How To Find The Best Walker Toy For Your Child?
Is your little bundle of joy showing signs they want to start walking? Maybe your baby is trying to pull themselves up or stand-alone. If they are, you may wonder if a walker toy could help. Let's find the answer to this question.
What Is A Baby Walker?
Baby walker with wheels intends to support the ability of toddlers to walk and protect them from falling when they stand up on their own. Generally, a walker toy contains a frame with wheels and can be of two types - a seat for the toddler to sit or a handle for the toddler to hold and walk.
Often, babies cannot get out of the baby walker independently. Hence, parents use walkers to keep the baby in place while they tackle other things.
When Is The Right Age For Kids To Use Baby Walkers?
Many different styles and types of best baby walkers and walker toys are available in the market. Though most baby walkers are recommended to support the development of a child's motor skills, it is essential to seek age-appropriate walkers to prevent accidents.
Some parents believe the right time for kids to use baby walkers is when they can crawl. At the same time, others think that it is safe to use the walker when the baby can sit up and control their head movements. And a group of people also suggest that a baby walker should only be used when the baby learns to take its first independent steps.
Types of Baby Walkers
It is common to find classic baby walkers on wheels, where the child sits inside and pushes their legs against the floor to move. But there are also modern versions of baby walkers that are multifunctional. In addition, many of the latest designs come with command centers with numerous interactive toys that shine, play and encourage your baby to play and push.
Here are the top 5 types of walker toys for toddlers:
Push-Along Walkers
Babies love to explore their surroundings. With a push walker, babies explore different spaces of their home independently, touch different things, and experience various senses. A push walker allows babies to move around the house or outdoors and explore safely. In addition, a baby can only see the world from a certain height when crawling. But with a walker, they can stand up and see the world from a different perspective.
The push walker is suitable for a child's development as it encourages them to experience new things safely and securely. This is good for the baby's proprioception – how they see themselves about the world around them. Besides, the decked-up counter with multiple colorful walker toys keeps the baby entertained for hours.
However, ensuring that the space your baby can access has been child-proofed and is safe is essential.
Convertible Walker
One of the modern and multifunctional types of walkers is convertible walkers. They are a seated walker that can be flipped into a sit-to-stand walker when the kid's age begins to walk independently.
Convertible walkers are a wise option for parents who want to save money. The walker toys can be turned into a new unit from a sit-to-stand walker as the child ages, so there's no need to buy another walker when the child starts to walk.
Above all, the toy stations on these walkers also come with multiple options. The walker toys are interchangeable and have a space to add the holding bar for the baby.
Seated Walkers
Seated walkers usually cater to children who can sit up and raise their heads independently. They consist of a frame made of plastic or steel and contain a fabric-made sitting space for the baby with leg holes cut out so their legs can touch the floor.
A seated walker is the one that most parents get as soon as the baby turns six months old. Many parents also use seater walkers as a sitting space for the baby by covering the wheels to restrict movement. These baby walkers are also equipped with walker toys and music stations to keep the baby happily occupied and boost their cognitive skills.
Key Points To Look For To Find The Best Baby Walker
Ideally, the best baby walker should have the following features.
- Rubber stoppers under the base.
- JPMA certified and exceeded ASTM test standards.
- Lightweight structure (under 15 pounds).
- For kids over 25 pounds.
- Adjustable height feature.
- Easy cleaning.
- Smooth-edged for safety
- Washable fabrics and removable parts.
- Wheel-lock feature for stationary use.
- Large wheels for carpet riding.
- Rubberized wheels to prevent sliding.
- Simple integrated walker toys.
- Highly balanced and stable.
- Easy fold for storage.
Other features like personal style and budget should also be considered when looking for walker toys. Plus, very few baby walkers meet the needs of picky parents, so prioritize safety, and you can find a walker closest to your requirements.
How to Child-proof Your Home Before Playing with Walker Toys?
Babies will explore every nook and corner of the house when capable. Therefore, it becomes incredibly crucial to child-proof the space for safety.
When the baby can move independently from one place to another, either through crawling, sliding, or walking, they become susceptible to hurting themselves. Likewise, learning to walk with walker toys gives them an added advantage of height and increased reachability. As a result, the scope of getting hurt also increases.
A few of the main child-proofing tips include:
- Removing things like vases and other decor items that can be bumped into or knocked over.
- Installing safety locks on drawers that are accessible from the new walker height.
- Removing loose mats or carpets.
- Cleaning a safe path for the baby to navigate through.
- Install safety gates if you have stairs.
