A baby walker is a circular frame on wheels that seats a baby who has not learnt to walk yet.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit baby activity walkers.
Some people believe that baby walkers are useful for their babies, to entertain them and help teach them to walk. This is not true. Baby walkers can be dangerous and can actually delay your baby’s walking development.
An exercise jumper, also known as a jolly jumper or baby bouncer, is a device that holds a baby in sling seat with a spring or elastic. The device either comes in a standalone frame or can be attached to a door frame.
Like a baby walker, exercise jumpers can cause accidents and delay your baby’s development.
Most babies pass the following milestones while learning to walk:
This means that babies need to spend plenty of time on the floor, learning and practising these activities.
Let your baby spend lots of time on the floor. It's a safe space for your baby to learn to roll, sit and pull themselves up to stand.
You can also place your baby close to soft furniture to help them with pulling-up.
If your baby is moving around, block off a safe area for them to play and move. You can also use a high-quality play pen or stationary activity centre.
NO - baby walkers and jumpers don't help a baby develop their walking. In fact, walkers and jumpers can impede or delay your baby achieving these important milestones. The more time babies spend in a walker or a jumper, the more delay they experience.
Walkers and jumpers take your baby's time away from the floor so they miss out on practising important, repetitive movements needed for them to reach their walking milestones.
Babies tend to use their toes when they are in a walker or a jumper, which tightens their leg muscles and Achilles tendons (the thick cord at the back of the ankle) - this interferes with normal walking development. Once out of the device, they often want to keep using their toes, which is not how babies usually learn to walk.
When babies sit and pull themselves up, they are learning how to balance. A baby doesn't balance in a walker, delaying learning this important skill.
Being in a walker or jumper also means less time on hands and knees in a crawling or pre-crawling position. This is important to developing weight bearing through both the pelvis and shoulders.
A variety of important movements is needed when babies are developing their walking skills, but they get fewer chances to practise these in a walker or jumper than they would on the floor.
Baby walkers and exercise jumpers are not recommended in Australia.
Baby walkers are considered unsafe because they move very quickly. Your baby is also taller when upright in a walker and can reach things they usually don't have access to. Potential dangers include:
Each year, many babies are injured in Australia when using walkers. Some sustain serious injuries caused by burns, cuts, head injuries, broken bones, poisoning and drownings; some even die.
Exercise jumpers can also cause serious injury to your baby, including:
Development delays caused by tight leg muscles and Achilles tendons can sometimes require physiotherapy treatment, being put in leg casts, or even corrective surgery.
Despite not being recommended for use in Australia, they can still be purchased and are not illegal.
Child health experts and state and territory health departments recommend NOT using baby walkers or exercise jumpers.
Baby walkers sold in Australia, must comply with Australian consumer product safety standards.
All walkers sold in Australia must have:
Parents are highly discouraged from using baby walkers. However, if you still decide to purchase one, please follow these guidelines:
Speak to your doctor or child health nurse to learn more about how best to help your baby learn how to walk.
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.
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As parents, we want to place our trust in the many baby products available on store shelves and online. But not all gear is created equal, and some so-called “must-haves” are simply unsafe, despite their appeal. One item you may hear mixed reviews about? Baby walkers. They sure do look cute and fun, but numerous accidents and incidents have proven them to be potentially dangerous. So are walkers bad for babies? Read on to learn more about why you shouldn’t use them—plus, find some nifty, safe and adorable alternatives to baby walkers to shop instead.
In this article:
What are baby walkers?
Are walkers bad for babies?
Safe alternatives to baby walkers
How we chose safe baby walker alternatives
In short, a wheeled baby walker is a piece of gear that babies who can’t walk yet (generally between the ages of 6 and 15 months) can use to scoot around spaces on their own. Traditional baby walkers feature a seat for babies to sit in, a table and a wide base that has four wheels; baby’s feet touch the ground, and they can use their legs to push off the ground. This is not to be confused with a push-toy baby walker, which is an upright toy that a standing baby can hold onto and push forward.
