Charlie loved walkers starting around 10 months of age. Walkers definitely helped him develop the balancing skills he needed to take his first steps just before his first birthday, and eventually start walking at 13 months.
1. Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon – This walker is great because it has some heft to it, so it’s not likely to tip over. Charlie also loved riding in the wagon, and eventually pushing his toys in it too!
2. Plan Toy Walker – Many parents prefer high quality wood toys, and this walker is a parent favorite. It comes with 24 blocks, and has two adjustable heights.
3. Little Tikes Shopping Cart – This isn’t technically a walker, but it was certainly Charlie’s first and favorite walker toy. Long after your toddler has mastered walking, the shopping cart has a second life as a toy to play market!
4. Chicco DJ Baby Walker – A lot of parents are against this type of walker, citing that they’re dangerous and babies can fall down stairs. I take everything with a grain of salt and personally would have no qualms about putting my baby in a walker like this as long as she were supervised. A lot of my friends have this walker and love it!
5. Ikea Ekorre Walker – At $15, this is the most affordable walker on our guide. Here’s a little secret - toddlers who want to walk aren’t that picky about walkers. :-)
6. Haba Walker Wagon – At $144, this is the priciest walker on our guide. This wooden walker is very sturdy, features rubber wheels and is built with the quality parents expect from Haba products.
7. Melissa and Doug Chomp and Clack Alligator Push Toy – This was probably Charlie’s second favorite walker because the alligators’ mouths chomp up and down as you push the walker.
Did your baby have a favorite walker?
Toys for Toddlers part 6 of 7
1. Charlie's Favorite Toys 12 Months+ by Guides2. Charlie's Favorite Toys 18 Months+ by Guides
3. Gift Ideas for 2nd Birthdays by Guides
4. What We’re Playing With Right Now (15 months) by Mrs. Stroller
5. Cool gifts for the wheel-obsessed toddler by Mrs. Yoyo
6. Best Walkers by Guides
7. Charlie's Favorite Toys 9 Months + by Guides
persimmon / 1250 posts
We bought the Bright Starts Around We Go Activity Station because we wanted something that kept her safe in the initial learning process that also didn’t bang up our walls. The fact that it becomes a stand alone activity station later is also a plus. We also have a Vtech sit-to-stand walker that a friend gave us and while she loves playing with the toy panel, it’s loud and rather annoying.
Now at 10 months, she’s on the verge of taking her first steps and I’m thinking that shopping cart will be fun for her to push around. :)
GOLD / grapefruit / 4405 posts
DD loves #7 – the Melissa and Doug walker! Even before she could walk, she’d sit on the ground and play with the toys on the handle or push it to watch the alligators open/close their mouths. :)
blogger / cantaloupe / 5107 posts
I would of loved to have #4 but they are illegal in Canada :( Maybe on my next US trip I’ll bring one back for baby deux
cherry / 150 posts
My daughter has the Haba (it was a gift from my MIL) and even now that she’s been walking for months, she still loves it and uses it all the time. It was worth the price. She uses it as a doll stroller, a seat, a step stool, and likes when we push her around in it.
One feature that was really useful early on is that the wheels have a screw you can tighten/loosen to make it harder/easier to push. This was great to keep it from just sweeping out from under her when she was first learning to walk.
apple seed / 4 posts
We bought the radio flyer walker and tried out a friends Haba walker and although beautifully constructed, the babies were frequently stuck because the walkers are too heavy to move. They could walk in a straight line but that was it, (and not very far in our apartment). Turns out the cheap plastic walkers are the best because they are light and easy to maneuver. We have the Fisher Price Brilliant Basic.
apricot / 322 posts
We have the Ikea walker and Max loves it. He pushes it like it’s his job. Recently he’s figured out how to turn it in different directions to get around obstacles or when he hits a wall.
apple seed / 1 posts
We used the Step2 blue whisper ride buggy without the handle attached for my daughter and she loved it! It was heavy/sturdy enough for her to hold onto but not too hard for her to push in front of her for assisted walking. She used to love putting her dolls and stuffed animals in the seat and in the front storage space (under the hood) and then push them around. We got it for her as an alternative to a stroller (which it also was later) but it was a wonderful alternative to the traditional walker as well for us.
kiwi / 721 posts
I love that you have no many non-plastic options on here. I’m trying to minimize plastic as much as possible & there is just so stinking much of it on the market in the form of baby toys. And all these wooden ones are so cute!
guest
I just got the Haba wagon for my LO, but without the instructions. Can anyone tell me how to tighten the wheels?
admin / papaya / 10631 posts
Hey Tiffany. According to an Amazon review, “if you want to adjust the rolling speed, you need to use a coin to turn the gray plastic screws on the underside by the front wheels until they create friction with the wheels. The instructions that come with the toy are very limited and don’t specify this.”
Does that help at all?