Best Baby Walker

Watching your infant take those first wobbly steps is truly one of parenting’s great joys, but the process of learning to walk can be a cause of parental anxiety for a few months. The thought of your baby falling, hitting their head or crashing into furniture can all make you cringe every time your little one makes a move.

A good baby walker can help your child hone their walking skills with less risk of injury, and they often provide some other fun or convenient features at the same time.

When it comes to choosing the best baby walker for your child, taking a few points about your baby and home into consideration can help you decide what type of walker you want, and our detailed reviews can help you zero in on just the right one for your baby.

Our Top Picks at a Glance

• Safety 1st Dino Sounds ‘n Lights Discovery Baby Walker with Activity Tray
• Kolcraft Tiny Steps 2-in-1 Activity Toddler and Baby Walker
• Bright Starts Roaming Safari Walk-A-Bout Walker
• Delta Children Lil’ Drive Baby Activity Walker
• VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker
• Joovy Spoon Walker
• Disney Winnie The Pooh Music and Lights Walker, Bees Knees
• KidsEmbrace Batman Baby Activity Walker
• Melissa & Doug Chomp & Clack Alligator Push Toy
• Little Tikes 3-in-1 Activity Walker

Note: There’s a lot more information below but clicking the above links will take you to current prices, further information and customer reviews on Amazon.

What is a Baby Walker?

There are a couple of different types of baby walkers, and each one has its own distinct benefits and drawbacks.

Seated

This type of walker is most appropriate for young babies who have mastered head control and independent sitting. These walkers typically feature a central baby seat, a large front tray and a wide, rectangular base with four wheels. Your baby’s feet should touch the ground, and your little one can practice walking while the seat supports their upper body weight.

Sometimes referred to as an activity walker, these models often feature a variety of toys attached to a front tray.

Pros

• Provides support for young babies as they learn to walk
• Wide base means your baby won’t tip over as easily
• Most models have a toy or snack tray

Cons

• Not suitable for toddlers
• Might not work on all flooring surfaces

Standing

Once your child has mastered putting their full weight on their legs and can take a few steps while holding onto furniture, they should be ready to try a standing walker.

This type of walker usually reaches about chest-high or a bit lower on an older infant. Your child grasps a handlebar for support as they stand behind the walker and push it around the room.

These walkers give your child the chance to practice their walking skills with minimal support, and they can engage your child’s core muscles to a greater extent than a seated walker can.

Standing walkers usually have a variety of attached toys for your child to play with when they aren’t walking, and some models contain a surprisingly large array of buttons, sounds and activities.

Pros

• Great for older babies who need just a little support
• Typically have an assortment of toys
• Gives your child a chance to learn how to steer with their arms/upper body

Cons

• Too unstable for young babies

Benefits of a Baby Walker

Play

In the days before their child is able to chase after toys independently, parents are often left to retrieve any toys that roll or get thrown out of baby’s reach. Since most walkers have attached toys, you can rest assured that they will stay easily within your child’s reach.

Learning

Some battery-powered walkers audibly say the names of colors or shapes, or your child can experiment with musical notes. Many models also feature buttons with flashing lights that encourage your child to find out what happens when they push on the light.

Models that don’t use batteries mainly encourage learning through exploration. Your child can learn cause and effect by playing with moving pieces, or they can study the details of brightly-colored pictures.

Motor Skills

Aside from the obvious gross motor skill of walking, a baby walker can help your child develop their balance, and learning how to steer the walker in their desired direction can also help them coordinate various muscles.

Playing with toys can also let your child practice their fine motor skills by manipulating small moving parts, pushing buttons, spinning pieces or grasping a handle.

Safety Concerns

A baby walker can give your child a new degree of mobility and boldness, and it’s vital that you survey your home for any areas that might present new dangers. Take steps to minimize any risk you can, and always supervise your child closely whenever they use the walker.

Here are a few potential dangers to consider.

Stairs

A fall down the stairs is a risk even if you have just one step-down doorway in a single-level home.

Make sure that you only use a baby walker on a flat surface away from any stairs, and use a baby gate to create a walker-safe area if needed.

Water

Pools, tubs or even toilets can be dangerous since your child could tip over into any of these bodies of water.

Never use a walker near a pool, and keep your child out of the bathroom by closing the door or using a baby gate.

Dangerous Items on High Surfaces

A walker provides your child with extra support and stability, so they could be more likely to take the chance of reaching up and grabbing something off of a table or countertop.

Make sure you look for and remove any potentially dangerous items from the room. Be alert for things like sharp objects, heavy objects, choking hazards or hot drinks/foods.

