13 Best Baby Walkers 2021 | The Sun UK

BABY walkers are a toy, an educational tool and help support an infant taking his or her first tentative steps – all in one handy piece of kit.

We've rounded up the best baby walkers you can buy online in 2021, whether you're looking for a wooden model, an all-singing, light-up design or a supportive baby walker that's suitable for younger babies who aren't quite walking yet.

Whatever your style or budget, and whatever your baby’s stage of mobility, there’s a baby walker to suit you.

Some of the best baby walkers, like VTech’s popular First Steps walker, can entertain a baby even when they aren't pushing it around, thanks to music and buttons to press and play with.

There are different styles of baby walker to choose from, like seated walkers for younger tots, walking frames for older ones to push and walkers with trailers or baskets that can wheel toys around.

Other top baby walkers work to contain younger children – providing a padded seat and plastic tray enclosure.

1. VTech 

  • VTech First Steps Baby Walker, £28 at Argos – buy here

This four-wheeled baby walker comes with a removable interactive activity centre with lights and sounds.

It’s hard-wearing, great value for money and the colours and knobs to push, turn and pull will entertain your baby even when the batteries run out.

2. MyChild 

  • MyChild Roundabout 4-in-1 activity walker, £74.99 at Very – buy here

Suitable from six months, this multi-tasking baby walker has a rotating seat with activities on either side of the tray featuring a range of sensory toys, as well as lights, sounds and tunes.

It can be used as a bouncer or a walker.

Parents like that it’s easy to put together, sturdy, reliable and that it buys them some much-needed hands-free time.

3. MyChild 

  • MyChild Car 2-in-1 baby walker, £69.99 at Argos – buy here

Once you start looking into baby walkers, you’ll be surprised at the myriad of car-themed ones out there.

MyChild’s Car 2-in-1 baby walker has mostly positive reviews.

It is suitable for babies from six months and features three height positions, a padded seat and back support and a racing car play tray with lights and sound.

It also converts to a rocker.

4. Little Tikes

  • Little Tikes Fantastic Firsts 3-in-1 Activity Walker, £26 at Argos – buy here

Little Tikes’ walker folds down into an activity table with plenty to engage the curious baby.

As the child pushes it along, lights activate to create a cool, entertaining and motivating projection on the floor for them to chase after.

5. Fisher-Price 

  • Fisher-Price Learn with Me Zebra Walker, £21 at Argos – buy here

This fun zebra walker has lights, sounds, ABCs and 123s, making it a favourite for engaging little ones – and keeping them interested as they get older.

6. Babymoov

  • Babymoov Walker 2-in-1 petrol, £89.99 at Uber Kids – buy here

This walker grows with your baby (it’s suitable from nine months), starting out as a supported walker with activity tray and transforming into a pusher.

Can fold down ultra-compactly for easy storage.

7. Tidlo

  • Tidlo Wooden Activity Walker, £49.99 at Amazon – buy here

Beautifully designed, this sturdy wooden walker comes complete with a mini abacus, spinning mirror, spinning cage rattle and matching blocks.

Kids will also love the storage tray at the back – perfect for transporting a favourite animal or doll.

8. Great Little Trading Company

  • Emily Doll's Pram, £48 at GLTC – buy here

This baby walker-doll's pram hybrid is a lovely wooden toy that is both a doll's buggy and a child's first walker, so ticks off two essential toys in one.

The bevy of five-star reviews says it all: it's well made, easy to push – indoors or out – and looks fantastic.

9. Stoy

  • Ice Cream Baby Walker, £45 at Alex & Alexa – buy here

We can't resist a good multi-tasking toy, and Stoy's wooden baby walker has plenty of pluses.

Designed to resemble a mini ice cream van, complete with accessories, it doubles as a shape sorting toy and even has a blackboard.

Perfect for inspiring little one's imagination, as well as encouraging walking.

