmanship is exquisite. It makes sounds every time your baby moves or pushes it. This walker represents a great gift once your baby turns one year old.
This toy is very cute and very affordable. It works well for babies who are at least 9 months old. If you’re willing to pay a small extra fee, the manufacturer is ready to personalize the walker as you please. Besides its obvious chomping alligators, this toy also has other great features such as spinning ladybugs, butterflies, and fish drawn on the wheels.
This type of product helps your baby develop fine and gross motor skills as well as hand-eye coordination. The brand is a dependable and reputable one. It is a great choice for hardwood floors. Your baby will be able to use this product as soon as he or she can easily reach the handle.
4. Tiny Love 4-in-1 Walker
If you want a highly flexible and versatile model, you should opt for the 4-in-1 baby walker from Tiny Love. It comes in two versions: Meadow days and Magical tales.
This product promotes your child’s development and it can be used as a walker, a stationary activity and play center, a jumper, or a push-along tool.
It is very easy to clean so it’s low-maintenance. There are 20 different activities that your baby can do with this walker so that he or she will develop cognition, language skills, senses, creativity, gross and fine motor abilities, and even emotional intelligence.
The seat pad is both removable and washable. Furthermore, the entire product is compact for easy storage and travel purposes.
I bet you’ll love this walker, especially if you don’t have a lot of space at home. One downside could be the lack of breaks so you won’t be able to keep it locked in one place.
5. Radio Flyer Walker Wagon
Even though your child might not be ready yet to use a full-sized wagon, once he or she turns 9 months old, you could opt for this Classic walker wagon made by Radio Flyer. It has a great design and features resistance clickers that allow babies to build both balance and confidence.
Besides being a walker, this wagon could also be used as a toy storage box. The design is a classic one, made from wood. The side panels can be removed while the front bumper will protect your furniture from being scratched or damaged.
Both the base part and the handle are sturdy. This walker is suitable for babies between 1 and 4 years old. Its weight capacity is around 35 pounds. The Radio Flyer walker is good for home use because of its large and bulky construction.
Although this product is resistant to your baby’s pull or push motions, you should still pay attention to your child whenever he or she uses the walker.
6. Ford F-150 Baby Walker by Bright Starts
This is so amazing! When I first saw this incredible baby walker, I said to myself, here’s how luxurious toys look like and the best part is that this 3-in-1 product isn’t even that expensive. The Bright Starts walker changes from one shape to another so that it grows together with your infant.
With this versatile baby product, your little one can sit on it, push it around, or even drive. Simply put, there are three possible ways in which you can use it: a basic walker if you remove the truck construction, a sit-in baby walker, or a push walker for when your child is bigger.
Shifting from one mode to the other is easy and the rubber tires are anti-skid which prevents slipping. The product also comes with realistic gears, sounds, a steering wheel, and lights. It needs AA batteries to function properly. It may work on some types of carpets, but it is more suited for hardwood floors.
This baby walker is the ideal choice for twins because two children can use it at the same time. The base is solid and wide but the wheels won’t lock into place.
FAQs
Answer: The proper moment to put your baby in a walker varies, based on the baby’s development.
Once your child starts to sit up without assistance, he or she might also be capable to use a walker; a sit-in, at first. Still, it is always best to talk to your pediatrician before making any changes in the infant’s lifestyle. Usually, most babies are able to use a walker safely after the age of 9 months old.
Answer: Usually, baby walkers are safe as long as parents keep an eye on their little ones while they’re using these products. However, many unfortunate accidents have happened and one of the most common causes is represented by mishaps with stairs.
Other potential problems include:
Running into stoves;
Falling in a pool;
Tipping over;
Pinched legs or fingers; etc.
All these issues could occur if babies aren’t supervised because they are too young to realize what’s safe and what’s dangerous. Also, some walkers don’t come with wheel locks which can be a problem.
Answer: A baby walker provides a number of important benefits:
• It helps your baby develop strong walking abilities;
• It keeps the infant contained yet stimulated and engaged;
• These products might come with toys that are fun and educational.
Answer: Sit-in walkers are more suited for smaller babies who haven’t turned one year old yet. For bigger children, the best option is a push walker because it allows kids to hold themselves up. It is wise to leave and even encourage a child to learn how to stand up, the proper way to fall down safely, stand up again, crawl, and many other repetitive movements.
How to Find the Best Baby Walker – Bottom Line
The best baby walker you can afford might be the greatest investment for your little one right when he’s about to begin walking on his own. With the help and support of these products, babies will learn coordination and balance.
I would personally recommend a push-in walker because it gives the baby more mobility. Perhaps, you could opt for a versatile one such as the Tiny Love 4-in-1 Walker or the 3-in-1 Bright Starts walker.