Encourage first steps with our pick of the best baby walkers and push toys for girls and boys.
Choosing the best baby walker for your little girls or boy is an exciting moment – it means they’ve found their feet! And while it’s natural to feel a bit daunted by the prospect of your baby on the move, nothing compares to the joy of watching your little one learn to walk. There’s a walker here to suit every budget and all design tastes, no matter whether your house resembles a colourful plastic factory or you’re into Scandi-chic and stripped-back baby gear. Here’s everything you need to consider before you decide which is the best baby walker for your own adventurous tot.
Best baby walkers at a glance
Our pick of the best baby walker is the Vtech First Steps Baby Walker. It’s robust enough to withstand crashing into walls and doors when your toddler picks up speed, but it’s also light enough for little ones to manoeuvre around the room easily. We love the fact that it has a detachable play panel with light and sound features so you get real value from it – it’s not ‘just’ a walking aid but an interactive toy that’s likely to hold your little one’s attention in both modes of play. Our tester found it easy to put together and noted that it’s easy to pop away when it’s no longer in use. Best of all, it really made a difference to our little tester’s independent walking skills.
Best baby walker overall: Vtech First Steps Baby Walker – Amazon | £28.98
Best premium baby walker: Babymoov 5-in-1 Progressive Walker – Amazon | £99
Best budget walker: Infantino Grow With Me 3-in-1 Sensory Walker – Amazon| £44.50
Little Tikes Fantastic First 3-in-1 Activity Walker – Argos | £30
Hippychick Classic World Rider and Walker – Hippychick | £49.95
GLTC Wooden Fox Walker – Great Little Trading Company | £50
Tot2Walk – Amazon | £19.99
Fisher Price Learn with Me Zebra Walker – Argos | £28
Chad Valley Jungle Deluxe Foldable Baby Walker – Argos | £29.99
Legler Elephant Baby Walker – Scandiborn £89.95
How to choose the best baby walker
If your baby is beginning to cruise around the furniture and pulling themselves up to standing, you need to get practical about what sort of baby walker you need.
First, think about how much space you’ve got. Do you envisage clearing away all the toys at the end of the day to return your living room to a quiet, grown-up space? If so, choose a baby walker that’s easy to pop away when not in use without posing a trip hazard. Alternatively, if you’ve got plenty of space, you won’t need to worry how bulky the baby walker is. Think, too, about how much space your toddler has to walk up and down and turn the walker around. Some walkers handle corners better than others, and some need a pretty large turning circle.
Secondly, think about how mobile your baby is. A pre-walker is likely to benefit from a multifunctional walker that will entice them into standing and taking steps in their own time, but also hold plenty of interest as an interactive toy in itself – so look for one with lots of engaging features.
Finally, factor in the longevity of the walker you choose. Make sure it’s appropriate for your child’s age and consider how much use they might get from it before they outgrow it. Could you pass the baby walker on to younger relative, or might it hold appeal as a play item in future?
1. Best baby walker: Vtech First Steps Baby Walker
An engaging and versatile walker that’s packed with fun interactive features
Credit: Vtech
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Weighs: 2.5kg | Suitable for: 6m+ to 3yrs
| Pros | Cons |
|
✅ Highly engaging ✅ Multifunctional ✅ Great value |
❌ Requires 3x AA batteries |
This colourful, sturdy walker is packed with fun and appealing sounds and features to keep busy hands and brains occupied. It gives good support for little feet just starting to step out, and offers plenty of playtime appeal, both before and after its use as a walker. It has a detachable two-mode panel with lights and sounds including a movable bird character, rotating gears, piano keys and a toy smartphone, while the frame also houses a simple roller rattle. It’s easy to assemble and its compact size and design make it easy to store when it’s no longer in use.
“Thea was immediately interested in this walker when it arrived, getting very excited as I went through the simple process of putting it together,” says Katy Islip, mum to Thea, nine months. She gave her baby the play panel to explore on the floor at first, which was an instant hit.
“Thea got straight into pushing the piano keys and opening and closing the central door,” says Katy. “There are loads of engaging toys in the play panel, which doubles up on the fun by offering a music mode and a learning mode. This effectively gives every feature a dual purpose, so there’s no danger of Thea getting bored with it, or of me getting fed up of the same noises and tunes.”
