Choosing a baby walker for your junior can be a daunting endeavor, as there are so many choices out there. But remember, what matters the most is the safety of the product you choose, so to avoid any buyer's remorse or second thoughts, consider which features will work best for your child but make no compromises on safety.
When picking the walker for your baby, there are a few things you should consider though. First, you will want to pick a walker with rubberized feet and non-skid pads on the base. These will prevent the walker from slipping and causing falls. Furthermore, you should also pay attention to how close the bars are to ensure they can't pinch or grab hold of their legs. To help you choose from hundreds of products available on the market, we together a list of ten things to consider when choosing the right walker for your baby.
1. Types of Baby Walkers
There are two popular types of walkers: classic and sit-to-stand. Let's compare them both to see what their main differences are.
- Classic
Classic models are made for babies to walk around. They are made of a wide base with support arms connected to a play area with an integrated seat. Some classic baby walkers have foldable support arms so that you can store them more easily. In addition, most classic baby walkers come with a detachable seat so you can clean it more easily.
They are made from non-toxic materials and have toys attached to them so babies can play as they walk. The toys are educational, so they keep babies busy and entertained.
- Sit to stand
Sit-to-stand baby walkers are less expensive than classic types. They are great for parents who want to encourage their baby to walk but don't want to spend a lot of money. The primary purpose of this type of product is to help babies stand and walk. Sit-to-stand baby walkers come in multiple colors and have multiple speed settings. They also usually come with a play panel that can be detached for playing on the floor.
2. Weight Restriction
Baby walkers are safe. They are designed to be safe. But you should still respect the weight limit. If your baby is tall and/or big, heavier than 20 pounds, you need to check the weight limit. To find a baby walker for your tall and heavy baby, go to this article on baby walkers for tall babies and read our brand recommendations.
3. Baby Walker Safety
You have to keep safety first while using any equipment for children. Like wearing a motorcycle helmet before riding it! Look for a walker that is safe for your baby to use. There shouldn't be any sharp edges or places where your baby's fingers could get trapped. It should have an excellent wide base so it can't tip over easily. The wheels should have at least a 50 mm diameter. Make sure your baby's feet can touch the floor when sitting on the walker.
4. Comfort
For your baby to be comfortable, make sure that it has high back support and a thick padded seat. Think back to when you were in school. You probably sat on hard wooden chairs. Remember how uncomfortable that was? Well, your baby doesn't want to be uncomfortable either. Thankfully, most baby walkers have thick seat padding and high back support. Just make sure that you can remove the padding for washing.
5. Adjustability
You need to look for adjustability because all babies are different. The height should be adjustable, and the space between the legs should be adjustable too. If you have more than one baby, they can share a single adjustable baby walker. This is better than buying a walker for each baby and figuring out where to store them all.
6. Design and Build Quality
The design of the baby walker needs to be sturdy enough so it won't break easily or collapse when used by an infant. It also has to be easy to assemble and disassemble.
Usually, walkers are made from plastic. Some plastics are safe, and some are not. You should check that your ones are not made from PVC (Polyvinylchloride), PS (Polystyrene), or PC (Polycarbonates). Because these types of plastics are harmful to babies.
7. Cleaning
Cleaning baby toys is an essential thing to do. If you don't clean the toys, germs can grow on them and make your baby sick. You need to clean baby toys every day so that your baby doesn't get sick. You can wash baby toys with soap and water. You can also use a disinfectant spray.
Make sure that you only use these products in areas where babies play. Never put cleaning supplies near food or drink because they could cause poisoning.
8. Toys
Baby walkers come with toys. The toys are there to make the baby walker more fun and educational. Teething toys are one type of toy that comes with baby walkers. Teething toys are things babies can put in their mouth to help them with their teeth. Teething toys are made in different shapes, colors, and materials. A good teething toy is safe for babies, has no toxic chemicals, is easy to hold, and has no parts that can break off and choke the baby. You should check what kind of toys are included with the walker.
9. Battery Requirements
Baby walkers can have little toys that are powered by batteries. Sometimes the batteries need to be replaced. Usually, the batteries are easy to change but some models require a small screwdriver to open the battery compartment. First, you should check if your walker needs batteries or not. If it does, use rechargeable ones, so you don't waste money on disposable batteries as they may drain very quickly.
10. Storage
Make sure that your baby walker will fit into the playroom or baby's room of your house. If you plan on having more than one child use this walker, then ensure you can store it safely for your next baby. In addition, if you have a child who likes to climb and play with things around the house, make sure that he can’t reach this walker. This way, you won't have to worry about him breaking something in the future. You can select a foldable one, and/or you should learn about assembly and disassemble the walker by yourself.
Final Verdict
In conclusion, the walker is a helpful tool for a child to learn at a young age. Also, it could be your baby's elliptical trainer! Compared to a stroller, it does not tip over as quickly and provides an unobstructed view of the world. However, if you planning on using it outdoors, especially if you live in a city environment, it may be too difficult for your baby to learn to walk with the walker due to the lack of flat surfaces. Check out our tips above when you will choose a baby walker for your baby.
