The Best Baby Walker: Training For Your Baby’s First Steps

Most of us have pictures of ourselves pushing around a baby walker with a big smile on our face and look forward to the day when we will get to pick out a baby walker for our little one. We get excited to watch our babies learn to walk and play and look forward to taking our very own pictures of baby taking their first steps behind a colorful new baby walker. Here we will talk about baby walkers and all of the good and bad that can come with them, as well as provide you with a list to help you chose what will be best for your baby if you so chose to use one.

After doing your research on baby walkers, (more information will be included further into this article) you chose to use one, below are the most highly recommended and best baby walkers on the market. If you do your research and decide not to use a walker, but do want an activity center where your baby can play in an upright position, without the mobility that comes with a baby walker, read on for the best recommendations for those as well!

Which brand baby walker is best?

There are hundreds of different baby walkers on the market and choosing what is best for your baby can be difficult! There are different styles and designs, different toys, snack trays, lights and sounds, height adjustment features, different weight and age ranges, prices, colors. You name it, you can probably find it. Especially in the world of Amazon. Before choosing your baby’s walker, consider what you are looking for in a walker.

Do you prefer it to be machine washable and easy to clean? Have a toy or multiple toys attached or included? Snack trays? Multiple uses beyond just assisting in walking? There is no single best baby walker for every baby and that’s okay!

Best Baby Walkers

#1 – Joovy Spoon Walker

Mom’s and babies everywhere seem to adore the Joovy Spoon Walker on Amazon. The baby walker features listed on Amazon are:

• Supersized tray with removable insert, insert is dishwasher safe
• Folds flat for easy storage and travel; BPA, PVC, and Phthalate free
• The seat pad is supportive and comfortable, machine washable
• Three height positions, oversized wheels, and nonslip stair pads
• Maximum child weight: 30 pounds, maximum child height: 33.5 inches. To fold or adjust the height you must turn the rectangular button counter-clockwise 90º and then push in. Lower the walker to the desired height and then release the button

This walker is jpma certified and machine washable! It is on the higher end price-wise, however, it does occasionally go on sale! If your heart is set on this walker, keep your eyes open for when those sales happen!

This walker has wheels on each of its corners which are accompanied by the non-slip stair pads to prevent your little one from going over the edge of the stairs with all four wheels. Baby can, however still get two wheels off of the stairs regardless of the non-slip pads so remember it isn’t going to completely prevent you from having to watch after your baby.

The best feature on this walker is that the tray insert can be washed in the dishwasher! This is the only walker I’ve seen that is dishwasher safe!

The downfall to this baby walker is that there are no attached toys, music, lights, or other entertainment for your baby. You do have room to add your babies favorite toys and snacks to the oversized tray but if you are looking for a baby walker that comes with accessories, this may not be the best one for you.

#2 – VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker

Another huge favorite of parents and babies alike is the VTech Sit to Stand Learning Walker. This push walker can be found on various websites and in various stores. Amazon offers this product in various colors as well so if your little one has a favorite color, this is the walker that will have it. The features that Amazon lists on this baby walker are:

• Interactive learning baby walker has a removable play panel; Frustration Free Packaging means it comes in a plain brown box
• The early learning center has 5 piano keys that play music and encourage creativity; wheels work on carpeted and hard floors
• Features 2 colorful spinning rollers, 3 shape sorters, and 3 light-up buttons that develop motor skills
• Pretend telephone handset and mechanical elements enhance role-play fun; 2 AA batteries are included
• Over 70 sing-along songs, music, sound effects, and fun phrases; meant for babies and toddlers 9 months to 3 years old

This walker is very budget-friendly! The sit to stand learning walker is easy to assemble and has lots of different activities to keep your baby entertained. One of the best features on this walker is the removable play panel which is great for taking along on car rides or to set on the floor for playtime. Baby can sit in front of the walker and play when the panel is attached as well because the back wheels have brakes. There is also a removable toy phone that comes as an accessory of the walker and every baby we’ve seen use this walker, loves this toy.