Dangling Objects

Even if you move dangerous items back from the table’s edge, they could still pose a hazard if there is a tablecloth or a runner within your baby’s reach. Make sure to fold up or pull back anything that your baby might be able to stretch up and grasp.

Additionally, take extra care to place any charging or electrical cords on a high shelf or move them to another room.

What to Look For

Adjustability

Most sitting baby walkers offer some kind of height adjustment that lets you set the walker to your child’s comfort, and the same mechanism usually lets you fold the walker down for storage or transport.

A walker with an easy-to-use adjustment mechanism could save you time and spare you from a hassle or a pinched finger.

Upper/Lower Weight Limit or Age Recommendations

Particularly if your baby is on the smaller or larger side of average, be sure to look closely at the manufacturer’s recommendations for weight or age. You don’t want to wind up with a product that your child will be too young to use for a couple of months, or worse, that they’ve already outgrown.

Some walkers have an adaptable design that converts from a seated walker to a standing one. If you want to make just one purchase to use for several months, a convertible model could be a great option.

Wheel Construction

Almost any walker should be able to cross hardwood, laminate, vinyl or tile without too much trouble, but some walkers are definitely better at handling carpet than others.

Since they have smaller wheels and your child’s entire weight exerts downward pressure, seated walkers tend to have the most problems with carpet. Look for a model with the largest wheels possible, but be aware that a seated walker might not work at all on medium or thick carpet.

Thanks to larger wheels and the fact that your child’s feet bear much of their weight, most standing walkers are able to roll over medium and thick carpet with a little extra effort from your child.

Safety Features

Older baby walker models had several concerning safety flaws, and manufacturers have added some smart safety features in the last couple of decades.

Rubberized strips

Falling down the stairs or getting stuck on an uneven surface are a couple of the most common hazards to a child using a walker.

Most seated walkers, including every model on our list, have rubberized grips on the bottom guard rail that function as a gentle brake to help prevent your child from rolling over anything but a level surface.

Stable Design

Especially if your baby is tall or a bit older, they could run the risk of tipping the entire walker and themselves over if they reach too far over the walker’s side.

Look for a sitting model that has a wide base to reduce the risk of tipping or falling. Choose a standing walker that distributes your child’s weight and force evenly, and make sure the wheels are set far enough apart to resist tipping.

While any safety features included in the walker’s design are always helpful and are a good idea, they can never replace an appropriate environment and an adult’s careful supervision.

Our Choices for the Best Best Baby Walker

Safety 1st Dino Sounds ‘n Lights Discovery Baby Walker with Activity Tray

This seated walker features an adorable dinosaur motif with plenty of vibrant colors to engage your baby’s attention.

With two swiveling front wheels and two fixed rear wheels, your child can steer themselves easily and accurately. While most sitting walkers struggle to roll over carpeting, this model should be able to handle short-pile rugs and carpets with a little extra effort from your baby.

The tray sits in front of the seat and has a clever multi-function design. Two curved panels contain a total of five toys that light up, play songs and make a variety of interesting noises. When your child is ready for a snack or to play with other toys, swing the hinged panels out to reveal a tray underneath.

The Dino Sounds ‘n Lights has a higher upper weight limit than many sitting walkers, so your child should be able to use it for quite some time. However, the lower weight requirement is also on the high side, so make sure your child is heavy enough to safely use the walker before placing them in it.

The height adjustment mechanism is located under the tray, and you have your choice of three frame height settings or folding the walker down. Changing from one setting to another requires you to push two buttons and depress a lever while sliding the seat assembly up or down, and the process can be a bit of a challenge to get just right.

Manufacturer’s Specs

• Product Weight: 11.02 pounds
• Product Dimensions: 28.10 inches long, 24 inches wide and 22.50 inches tall; folds down to 7 inches tall with toys detached.
• Minimum Weight or Age Requirement: 19.84 pounds
• Upper Weight or Age Limit: 30.9 pounds

Summary

This walker offers solid construction and the ability to work on short carpet. The entertaining toys and hideaway tray work equally well for playtime or snack time.

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Kolcraft Tiny Steps 2-in-1 Activity Toddler and Baby Walker

With a frame that easily converts from a sitting walker to a standing one, you can look forward to getting some extended use from this versatile Kolcraft walker.

In seated mode, your baby can relax against a padded, extra-tall seat while they move around the room, have a snack or play with toys. The walker includes three removable toys with fun and engaging concepts like a flower-shaped mirror, a spinning ball and an oversized bead-pusher.