Our tester also commented on the wide range of music and songs which this walker plays, with more natural voices than baby toys generally tend to feature. “The two-volume levels help keep the chaos to a dull roar when needed, too,” she adds.
Babies seem to universally love this walker toy – our baby gear expert had one for her first baby almost 16 years ago – and we think it offers brilliant value for money. Our tester found this walker gave her daughter hours of fun play, as well as physical support which helped build her confidence as she moved towards independent walking.
2. Best premium baby walker: Babymoov 5-in-1 progressive walker and push toy
A highly versatile walker with musical features and a rotating seat
Credit: Babymoov
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Weighs: 5.7kg | Suitable for: 6m-2yrs
| Pros | Cons |
|
✅ Stylish design ✅ Engaging toys and tunes ✅ Excellent longevity – grows with the child |
❌ Takes up space ❌ Requires 2x AA batteries |
The Babymoov 5-in-1 Progressive Baby Walker has two core functions – it’s a baby walker up to 12kg, and a pusher toy for use up to 24 months. When your little one gets bigger, the 360° seat can easily be lifted out and the back bar moved to become a handle for toddlers to hold onto, so they can use the walker and guiding wheels to continue exploring the world.
“I absolutely loved this walker – it’s very simple to assemble and took around 20 minutes to build – I’m not usually very confident building anything on my own, but even I found it super easy!” says our tester, Tess Watkins, mum to Isla, ten months.
The seat is height adjustable and has three different settings, while the learning tray features a music box with three tunes and toys. Our tester found her daughter got the hang of this walker straight away and was soon cruising all over the living room. “I really love the freedom this walker toy gives her; it encourages her development and lets her move around and get used to being on her feet in a safe way,” she says.
“I also really love the 360° seat – Isla gets so excited spinning around to discover the different toys. The walker is exceptionally good quality and extremely stable, and the seat cover is easy to remove and wash. And with three different height settings, I think we’ll get a great deal of use out of this walker, making it superb value for money.”
Read our full review of the Babymoov 5-in-1 progressive baby walker and push toy
3. The best budget walker: Infantino Grow with Me Sensory 3-in-1 Walker
A fun, car-themed walker with interactive play features
Credit: Infantino
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Weighs: 2.3kg | Suitable for: 6m-36m
| Pros | Cons |
|
✅ Simple but satisfying features and sounds ✅ Lockable wheels for extra stability ✅ Toys are easy for little hands to play with |
❌ Requires 3x AA batteries |
This push toy offers three modes of play for babies aged six to 36 months – sit and explore, stand and play, and the discovery car walker. It also features lights, sounds, songs and toys. A height-adjustable handle ensures a sturdy grip for little ones, while lockable back wheels stop the walker rolling away from little standers. The eyes roll open and closed, and tactile toys like the abacus, shape sorter and ball tunnel add further interest to each side of the car.
“This little car quickly became a firm favourite in our house – it was simple to put together and with batteries included it was immediately good to go,” says our tester, Katy Islip, mum to Thea, nine months. They started out using the sit and play mode while Thea explored the various features, particularly enjoying the car’s cute rolling eyes and the amusing light and sound effects triggered when each one moves. “As she’s just started cruising, we soon moved the handle up to the stand and play setting, giving her a better grip as she used it to pull herself up and lean on,” adds Katy.
The musical effects and sounds are cute and so far haven’t proved annoying, according to our tester, and the additional toys have added to the fun – although Katy thinks it’s a shame the ball tunnel only comes with one ball, and the door comes off very easily. “That has become a bit of a game for Thea,” says Katy.
“Once in place, the shape sorter pieces are very firmly wedged in position so she’s not been able to remove them yet, but has hilariously tried latching on to their protruding tops, which made us laugh. Overall, this is a sturdy little toy with lots to discover and hold Thea’s attention. I might not have considered buying this over a ‘traditional’ walker but I’ve been impressed by its stability and charm.”