There are no height settings for this walker so if you have a particularly short baby, this one might not be best suited for you, however, the sit to stand option is great because it allows for a much larger age range and you won’t have to worry about a weight limit being exceeded. There isn’t any fabric on this walker so it allows the walker to be easy to clean with a wipe. There are speed settings on this walker as well which allows your baby to use it on multiple kinds of surfaces.

#3 – Baby Trend 2.0 Activity Walker

No products found.

If you liked the Joovy Spoon Walker but just can’t justify the price or wanted some extra accessories, Amazon has a pretty similar bestseller; The Baby Trend 2.0 Activity Walker. The features listed on Amazon’s website for this walker are:

• Removable toy bar with toys
• Large surround tray for food or toys
• Three-position height adjustable
• High back padded seat
• Extra-wide base for superior stability
• To clean the seat pad, use only mild household soap and warm water with a sponge or cloth. DO NOT MACHINE WASH.

There are two toys attached to this walker (different from the Joovy Walker) but it still has that large snack tray that lots of moms will appreciate. This walker isn’t as easy to clean as some others because the seat pad is spot clean only. It does have a wide base with wheels on each corner and provides stability, just like the Joovy walker. It also has adjustable height settings and includes rubber stoppers as a safety feature for stairs and hardwood flooring.

The best part about this walker? It is the most budget-friendly walker I’ve ever seen! This baby walker might just be the best baby walker bang for your buck out of any of the walkers 2020 has to offer.

#4 – Delta Children First Race 2-in-1 Walker

If your little boy or girl is a car fanatic, this is quite possibly the best baby walker for them! This race car shaped walker is sure to impress parents and babies alike as it is one of Amazon’s top choices. The features that Amazon lists for this walker are:

• plastic
• Imported
• 2-IN-1 DESIGN: Transitions from an activity walker to a walk-behind walker | RECOMMENDED USE: For children up to 25 lbs.; less than 30-inch tall; only use the walk-behind feature when your child is able to walk on their own
• ACTIVITY TRAY: Entertain baby with fun developmental toys and music | Toy tray easily removes to provide clear space to eat (toy tray requires two AA batteries, not included)
• ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT: Three-position height adjustment offers the right height as Baby grows | MACHINE WASHABLE: Chair cover is removable and machine washable for an easy cleanup
• SIZE: Assembled dimensions: 23.43″L x 19.67″W x 26.77″H | ULTRA COMPACT: Walker folds flat for easy transport or storage
• SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS: JPMA certified to meet or exceed all safety standards set by the CPSC & ASTM

This sweet ride has a removable toy tray that includes a spinning steering wheel, gear shifter, and buttons that control lights and sounds. When the toy tray is removed, there is a perfect place for snacks or additional toys to entertain your little driver. This walker can be used while baby rides in the car or as a push walker from behind.

Delta Children’s walker falls just about in the middle when it comes to the price and it comes in both pink and blue! There are four wheels on the bottom and the shape of the base is quite similar to the Baby Trend and Joovy walkers. The chair cover is machine washable and the snack tray can be easily wiped down as well.

This walker has something for everyone!

#5 – Baby Einstein Around We Grow 4-in-1 Walk-Around Discovery Activity Center

Baby Einstein Around We Grow 4-in-1 Walk-Around Discovery Activity Center is perfect for parents who are worried about a mobile baby walker but want to be able to let their baby play and walk without the dangers that come with some of the other walkers. This activity center has a padded seat with wheels, that can be attached to the activity table and your baby can walk around this activity center! This is pretty clever! Baby gets to walk and play but can’t get anywhere. This walk-around activity center is also really neat because when your baby gets too tall or too heavy for the seat, you can remove it and still use the activity table with toys. Even better, when your baby grows up to be a toddler, you can take all the toys off and turn this activity center into a flat table for coloring, games, or whatever else your might want a small table for. Amazon highlights on this product are:

• 4 modes to grow baby’s curiosity: walk-around discovery center; discovery table; art table; removable floor toys
• 3-Position height-adjustable seat travels 360° around the table, supporting baby’s first steps
• Provides a mix of physical and sensory experiences that promote movement and cognitive skills
• Encourages auditory, visual, and tactile discovery through 15 nature-themed toys and experiences
• Quick and easy assembly
• Machine-washable seat cover; activity station wipes clean with a damp cloth

Overall, this one seems like the obvious choice for the best baby walker when it comes to safety and activity. It is easy to clean and machine washable, each toy can be removed, it can help your baby to stand without giving them the freedom to move into areas that may not be safe, it has height settings, can help baby to work on motor skills and can turn into a stand-alone activity center or table.

