Does my baby need a push along walker or toy?

Baby walkers make a great gift for a young child, and while they’re a wonderful plaything, don’t be lured into thinking that your baby needs one to learn how to walk. 

Slow and steady 

The progression of learning to walk is a slow and steady process that your baby will master by experimenting with their movements; this might happen by pulling themselves up and cruising around using furniture.

They will need a steady base to gain confidence, before moving on and attempting to move towards other things. If we introduce something like a baby walker that moves quickly with wheels, this can sometimes push them to make movements they’re not ready for, and they might topple over and be more reluctant to walk. 

Wheels for multi-purpose play 

So, while they’re marketed as ‘walkers’, they’re better used by confident toddlers in their play.

If you decide to get a push along 'walker', remember your baby will really need to concentrate as they take their first steps, so a simple push-along might be best at first!

If you’re thinking of buying a baby walker, it might be a good idea to get one that can be used in different ways – perhaps as a pram or for storing and moving blocks around.

Better still, pick up a second-hand one and if they don’t play with it for long, you can gift it on: saving the planet and your pocket in the process!