4. Little Tikes Fantastic Firsts 3-in-1 Activity Walker
A versatile walker and activity centre in one
Credit: Little Tikes
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐| Weighs: 2.87kg | Suitable for: 9m+
| Pros | Cons |
|
✅ Sturdy ✅ Engaging educational features ✅ Easy to store |
❌ Requires 3x AA batteries ❌ Fiddly to assemble |
The Little Tikes Fantastic Firsts 3-in-1 Activity Walker is ideal for encouraging little ones take their first steps, projecting colourful lights onto the floor to encourage babies to get moving. It’s a 3-in-1 toy; a walker, standing activity table, and sit-and-play activity centre. 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 folds down flat for floor-time fun and easy storage.
“This is the best walker we’ve tried – it’s so simple to put together as it all snaps into place, taking us about ten minutes to assemble in total, and it’s super easy to use – we loved it,” says our tester, Tess Watkins, mum to Isla, ten months.
Katy particularly loves the light projector; she says it really works to encourage first steps but adds excitement and fun for babies. “The activity centre is amazing; my daughter was still discovering new features days after it arrived, from piano keys which illuminate different colours to a spinning drum featuring the alphabet,” adds Tess.
“Another huge plus is that this works as a standing toy and stores away easily if you’re short on space. It’s also much sturdier than other walkers – in particular, the speed restrictive wheels stopped it from getting away from Isla too much. Most importantly, this kept Isla entertained for ages while encouraging her development. She gets so excited to see the lights illuminate and the music start playing when she takes a few steps. This walker has really built up her confidence on her feet and it’s been amazing to watch her mobility develop.”
5. Hippychick Classic World Rider and Walker
A simple but robust wooden walker
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Weighs: 2.8kg | Suitable for: 18m
| Pros | Cons |
|
✅ Robust ✅ Multi-purpose ✅ Minimal aesthetic |
❌ Doesn’t handle corners well ❌ Heavy |
This is a strong little wooden walker and ride-on toy made of solid wood with cute additional features including a shape sorter, space to hide things in underneath, and spinning picture blocks.
“This is by far the most robust walker I’ve seen and it’s great for a little one starting to toddle – I’d have been much more confident using this rather than the walker we had when my daughter was little, as this seems less likely to roll away, leaving her flat on her face,” says Pippa Elmes, mum to Lara Elmes, 18 months.
The shape sorter was an immediate hit – being low on the side makes for a different shape sorting angle than most top-down sorter toys, which adds to the challenge, according to Pippa. “The two different heights for pushing/holding when riding is a great design idea too,” she says.
“My little one always wants to ride things ‘backwards’ and this works as a ride-on in either direction. However, its weightiness made it harder for her to heft it round corners. As a walker it’s great, and a great idea to transition to a ride-on. It took 20-25 mins to build as it needs proper screwing together but it does make for a really solid toy as a result. It’s feels as though it will last us a really long time and could be passed on to younger friends or family members.”
6. Great Little Trading Company Wooden Fox Walker
A stylish wooden walker
Credit: Great Little Trading Company
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Weighs: kg | Suitable for: 12m+
| Pros | Cons |
|
✅ Beautiful, stylish design ✅ A simple, classic toy ✅ Built to last |
❌ Requires a lot of space |
VIEW AT GREAT LITTLE TRADING COMPANY | £50
Appealing to our insatiable appetite for all things foxy, The Great Little Trading Company have created a beautiful traditional walker with an open compartment for storing small books or toys. This sturdy wooden toy arrives flat-packed ready to be screwed together so you’ll need to do a little DIY, but it’s worth it for an attractive addition to any nursery or playroom.
“The walker was easy to put together once we’d located the right screwdriver – even with a little person hovering and trying to ‘help’ – and I love the bright fox design, which manages to be both contemporary and timeless,” says Becky Barclay, mum to Charlie, 14 months.
Charlie was immediately keen to pile in some cuddly toys and take them for a ride. “He loved pushing the walker around, but needed help to turn a corner and set off again as the sturdiness of the walker makes it quite heavy,” says Becky.
