Parenting

The 10 Best Walkers to Get BB Moving in the New Year

by Steve John
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
Best Baby Walker

How did so many of us make it to adulthood and produce children of our own what with all the dangerous sh*t our parents used when raising us? There were the cribs with drop sides, Bumbo seats, BPA bottles, crib tents and bumpers (EEK!).

And then of course there were those baby walkers. You know, the wheeled saucer-shaped deals with the inset seat that babies can scoot all around the kitchen, den, and right toward the stairs…

Yeah. Those. Doctors have been worried about that kind of walker since the 1980s, in fact an article published by the American Academy of Pediatrics back in 1987 stated: “There are an estimated 24,000 injuries per year requiring medical assistance caused by trauma secondary to the use of infant walkers. These devices do not add anything positive to the infant’s development as they teach a child how to ride, not how to walk.”

Long story short, without constant and unblinking supervision, those things are crazy dangerous. But…the new generation of baby walkers, that the kid controls themselves while standing on their own two feet— these can be great. Think push, pull, walk, and ride all versus sit “inside”.

A kid should only be as mobile as they’re able. When they can roll, let them roll. When they can crawl, let them, crawl. And once they can take a step or two, go ahead and let them grab one of these great baby walkers we’ve found. The walkers on our rundown are safe, stable, and will help your little one master balance, build core strength, and have plenty of fun while toddling about, too. We’ve got infant walkers, activity walkers for babies, toddler-ready selections, and walkers that can even be ride-on toys.

Cuteness is afoot. Get your camera ready. Or your phone, I mean.

Pewi Walking Ride On Toy
$50
Vtech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker
$35
Bright Starts 3-in-1 Around We Go Activity Center
$55
Melissa & Doug Chomp & Clack Alligator Push Toy
$40
Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon
$59
InspiraSpark Little Balance Baby Walker
$70
Cossy Wooden Learning Walker
$62
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Walker
$18
Time Wooden Learning Activity Center
$55
Hape Wonder Walker Push Toy
$51

Need more great stuff for the little guys? Check out some of our expert recommended baby gear.

SHOP THE STORY

Vtech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker

It’s a walker and a mobile play station and it’s kind of crazy and awesome. Lights and noises and plenty of activities abound.

$35
Pewi Walking Ride On Toy

This walker/rider will have kids zipping around in every direction. It glides effortlessly  over all sorts of flooring, and it’s perfect for the frenetic motion of a little body.

$50
Bright Starts 3-in-1 Around We Go Activity Center

At a quick glance, this might look like one of those walkers pediatricians are always telling parents to avoid — the ones prone to see kids falling down the stairs. But it’s not. In this case, those little legs can run around in circles all day, but there’s no risk of the kid actually moving around. Also there’s lots of fun stuff to play with, so why would they need to run off anyway?

$55
Melissa & Doug Chomp & Clack Alligator Push Toy

Tired of toys with too many flashing lights, beeps, honks, and all that other maddening whatnot? Then you’ll love the charming simplicity of this push walker that merely makes a bit of a clacking as the gator mouths chomp. Oh, and your kid will love it, too. The walker is fun, stable, and pleasantly calm.

$40
Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon

Isn’t it funny how all kids love loading their toys and stuffed animals into strollers, wagons, and such and pushing them around? Must be all the pushing around they experience in their own strollers, wagons, and such. This large, super stable walker wagon is great for wobbly walkers as it’s just about never going to tip over. Also, it’s great for use outside.

$59
InspiraSpark Little Balance Baby Walker

What’s all this then, a walker with no wheels? Yes. That’s what this is. For brand new walkers in homes with smooth floors, this wheel-free walker is a great choice. It keeps the pace slow and steady when they’re on the move and it stays still in one place as a baby pulls herself up to her feet. Also it can double as a play table.

$70
Cossy Wooden Learning Walker

If you are tired of walkers with lots of buttons and lights and sounds but you still want your little biped to have some fun in addition to all the locomotion, this walker is well worth its price. It’s got gears, spinning blocks, sliding beads, and lots of other great manipulative toys, but it’s not going to beep and honk and screech at anyone.

$62
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Walker

This cute little walker is also fun for a seated baby not quite ready for wandering afoot, what with its dozens of noises, spinning ball, flaps, and friendly images. So go ahead and get it when the baby is only a half year old. By the time she’s ready to get on the move, she’ll already be comfortable with her walker buddy.

$18
Time Wooden Learning Activity Center

From shapes to colors to animals to a clock with moving hands, there are so many ways a little kid can play with this activity center that it just might buy you some free time as they stay engaged. As a walker, its solid and stable and perfect for babies who are maybe not so stable upright just yet.

$55
Hape Wonder Walker Push Toy

It’s part little red wagon, part activity center, and it’s all mobile. This walker is ideal for babies who like lots to do, and playing with it can help develop both fine motor and gross motor skills. And mamas (and dadas) will appreciate that everything the brand makes is super safe for kids. Not a toxic anything to be found!

$51

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