Switching to standing mode is as easy as removing the seat and letting your child go. The curved bar that functioned as the rear support for the seat becomes a sturdy handle for your child to hold while they walk, and they also still have the option to go around the walker to use the snack tray or play with the toys.

When using the 2-in-1 in seated mode, you can adjust the height by tightening or loosening a strap underneath the cloth seat. The walker frame has a fixed height, so you won’t be able to adjust in when it’s in standing mode.

The front wheels swivel, but not to the same extent as some other walkers. Your baby may have to make some wide turns or use some extra brainpower to figure out how to maneuver through certain places, but that could actually work in your favor since your baby might not be able to escape the room as quickly.

Manufacturer’s Specs

• Product Weight: 7.5 pounds
• Product Dimensions: 26 inches long, 24 inches wide and 32.5 inches tall; folds down to 8 inches tall.
• Minimum Weight or Age Requirement: 15 pounds
• Upper Weight or Age Limit: 26 pounds

Summary

Thanks to a versatile design and sturdy construction, your baby can enjoy several months of cruising around the room with the Tiny Steps 2-in-1.

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Bright Starts Roaming Safari Walk-A-Bout Walker

The Roaming Safari Walk-A-Bout has a brightly-colored, cute jungle theme, and it does a nice job as a basic sitting walker.

The front wheels turn on a 360-degree axis and give your little one fairly free movement that isn’t too hard to control. Even though the front wheels’ design should let them spin easily, they can be a little sticky at times. You shouldn’t run into too many problems on a flat surface, but your baby might have a hard time on short carpeting.

The included toys are simple but fun. Your baby can enjoy watching flashing lights or listening to animal noises and songs, and a steering wheel lets your little one pretend to drive as they cruise around. The toys are all contained on a removable base, so you can take it out and let your little one play even when they aren’t using the walker.

One gripe that we have is the lack of padding on the back of the seat. Your child probably won’t notice any discomfort with normal use, but you may have to deal with some bumps if your child tends to throw their head back.

A knob and slider bar mechanism under the tray lets you select one of three frame height settings or fold the walker down for transport or storage.

Manufacturer’s Specs

• Product Weight: 11.02 pounds
• Product Dimensions: 28 inches long, 34 inches wide and 24 inches tall; folds down to approximately 7 inches tall.
• Minimum Weight or Age Requirement: 6 months of age
• Upper Weight or Age Limit: 26 pounds

Summary

This walker is bright and fun, and the simple design is great for small spaces or travel.

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Delta Children Lil’ Drive Baby Activity Walker

After being the passenger all their life, this car-shaped walker from Delta Children gives your baby a chance to get into the driver’s seat.

With four molded plastic wheels, a gear shifter, throttle and steering wheel, your child can feel like they are driving their own child-friendly car. The design could not be cuter, and each piece of “equipment” makes a realistic noise.

The seat has generous padding, so your child can comfortably enjoy riding around in their car or playing with their toys. The toy tray is also fully removable, making cleaning up easy and leaving plenty of room for snacks.

Both front and rear wheels turn a full 360 degrees, so your baby can steer themselves in any direction they choose. However, while the wheel design concept is great, they don’t always roll smoothly across carpets.

The Lil’ Drive is easy to fold down for transport or storage, but you’ll have to make a little extra space: The car upper portion makes this walker taller than most models even when it’s fully collapsed.

Manufacturer’s Specs

• Product Weight: 10.6 pounds
• Product Dimensions: 26 inches long, 27 inches wide and 27.75 inches tall; folds down to 9 inches tall.
• Minimum Weight Requirement: Not specified; the manufacturer recommends that your child is able to sit independently before using this product
• Upper Weight or Age Limit: 25 pounds

Summary

Your baby can feel like a big boy/girl by driving their very own car around the house. Realistic car sounds add to the fun, and the removable toy tray makes space for a snack or cleaning up.

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VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker

Whether your child decides they feel like sitting down to play or going for a walk, the Sit-to-Stand walker rises to the occasion.

While this is a standing walker, your baby doesn’t have to be mobile to enjoy some playtime. All the toys are on a removable panel, and you can easily unsnap the panel and lay it on the floor while your child sits down or lays on their tummy.

One great feature about this walker is the option to set a brake. A switch on the rear wheels will lock them into place. Owing to the lightweight design, your baby should still be able to push the walker along but at a much slower speed. Once your child has more confidence and coordination, release the lock to let the wheels turn freely.

The Sit-to-Stand’s large wheels let it roll over most carpeted surfaces with relative ease. Your child probably won’t be able to go as fast as they would on smooth surfaces and they may have to work a bit harder, but that could actually turn out to be to your benefit.

