Best baby walkers 2022: Keep little ones entertained and get them moving

Encourage your child to take their first steps with these confidence-building baby walkers

baby standing for the first time is one of the most exciting milestones for any parent.

But it can also come, understandably, with an element of concern. How do you make sure your little one doesn't come into harm's way or cause havoc in the house as soon as your back is turned now that they’re on their feet?

This is when you might want to start shopping for the best baby walker to keep them entertained. Luckily, there's a walker available to suit every budget, all design tastes and every stage of your child's mobility.

A baby walker is a movable education tool that can help your baby take their first steps - while preventing them from crawling into trouble.

Because of its versatility, a baby walker is a key piece of equipment that will help with a baby's early years development. They come in a variety of designs; from seated walkers, walking frames for older ones to push and walkers with trailers or baskets that can wheel toys around.

In a baby walker, your baby's feet touch the floor so that they can learn to walk, as well as transition from a sitting position to standing. This will help to strengthen their legs in preparation for walking. It also gives them some independence and freedom, as they can move around by themselves with the guidance of the walker - though it goes without saying that you should never leave a baby unattended.

Choosing the best baby walker depends entirely on your child's stage of mobility, age and your budget. Some key things to consider when it comes to choosing a baby walker are the size, weight and manoeuvrability and features that will work best for your child.

While they’re a great tool for early years, baby walkers should only be used for around 20 minutes a day so as not to put too much strain on underdeveloped muscles.

Shop the best below

Dimensions: 48.3 x 50.8 x 43.2 cm

Weight: 1.6kg

If your little one is into music, look no further than this Baby Einstein baby walker, which combines music with movement. As well as a walker, this can also be used as a floor toy station for younger babies, a music table and a creative table for toddlers who want to play independently. This musical baby walker, complete with a keyboard on the activity tray, comes with over 100 melodies and phrases and includes parent volume control, so there's no need to worry about it being too loud. It even introduces your little one to 4 panish, French, and German as well as English, making it one of the best options for an educational baby walker.

Dimensions: 40 x 40 cm

Weight: 2.074kg

This four-wheeled baby walker by VTech is great for helping develop your little one's balance while learning to take those first steps - plus it doubles up as a fun toy to keep them entertained. You can remove the front panel, which features a variety of interactive buttons, lights, colours and sounds to keep your baby occupied even when not using the actual walker. This baby walker is easy to assemble and has a small compact design, making it easy to store in small spaces - perfect if you live in a flat or apartment. It's great value for money and was even shortlisted in the 2020 Mother&Baby Awards in the best baby toy category.

Dimensions: 74 x 66.5 x 44 cm

Weight: 5.29kg

You get a lot bang for your buck with this baby walker, which can also be used as a bouncer. Suitable from the age of six months, this multi-tasking baby walker has a rotating seat with activities on either side of the tray - perfect for keeping your little one entertained. Your baby can rock, jump, bounce and twist in this baby walker, making it an ideal investment for your growing tot. As well as allowing your baby to move freely, this baby walker also has plenty of textures, lights and sounds with activities to turn, slide, rattle, grab, push and even chew as they develop their cognitive and motor skills.

Dimensions: 42.42 x 43.69 x 53.85cm

Weight: 2.87kg

This 3-in-1 baby walker provides hours of fun as it's not only a walker, but also a standing activity table and sit-and-play activity centre all in one, making it one of the best baby walkers to keep your little ones entertained. With over 70 songs, sounds and activities – including piano keys, a peekaboo slider and a glowing light dome – the activity centre is designed to help develop curious minds. It also conveniently folds down flat for floor-time fun and easy storage. This baby walker is ideal for encouraging your child to take their first steps, as it projects colourful lights onto the floor to encourage babies to get moving.

Dimensions: ‎10.5 x 46 x 40.5 cm

Weight: 2.4kg

This baby walker is a great option for those on a tighter budget. It also doubles as an entertainment centre and the fun zebra shape is sure to grab your little one's attention. With bright colours, shapes, tunes and lights, this baby walker is designed to grow with your baby from sitting up through to first steps and is suitable from the age of six months. As well as helping your little one learn to walk, this walker also encourages babies to speak their first words. They can turn the book page or press the light-up buttons to hear all about ABC's & 123's, plus sing-along songs and motivational phrases, making it one of the best educational baby walker options. While this walker doesn't fold, it's super lightweight which makes it easy to carry around.

Dimensions: 43.5 x 35 x 41 cm

Weight: 4.33kg

If you’re after a more traditional-style baby walker, Janod's wooden eco-friendly buggy trolley is a great option. As well as helping your baby develop their balance and mobility skills, this walker comes with 30 pine blocks with the letters of the alphabet, numbers and an abacus to learn how to count. This is also great for little ones who like to carry their belongings around with them! The wheels of this baby walker are silent, making it a perfect choice for those who aren't a fan of noisy toys. Educational and stylish, this is one of the best baby walkers for those who want a simple but effective piece of equipment for little ones.

Dimensions: 60.96 x 86.36 x 71.12cm

Weight: 5.49kg

If your baby is approaching the six month mark, this walker is a great option as it allows your baby to stand and toddle about before they’re standing by themselves. It has three height settings to accommodate growing babies, with a high back feature to provide support, plus a removable washable seat. The front tray features a bead chaser to stimulate your little one's mind as they move around, and it also has two loops to attach their favourite toys. This baby walker is foldable and lightweight, making it the perfect option if you’re looking for a walker that's easy to transport.

Dimensions: 66 x 13.7 x 74 cm

Weight: 5.7kg

This baby walker is on the pricier end of the scale, but it's a well worthy investment as it provides longevity. Suitable for ages 6-24 months, this multi-functioning baby walker is an activity walker, baby push toy, baby swing, 360-degree seat, and playpen. When your little one gets bigger, the 360° seat can be easily lifted out and the back bar moved to become a handle for toddlers to push. This walker features three electronic toys, including sounds and lights, positioned around the seat to provide constant entertainment and stimulation for your baby. This is one of the best baby walkers if you’re looking for something that will grow with your baby.

Dimensions: 50 x 33 x 34 cm

Weight: N/A

This colourful, sturdy wooden walker is another great option for those looking for something with a traditional design. This baby walker comes with a mini abacus, spinning mirror, spinning cage rattle and matching blocks to entertain and stimulate your baby's mind. There's also a storage tray at the back, so your little one can carry around their favourite toys. Suitable from 12 months old, this walker ​features non-slip wheels so you don't have to worry about it toppling over as your little one pushes it around. Eye-catching and educational, this baby walker is a great all-rounder for babies who are finding their feet.

Dimensions: 42 x 39 x 42 cm

Weight incl packaging: 6.75kg

For an attractive, educational walker that will keep your little one entertained, this is a great option. This is a walker, play table and a shape sorter which is beautifully designed in solid wood, making it the perfect addition for any playroom. This fun baby walker features a shape sorter on the front, numbered tiles to spin round, a flippable triangle for learning colours and even a chalkboard, making for hours of fun.

As well as educational play, this walker is great for babies who are taking their first steps and features rubber coated wheels, an integrated axle for stability and an in built braking system to ensure your baby moves around safely.

Verdict

Baby Einstein's musical walker is the perfect combination of educational play and guidance for babies learning to take those first steps. With the super-fun musical element and activity centre, this walker will keep your little one entertained for hours. It's lightweight, won't take up too much space and with such a low price tag, it's a win win.