10. Baby Einstein

  • Baby Einstein Musical Mix ‘N Roll 4-in-1 Activity Walker, £40 at John Lewis – buy here

This award-winning baby walker combines music and movement, as well as lights, and baby can play the keyboard or spin some tunes as a DJ.

In addition to being a baby walker, this multitasking toy grows with your little one and can be used as a floor toy or creative play table.

11. Wooden Baby Walker and Bricks

  • John Lewis & Partners Wooden Baby Walker and Bricks, £45 at John Lewis – buy here

This classic wooden baby walker is great for moving and learning.

The colourful bricks come with numbers and letters to keep your kids occupied and the chunky wheels mean that it is easy to steer for little ones.

12. Janod Cat Walker

  • Janod Multi Activity Cat Baby Walker, £59.99 at Jojo Maman Bebe – buy here

This cute multi activity baby walker comes in a fun cat design and features eight activities, including bead games and shape sorters.

The removable brake can block the wheels and release them gradually, helping tots to get used to the speed of the walker as they learn to walk.

13. Wooden Shopping Trolley

  • Wooden Shopping Trolley Walker, £55 at Jojo Maman Bebe – buy here

This design is sure to go down a treat with little shopaholics!

The sturdy wooden design features a little seat that's perfect for tots taking their favourite toy along on shopping trips and makes a perfect playroom addition.

What is a baby walker?

A baby walker is a handy device that parents can use for babies who cannot walk on their own yet.

The walkers allow tots to move from one place to another and modern baby walkers can also be used for toddlers.

There are a range of different designs available – from plain, old-fashioned wooden options to modern 'activity centre' style walkers that  have numerous extra features to help keep small kids occupied as they move.

Are walkers safe for babies?

Depending on who you ask, and even where you live, there is disagreement over whether or not height-adjustable walkers are safe for babies.

In 2007, baby walkers were banned in Canada due to reported dangers, and childminders in the UK are advised against using them as part of their work by the National Childminding Association.

These concerns stem from reports of injuries caused to babies while in seated walkers, and the European Standard for baby walkers was changed in 2005 to make them move more slowly to protect babies from steps and trapping their hands or limbs.

If you want to make sure you're buying the best baby walker, make sure it meets standard BS EN 1273:2005 and the NHS advises you only keep your baby in a seated walker for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time.

As with all baby gear, it is the parent's responsibility to make sure the items are being used safely and as intended, and you should be vigilant to never leave your child unattended, even for a second.

When age can a baby go in a walker?

Generally speaking, walkers are designed for babies between the ages of 4 to 16 months.

A good rule of thumb, apart from this, is that your baby needs to be able to hold their head up quite steadily when placed in the walker and both of their feet must touch the floor for them to be able to use it.

The walkers are best used for 20 minute intervals at a time.

How to use baby walkers

Using a baby walker is pretty simple – parents simply place their child into the walker, or encourage them to use the handles on push designs.

But, to get infants to use them and get on the go, sometimes, holding a favourite food or toy in front of them can be used as encouragement for them to start moving.

If this doesn't work, slowly and carefully may be best – and adults can gently pull the walker along whilst the baby is in it to show them.

Which baby walker is best on carpet?

The best baby walkers to use on carpet are those which your little one stands behind and pushes with their hands, such as the VTech First Steps walker we recommend in our list of best baby walkers above.

These aren’t suitable for babies who are only just sitting unaided, or those still a little unsteady on their feet.

Further to the recent changes made to the European Standard, designed to make baby walkers safe, the wheels on seated walker models have been deliberately designed to move more slowly, and with greater resistance.

The Joovy Spoon is rated as the best seated walker on carpet, due to the position and shape of its wheels.

We also recommend a lightweight, smaller model such as the Chad Valley baby walker, or the Bright Starts Pack of Pals seated walker.

Enjoyed our article on the best baby walkers? Then you might also like our article on the best baby bouncers.

We’ve designed Sun Selects to help you find everything you need when you’re shopping around the web. Click the link to find more of our top picks.

If you want to find more of our parenting recommendations, check out our dedicated Sun Selects' parenting section.

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