You’ll probably never need to worry about a lack of engaging toys with this walker. The Sit-to-Stand features multiple buttons, a spinning gear section, a removable telephone and a swinging door to open and close, so your child can work on a few fine motor skills as they play. Additionally, there are several flashing lights and over 70 animal, voice, musical note and song sounds.

After assembly, you can’t disassemble this toy easily or fold it down for transport/storage. Fortunately, it isn’t large enough or heavy enough to make moving it difficult.
One downside to this walker’s lightweight design is the fact that your child could tip it over if they lean to either side too much.

Manufacturer’s Specs

• Product Weight: 5 pounds
• Product Dimensions: 16.5 inches long, 14.2 inches wide and 18.1 inches tall. This walker does not fold.
• Minimum Weight or Age Requirement: 9 months of age
• Upper Weight or Age Limit: Up to 3 years of age

Summary

Filled with engaging toys featuring a smart wheel lock, the Sit-to-Stand is fun for babies of various ages, and your child can push it on almost any surface.

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Joovy Spoon Walker

This seated walker from Joovy provides several convenient and baby-friendly features without the typical babyish look. With a vibrant, solid-colored seat and a soft white tray and frame, the Spoon has a clean look that should fit right in with modern home decor.

While the Spoon doesn’t come with any attached toys, the oversized tray gives you more than enough room to place your child’s favorite hand toys in easy reach. The tray is also ideal for snack time or even mealtime, and the removable clear insert is a breeze to hand wash or run through the dishwasher. The Spoon does not have a wheel lock, so make sure you keep that in mind if you plan to feed your child in the walker.

The tray is large enough that your child probably won’t be able to reach all the way across it, but the bottom guard is a bit wider than the tray and adds an extra layer of protection against accidental finger pinches if your child runs up against a wall or doorway.

The front wheels spin a full 360 degrees, and the rear wheels are stationary. Due to their large size and smooth design, the Spoon should be able to roll over short-pile carpeting or rugs.

The Spoon offers three frame height adjustments and collapses for transport/storage. Just turn the knob on the underside of the tray and move it along a slider bar to your desired setting. While selecting your height setting is easy, the choices seem a bit limited and may not be high enough if your child is very tall.

Manufacturer’s Specs

• Product Weight: 12.3 pounds
• Product Dimensions: 27.75 inches long, 25.5 inches wide and18 inches tall; folds down to 9 inches tall.
• Minimum Weight or Age Requirement: Not specified; the manufacturer recommends that children be able to sit up independently
• Upper Weight or Age Limit: 30 pounds

Summary

The Spoon walker combines a modern look, an oversized tray and great maneuverability to let your child enjoy rolling around the house or stopping while they have a snack or play.

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Disney Winnie The Pooh Music and Lights Walker, Bees Knees

Featuring the perennial kid favorite Winnie the Pooh, this cute walker boasts bright colors, built-in toys and solid construction.

Your child can choose to play with a honeypot that has a spring lid, look at themselves in a mirrored flower, slide some oversized beads up and down or spin a rattling ball. If your baby feels like hearing a tune, they can listen to one of 12 different songs. The toys sit on two swinging panels that either let your child play or open up to reveal a snack tray.

The front wheels swivel 360 degrees and the back wheels are stationary, so your child can steer easily and have good control. Thanks to sturdy plastic and solid construction, this walker should roll smoothly over a variety of surfaces, including short-pile carpets and rugs.

If your child is taller than average, this walker could be a good choice since its 32-inch child height limit is higher than most other models. If your child is average in height, three frame height settings allow you to pick the one that works best. Adjusting the height setting is a bit of a challenge, however. The process requires you to push two buttons while pressing a latch with one hand and simultaneously raising or lowering the frame with the other hand. Collapsing the walker uses the same process.

Manufacturer’s Specs

• Product Weight: 12 pounds
• Product Dimensions: 28 inches long, 24.8 inches wide and 23 inches tall; folded height not specified.
• Minimum Weight or Age Requirement: 4 months of age
• Upper Weight or Age Limit: 30 pounds

Summary

Babies should find the bright colors, popular children’s characters and fun toys delightful, and the sturdy wheels can roll over a variety of household surfaces.

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KidsEmbrace Batman Baby Activity Walker

If you or your little one is a Batman fan, this walker from KidsEmbrace might be a perfect fit.

The seat/tray portion has a fun, kid-friendly car shape with Batman-themed stickers and colors, so your baby can feel like they are zooming around in their own superhero ride.