So are baby walkers safe? By now you probably realize that the short answer is no, they’re not. Baby walkers with wheels pose a risk to a child’s safety and development, says Paul Patterson, MD, a pediatrician in Tacoma, Washington. He adds that baby walkers with seats have been outlawed in Canada, and that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has called for a ban on them as well.
But exactly why are walkers bad for babies? There are a few specific hazards to be concerned about, says Leah Alexander, MD, a pediatrician in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Below, some of the more common issues associated with baby walkers with wheels:
Don’t worry, we’re not here to take away all of baby’s fun, especially at such an adorable age. Instead of a baby walker on wheels, the AAP recommends opting for an activity center with either a stationary, rotating or bouncy seat.
Sturdy wagons or push walking toys are also acceptable, but you’ll need to closely supervise when your child is using this item, as the wheels can increase the risk of injury. Make sure your toy of choice has a bar for baby to hold on to, and check that it’s weighted and won’t tip over while in use.
Ready to help baby explore, play and move around in a safe way? We’ve rounded up developmentally appropriate alternatives to baby walkers for littles who are just beginning to use their legs and feet.
Image: Amazon
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Walmart
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$124.03
Amazon
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Want more information on Best Stroller For Tall Kindergartener? Feel free to contact us.
$90.47
What We LoveSatisfy baby’s need to move and bounce with this brightly colored bouncer from Baby Einstein. Have them sit in the 360-degree swiveling chair and twist and turn to meet a whole host of fun underwater friends, from a striped white and yellow fish and mask-wearing sea turtle to a seafaring octopus and smiling starfish. Each plaything provides auditory and tactile stimulation for your curious little one, and since the seat is suspended from the top of the toy, they can bounce till their heart’s content.
Dimensions: 36.7" (L) x 36.7" (W) x 34" (H) | Weight: 12.2 lbs. | Weight capacity: 25 lbs.
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$59.94
Amazon
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$55
What We LoveWhen baby is preparing for those first tentative steps, a learning table offers a great way to encourage movement. This bright and colorful VTech table is loaded with interactive toys that light up and sing. As baby begins to take steps, they’ll love cruising from one side of the table to another, grabbing the steering wheel, pressing buttons, flipping book “pages” and twisting the gear-looking knobs—with all the sights and sounds that come along with it.
Dimensions: 14.9" (L) x 19.8" (W) x 16.8" (H) | Weight: 4.1 lbs. | Weight capacity: N/A
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Amazon
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$99.99
What We LoveIf it’s freedom that baby craves, try giving them more space and less restriction with the help of an extra-large playpen. This oversize option affords baby the liberty to scoot and crawl and attempt those first steps without risk—and parents can find peace of mind without feeling like we’re confining our tiny adventurers.
Dimensions: 79" (L) x 63" (W) x 27" (H) | Weight: 20.4 lbs. | Weight capacity: 150 lbs.
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Amazon
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$49.94
What We LoveSturdy push toys are an alternative to traditional baby walkers with wheels. Just make sure your pick has a bar for baby to hold on to, and check that the toy won’t tip while in use. Younger babies can use this toy to play, while early walkers will benefit from the support the toy offers as they push it and practice their steps. Keep in mind that caution and supervision is always necessary when baby uses a toy with wheels.
Dimensions: 13.3" (L) x 3.7" (W) x 17.9" (H) | Weight: 6.8 lbs. | Weight capacity: N/A
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Shopping for baby walker alternatives can be challenging for parents, because there are so many options to choose from. Moreover, the AAP has called for an outright ban on infant walkers with wheels; making confident purchases with high-stakes safety considerations can be intimidating.
Our goal is to do the bulk of the research, so you don’t have to spend hours searching online for the most reliable and skill-building products. To help you find the right baby walker alternative, we:
Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.
About the writer:
Christin Perry is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in pregnancy, parenting and health and wellness topics. As a mother of four (ages 5, 10, 12 and 14), she’s gone through the paces and has used what seems like every product under the sun—and she’s used that experience to write dozens of product roundups for The Bump. Christin considers herself lucky to have worked for a long list of other large clients, including Forbes Advisor, Verywell Family, Parents, Parade, The Knot, Apartment Therapy and Dwell, to name a few.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
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