The price on this product is on the higher end, however, you do have to consider that this comes with the most accessories and is the most versatile out of any of the other walkers. It is also said to be easy to assemble which is a plus when it comes to walkers.

If you have decided that a walker isn’t the best way to go, but you’re still looking for an activity center or jumper to help your baby to stay upright, there are just a couple of choices you may be interested in.

Best Baby Activity Centers

#1 – Skip Hop Explore & More Baby’s View 3- Stage Activity Center

This activity center resembles a lot of the walkers that are currently on the market, minus the wheels. Baby can see their toes through a window and there are piano keys that they can play with their feet. This activity center seems to have a lot of different toys and activities to help babies with the development of motor skills ( there are over 25 developmental activities included).

The height is adjustable through the bottom panel which can be raised or lowered. This activity center is very similar to the Baby Einstein product mentioned above and can turn into an activity table as well as a flat table. It is a higher budget item, but again, it offers a lot more than other activity centers do.

If you think this might be closer to what you are looking for, check out the link below to see more features this activity center offers!

#2 – Fisher-Price SpaceSaver Jumperoo in Woodland Friends

No products found.

This was my baby’s favorite toy for months! This is a jumper with toys, music, and lights, and it also folds flat for easy storage and transportation. It has height settings just like a baby walker and allows your baby to be upright, develop their leg muscles and play, without being mobile. Between the lights is a rollerball with smaller colored balls inside and there is even a teething toy attached to this one!

This jumperoo falls somewhere in the middle when it comes to price and is available on Amazon! There isn’t a snack tray and when baby gets too tall or heavy there aren’t any additional uses for it, however, it is easy to store which is a plus when it comes to all of the other baby items that end up needing storage.

This product is highly rated by parents and might just be the best baby bouncer on the market right now. If you think this might be an option you’d like to explore, click the link to see all of the features!

#3 – Bright Starts Taggies Door Jumper – Gray

If you aren’t looking for an activity center or a walker but do want a jumper for your baby, this option is a no-frills, simple door jumper that can attach to just about any door. This is a simple, lightweight, padded jumper chair that is height adjustable, easy to transport and store, as well as easy to install. You won’t need any tools or batteries to set it up and it is an extremely budget-friendly choice.

There aren’t any toys, snack trays, or activities and your baby won’t have mobility like they would with a walker, however, lots of parents do like this option! Check out the link to get more information on if this is the best baby jumper for your little prince or princess!

#4 – Fisher-Price Classic Corn Popper Walk & Push Toy, Blue

If you have a toddler who loved their walker but is just too big for it now, there are push toys available! This fisher price corn popper is currently an Amazon Exclusive and is sure to entertain your busy little boy or girl!

Like walkers, lots of us had one of these as a child and a big bonus is that these haven’t been banned anywhere!

Just because your toddler has outgrown their baby walker, doesn’t mean they can’t still push something around the house and although this isn’t the best baby walker, it’s a great, classic toy for any busy toddler.

When should a baby use a walker?

If you chose to allow your baby to use a baby walker, you should first conduct your research on baby walkers to choose the best baby walker for your little one. Always keep your eyes and your full attention on baby while they are using the walker that you chose and make sure that the walker is not the only activity that your baby is doing to use their muscles. Hold their hands and walk around with them so that they can develop the motor skills and muscles needed to walk with confidence, on their own. Don’t let the baby walker be something that your child relies on.

Let your baby figure out how to pull up on objects and walk around stationary objects on their own. There is no necessity for a baby walker so if you are choosing to use one, do so safely. Make sure that your child is in a safe, attended environment and that you have done everything that you can to set your baby up for success, not injury.