Your little driver can steer with a toy steering wheel, or look at themselves in the side-view mirrors. A turning key and throttle lever also give your baby the chance to work on their grasping and finger-coordination skills. The toys also feature flashing lights, realistic sounds and vibration to engage your baby’s other senses. The toy console is removable, so your baby can enjoy playing with the toys on the floor or have some open tray space.

With front wheels that spin 360 degrees, your baby can maneuver themselves smoothly over a variety of hard flooring and flat, short-pile rugs and carpets.

The walker has three height settings and can be collapsed. The adjustment mechanism is a knob and slider bar on the underside of the tray. Pull the knob out and slide it to your desired setting.

Selecting your setting is easy, but be sure to take extra care when changing your setting since the knob can be tricky to set securely.

Manufacturer’s Specs

• Product Weight: 13.7 pounds
• Product Dimensions: 25 inches wide, 28 inches long 21 inches tall; folded height not specified.
• Minimum Weight or Age Requirement: 6 months of age
• Upper Weight or Age Limit: 26 pounds

Summary

This fun walker provides entertaining toys, a smooth ride and an adorable Batman theme, but make sure to use care when adjusting the height.

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Melissa & Doug Chomp & Clack Alligator Push Toy

This walker’s solid wood construction makes it stand out in a world where plastic baby toys reign supreme, and the fun colors, moving toys and gentle sounds are an additional bonus.

This standing walker has a solid handle that is easy for little hands to grasp confidently. The lower horizontal supports extend an extra couple of inches to deter backward tipping, but babies who are just learning to pull themselves up to stand may still tip this walker over when they pull back on it.

Three alligators open and close their mouths as your child pushes the walker along, and the closing action creates the “clacking” sound. Even if your child sticks their finger into an alligator’s mouth as it closes, the action is very gentle and shouldn’t cause an injury. Three insect spinning disks also let your child hone their fine motor skills.

Thanks to its large wheels, your toddler should be able to push the Chomp & Clack over most medium- to high-pile carpets with just a little extra effort. Rubber strips encase each wheel to provide some grip on smith surfaces and prevent the walker from slipping or sliding away from your baby.

Manufacturer’s Specs

• Product Weight: 6.95 pounds
• Product Dimensions: 15 inches long, 15 inches wide and 11.8 inches tall. This walker does not fold.
• Minimum Weight or Age Requirement: 12 months
• Upper Weight or Age Limit: Up to 2 years of age

Summary

This walker is ideal for young toddlers who are able to take a few supported steps. The fun animal friends, vibrant colors and entertaining toys make this wooden walker fun in multiple ways.

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Little Tikes 3-in-1 Activity Walker

Whether your child favors lights, moving parts, sounds or practicing their walking, this walker form Little Tikes has something for everyone.

This walker is a standing model, but babies who aren’t ready to walk yet can still enjoy playing. In Sit and Play mode, the walker ‘s rear support folds under to create a rounded play surface with all the toys in easy reach for a seated infant. Once your child can stand with support, unfold the rear legs and slide the toy surface to the top to create an activity center. Finally, when your child is ready to walk with support, slide the toy surface downward to unlock the wheels and let your child go.

The 3-in-1’s variety of toys is truly impressive. Your child can choose their favorite activity, light, song or sound from over 70 options. One of the coolest features is the light projector on the walker’s front. When activated, the projector displays a beautiful, colorful image on the floor directly in front of the walker. Other toys teach music, colors and shapes, so your baby can learn while they play.

The 3-in-1 has larger wheels than many walkers, and your child should be able to push it over most carpeted surfaces with a little extra effort. With its rounded shape and sturdy base, the 3-in-1 is hard to tip even if your baby pulls up on it.

The actions to assemble to walker are all fairly simple, but the pieces do not come apart again once you click them together. Make sure you set aside plenty of time and understand the directions thoroughly before assembly to avoid a headache later.

Manufacturer’s Specs

• Product Weight: 8 pounds
• Product Dimensions: 17.20 inches long, 21.20 inches wide and 16.70 inches tall; folded height is not specified.
• Minimum Weight or Age Requirement: 9 months
• Upper Weight or Age Limit: Up to 3 years of age

Summary

With three ways to play and no shortage of engaging toys, lights and sounds, your child can enjoy playing with this walker whether they are in the sitting or toddling stage.

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Conclusion

Thanks to advances in safety and thoughtful designs, the baby walkers of today have come a long way from their antiquated predecessors.

The best baby walker for your child depends on their current age, their developmental level, the type of flooring you have in your home and whether you plan to store or transport your walker.

Once you determine the necessities, choose the design or theme you like best and let your child start rolling.

Did you use a walker with your child? What were some of the features you liked best? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!