“The long ‘tail’ prevents the walker from tipping up when your toddler pulls themselves up on the handle – a great design feature. Meanwhile the ‘nose’ sticks out at the front and it’s wide too, making this a walker which requires some space. In a smaller room it could be cumbersome to turn, and the nose might scratch doors or furniture. The real wood gives a robust feel to the walker. It seems like it would cope with a lot of boisterous play and still be in good condition to pass down to a younger sibling – or even the next generation.”
The ‘lastability’ makes this product good value for money, although if you’re looking for a toy to play tunes to entertain your toddler and teach them to count, this is not the walker for you. But it’s classic, classy and it will last a long time.
7. Tot2Walk
An innovative alternative to a classic walker toy
Credit: Tot 2 Walk
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Weighs: 295g | Suitable for: 6m+
| Pros | Cons |
|
✅ Innovative design ✅ Supports development ✅ Truly encourages independent walking |
❌ Might require perseverance |
A baby walking aid, theTot2Walk encourages youngsters to take their first steps without parents having to bend down to support them. The teardrop-shaped foam handles are easy to grip, so babies can develop their leg strength, balance and confidence on their feet, as well as using their upper body to steady themselves.
“It took Isla a few tries to really get the hang of this; initially she would just sit down while gripping on, or she wouldn’t hold onto both ends and lose interest, but after a few attempts, she was off,” says our tester, Tess Watkins, mum to Isla, ten months.
“She’ll now walk with the Tot2Walk, stop and let go with one hand to investigate something, and then carry on, so it’s really built up her confidence on her legs. The handle is also flexible, so it’s been great for her core strength and balance. I also love that it’s so easy to take out with us, so she can practice on the go. It even doubles up as a teething toy and drumsticks for Isla.”
Tess thinks this is an ideal alternative walker for any parent whose little one is at the stage of wanting to walk all the time whilst holding onto you. “It really saves your back,” she says. “Isla now holds the Tot2Walk out to me whenever she wants to go for a stroll!”
8. Fisher-Price Learn with Me Zebra Walker
A brightly coloured musical walker with lots to stimulate babies
Credit: Fisher-Price
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Weighs: 2.3kg | Suitable for: 6m+ | Batteries required: 2x AA batteries
| Pros | Cons |
|
✅ Sturdy but lightweight ✅ Good value ✅ Light and sound features which babies love |
❌ Repetitive musical feature ❌ Requires 2x AA batteries |
This walker demonstrates what Fisher-Price does really well: bright, fun, good quality plastic toys which last. It’s designed to grow with your baby from sitting up through to first steps, and it doubles as an entertainment centre as well as a walker.
“As soon as the box was open, Charlie was attracted by the bright colours of this walker and crawled over to investigate – thankfully assembly took just a few minutes, with easy-to-follow instructions and large parts to click together,” says our tester, Becky Barclay, mum to Charlie, 14 months.
You’ll need a screwdriver to take off the battery cover, and two AA batteries which aren’t included, so don’t forget those. The zebra’s friendly smile, flashing buttons and catchy tunes immediately won over our tester’s son, who was keen to explore the different activities designed to support fine motor skills.
“His favourite is the page, which he can flip over to play a counting song on one side and an alphabet song on the other,” says Becky. “He also likes pushing the walker around, and while its wide-set wheels make it nice and sturdy, it’s light enough for him to turn corners.”
But while Charlie’s a fan, Becky says she can’t pretend the zebra’s giggle and chatter don’t grate on her a little. Happily, there’s an easy-to-find off switch. “Good news if you want a break from the tunes or don’t enjoy being urged, in a sing-song voice, to ‘go for a walk’ when you accidentally nudge it with your foot after bedtime,” adds Becky. “The walker is good quality and not at all flimsy. It feels like it would survive plenty of rough play, and provide a lot of entertainment for the price.”
9. Chad Valley Jungle Deluxe Foldable Baby Walker
A classic seated baby walker that folds for easy storage
Credit: Argos Chad Valley
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Weighs: 5.49kg | Suitable for: 6m+
| Pros | Cons |
|
✅ Encourages independent play ✅ Allows parent to multi-task ✅ Helps baby get moving |
❌ Bulky ❌ Limited life span once baby starts walking |
For a baby coming up to six months this walker offers a great way for them to get upright and on the move. It offers early independence for baby. It allows your baby to play, explore and to stay safe close to you without actually needing to be held, allowing you the opportunity to multitask if necessary.