Because baby walkers are not banned in the United States it is ultimately your decision as a parent, to let your child use a walker or not. However, keep in mind that doctors do not recommend using walkers, and baby does not need wheels to learn how to walk.

Are baby walkers any good for babies?

If any of you are like me, you may sometimes wonder how we survived as children. With so many new rules and regulations, do’s and don’t’s, and new information that has come out since we were small children, I am often amazed. I also find myself wondering what is best for my baby.

One of the “new” recommendations regarding what is best for babies, is that we do not let them use baby walkers. This may come as a surprise to some; to others, this may make a lot of sense. Many baby walker manufacturers like to entice parents with a statement about how with a walker, babies can learn to take their first steps with support. While it is true that a walker might help your baby to take their first steps, is it best to let them take their first steps this way? Are baby walkers any good for babies? And if so, what is the best walker for babies?

A quick google search on baby walkers will show that baby walkers have been completely banned in Canada since 2004. (We will talk more about this in the next section.) Since 2018, the United States has also been pushing for the ban of baby walkers although a lot of manufacturers have started to add safety features in an attempt to keep babies safer. Pediatricians everywhere have started to warn parents of the dangers of letting babies use a walker, but we continue using them.

Dr. Claire McCarthy from Harvard, warns parents of the dangers of baby walkers and addresses why parents would use one, regardless of the recommendations to ditch the walkers altogether. She says parents may be drawn to walkers because they believe that it will help their baby learn to walk more quickly. In reality, letting your baby use a baby walker may delay the development of some motor skills because it gives the child a false sense of security and their muscles may not develop properly.

Babies don’t have to learn to be independent when they have a baby walker. Parents are also drawn to baby walkers because babies seem to love them. Dr. McCarthy says that around 6 months of age babies want to be upright as much as they can be and a baby walker achieves this for them. They love the mobility the walker gives them and they can be more easily involved with things happening around them. This, however, can lead to very dangerous situations.

Babies can get their fingers caught in things, reach things that they otherwise may not have been able to reach, and get to places that they otherwise would not have been able to get. Stairs are one of the biggest hazards that come with a baby walker. Although baby walker manufacturers have been required to add safety features to their products, babies are still getting injured.

Why are baby walkers banned?

We briefly talked about why baby walkers are banned but here is a little bit more information.

Baby walkers, even the best baby walkers, can be safety hazards for little people. Regardless of added safety features like brakes, brake pads, wide and stable bases, and non-slip stair pads, babies can still fall down the stairs or off of porches and decks, get into dangerous places, reach dangerous objects, or hit sharp corners. Most parents don’t baby-proof their homes until their baby is mobile on their own and they don’t realize that making baby mobile with a walker will require baby proofing as well.

Parents know that their babies will be thrilled to be mobile and upright so they buy walkers to entertain their babies. However, it is often forgotten that a baby needs to be closely monitored and that you shouldn’t leave a baby to play with a walker while you are in another room because of the hazards that walkers can present.

A baby walker is a toy that requires supervision while being used. 

In September of 2018, Fox News reported that between 1990 and 2014, there were 230,676 infant-walker related injuries in children younger than 15 months. The number of injuries may have been even greater than this shows because these only come from babies treated for their injuries in a healthcare facility. This should make us all wonder if there is any best baby walker and make us all more cautious when using one.

While it would seem that walkers could aid babies in walking sooner and with more confidence, they can delay motor skills and change the way muscles form. The false sense of security that baby walkers give to the babies using them can make it more difficult for the baby to learn to walk on their own and can decrease their confidence in walking unassisted. Babies need to be learning to bear weight by pulling up on objects and standing on their own as well as walking without a so-called, crutch.

Furniture also poses a risk of injury when a baby walker is used because babies can crash into furniture or fall into furniture while using walkers. It is the safest to let baby use furniture as an object to pull up on and then allow them to walk around the stationary furniture while holding on, rather than giving them an object to push around or to walk around in. Babies don’t have great control over their bodies as it is, and giving them any way to mobilize before they can do so on their own is just one more way for accidents to happen.

There are so many activity centers and jumpers available that take away some of those risks associated with walkers and those can be great options as a replacement to a baby walker.

Share with your friends: