Baby Walkers. They can be a bit of a dirty word in the kids physio world. But they can also be great if the right ones are used in the right way and at the right time. 

Logically, as the name suggests, you would think they were custom designed to be a perfect tool in helping your baby take those first independent steps. Yeeeeeesss. But also no.

Some babies get hooked on walkers almost as bad as they get hooked on sultanas. It’s near impossible to take them away when you start them too young. (I have a recovering sultana addict living in my own home. It can be tough some days guys).

The best way to use them?

Only offer a baby a walker when they almost don’t need it. Does that make sense? It sounds a bit silly, but if a baby is given a walker too early, they tend to become really reliant on it. Initially, it’s a terrifying thing to watch….this crazy excited baby, giggling hysterically, pushing this device around on the kitchen tiles like a small lunatic, completely uncontrolled, going scarily fast, and they’re pretty much guaranteed to fall on their face within 7 seconds.

I imagine it’s kind of like watching your child jump behind the wheel of a car on their own for the first time at age 16.

But if your determined baby (or determined Mummy or Daddy) keeps persisting from this ‘too-early’ stage, they will start getting the hang of it. They’ll eventually nail it. But then they will find it really hard to let go.

Baby’s need to learn to feel really confident in pulling themselves in to standing, twisting their body, cruising around furniture and squatting to the ground first; all BEFORE they’re ready to step out into the open. 

Now. This next bit is really important…….

Please for the love of God don’t put your baby in a ‘spider’ walker or walker with a seat inside (example below). Babes are not ready to use a walker if you need to sit them in it. If you have one: I’m sorry, but throw 👏🏻 it 👏🏻 in 👏🏻 the 👏🏻bin. I am an op-shop queen guys. But don’t donate this one please. No baby should use one.

Spider walkers create bad habits; babies often end up toe-walking in them and this can follow through to childhood. And toe-walking in big kids? It’s pretty tricky to stop the habit. Yes, sometimes kids toe-walk anyway, but if you can avoid it……

Children who use spider walkers a lot also don’t develop their ‘saving’ reactions as well as they should and will forget to put their arms out to save themselves from a fall. Hello head eggs. 

Spider walkers are also unsafe. It’s very easy for a baby to scuttle down a flight of stairs in a spider walker. Pretty sure my brother fell off a concrete ledge and into my Nana’s rose garden when my Dad was ‘supervising’ him in a walker. Mum has never let him hear the end of it. I have never let her hear the end of putting him in a walker. (Kidding.…As IF I would say that to my Mum. I would be FINISHED….Mum, if you’re reading this, you did nothing wrong. Everyone had one in those days, they were all the rage, I know…….oh God. I feel as though I may be getting a phone call after this.)

Anyway. Have I convinced you yet?

So…..Which walkers are the right ones to use then?

Walkers without a seat: there’s loads of commercial options (again, pictured below).  

The little block trolleys like the one Alfie is using in the image above are great too (make sure it’s weighted down with books or heavy blocks first though). A kitchen chair and an older sibling’s baby-doll pram are all good options as well. 

Most importantly, as mentioned above, don’t offer it to baby until they almost don’t need it. If they start pushing the kitchen chair around of their own accord, then they’re probably ready! 

If however you find that baby is getting a bit hooked on it; becoming a bit of a walker-junkie and using it more than they are standing, squatting and playing on the  spot, then it might be time to take it away for a while so they can practice feeling really confident in standing. 

Remember its all the beautiful developmental stuff that happens BEFORE walking that is critical for a baby’s cognitive and motor learning.... learning that will shape how they move as toddlers and  children. 

My eBook ‘My Strong Little Body’ has loads of ideas to help with the pull-to-stand, furniture walking and walking milestones, that don’t involve just giving a baby a walker and hoping for the best. 

And the best piece of equipment for a baby’s development in my books? You. (And a baby gym when they’re tiny). That’s it. No bells and whistles needed. Save your cash and buy your baby some cute clothes instead. Or buy yourself a nice plant. You’ll thank me for it when you have a lounge room free of massive hideous baby items that burn your retinas every time you walk in there.

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Until next time!

Alana xx