This sit-in walker allows your baby to stand and toddle about before they’re walking by themselves. It has three height settings to accommodate growing babies, with a high back feature to provide support and a removable washable seat – always handy. On the front tray there’s a bead chaser to give little ones something to play with as they move around, and two loops to attach their own favourite toys. It’s also foldable and lightweight. For a baby coming up to six months, this walker offers a great way to get upright and on the move. It also allows your baby to play, explore and to stay safe near you without actually needing to be held, allowing you a hands-free moment if necessary.
“This walker was reasonably simple to put together – it took me around ten minutes and although it’s lightweight, once it was all clicked together it felt sturdy and secure,” says our tester, Katy Islip, mum to Thea, nine months.
“When we first put her into the walker, Thea actually squealed with joy, loving the upright position and security it gave her. She quickly got the hang of moving about, backwards at first, progressing from a two-footed push to taking proper steps in just a couple of sessions in it.”
The bead chaser toy kept Thea occupied and the tray also gives space for your own toys or to serve snacks. “The front wheels swivel for steering, while the back ones are fixed, and having put it together on carpet it quickly became apparent that this walker really needs to be used on hard flooring,” adds Katy. “For the most efficient propulsion, Thea needed to wear grippy socks or go barefoot, so using it could get a bit chilly in winter.”
10. Legler Elephant Baby Walker
A beautiful wooden walker toy that will be enjoyed for years
Credit: Legler Scandiborn
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Weighs: 6.75kg | Suitable for: 12m+
| Pros | Cons |
|
✅ Beautifully designed ✅ Brightly coloured ✅ Hours of fun |
❌ Fiddly to assemble ❌ Heavy |
This is a walker, a play table, a shape sorter, and a beautifully designed wooden toy which will appeal to both toddlers and their parents. Play value is maximised on every inch, with interactive moving parts to entertain and educate. There’s a shape sorter on the front, numbered tiles to spin round, colours to find and even a chalkboard. We think it’s guaranteed to provide hours of fun for babies and toddlers.
“Even Charlie’s older brothers, aged seven and five, thought this walker looked exciting – I had to stop them from diving straight into the box when it arrived!” says our tester, Becky Barclay, mum to Charlie, 14 months. She found screwing it together a little fiddly, with minimal instructions and some concentration required to get the pieces the right way round and lined up. “I was glad I’d chosen nap-time to put it together or there might have been tears, but it’s definitely worth the effort to assemble – it’s sturdy and heavy enough not to tip, and you can tell it will withstand years of play,” she says.
“I’ve even pulled the walker alongside us during nappy changes – which have become rather wriggly recently – so Charlie can spin the numbered tiles as a distraction. He’ll also push it the length of the room, and its rubber-covered wheels suit hard floors, making it both safe and quiet. It’s too heavy for Charlie to turn on his own, but the play value of this toy is not only as a walker – it’s an entire entertainment station.”
Are baby walkers good for babies?
Before they’re ready to walk, babies need lots of tummy time to help strengthen the muscles they’ll eventually use for rolling over, crawling and walking. Once your baby starts pulling up to standing and holding on to the furniture to cruise around the room, a baby walker can be a useful tool to help develop those skills and build your baby’s confidence, ready for taking those important first steps.
Some types of baby walker toys are associated with risk of injury. In particular, your baby shouldn’t spend long periods of time in the type of seated baby walker that encourages your baby to stand on their tiptoes. You should never leave your baby unattended in a baby walker and don’t use them for more than 15 or 20 minutes at a time.
What age is best for a baby walker?
This depends on which type of baby walker you choose. Many baby walker toys are suitable for use from six months, but do check the age recommendations for the walker you’re interested in, and make sure it’s safe and appropriate for your baby’s age and your child’s stage of development.
Having a baby walker among the toys in your baby’s playroom or nursery means your little one is likely to gravitate towards it when the times comes for taking those memorable first steps.