Best Baby Walkers of 2020
The nostalgic look of the Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon harkens back to a simpler time and could be what draws you to this walker. The Radio Flyer is a sturdy, thoughtfully designed walker that has ample room for all baby's treasures or a sibling to share in the fun. The wood-slatted sides are removable, and the front has a plastic bumper to prevent damage to your walls or furniture. We like the look and feel of this mostly wood product, and the design feels like one your child can use well past their toddling years. This walker has a resistance tensioner you can adjust as your child masters walking, and the wheels are foam filled plastic with no discernable slipping problems in our tests.
This product has an involved assembly process with more parts and setup than most of the competition. Still, assembly isn't challenging if you follow the instructions, and if you like building, you might even enjoy the process. Also, this pusher makes an audible clicking noise when you use the tensioner. This sound might be intriguing to little ones, but we suspect most parents will dislike it droning on and on. As your child gets better at walking, you can remove the tension and thus the clicking. Overall, we think the Flyer offers a lot of great features, and we believe little ones will use it to move and store toys for years after they learn to walk, making it a useful and fun addition to any baby gear lineup.
With many of the wood walkers coming in with prices over a hundred dollars, the Brio Toddler Wobbler is a best buy with impressive quality and attention to detail. This simple little wagon has an adjustable handlebar, axel wheels, rubber on the tires, and a tray for treasures. We like the tension screw that acts as a brake to slow the walker for first-timers and the basic design that leaves the imagination to use it as it will.
This walker has bright red paint that can mar and transfer to baseboards, walls, and other furniture. Also, despite the two-position handle feature, it can be tippy, so you may want to monitor younger or more unstable toddlers as they learn to stand. Some users remark that the wagon moves too swiftly, while we didn't experience this during testing, we encourage parents to familiarize themselves with the rear wheel tension screw to help slow the rig down. This walker may not be the flashiest in the bunch, but it is a high-quality walker for a reasonable price, and little ones will appreciate the ability to take their belongings with them as they stroll for years after they master walking.
If quality and high-end are the names of your game, look no further than the HABA Walker Wagon. This classic looking walker reminds us of something grandpa would have built, and the quality and craftsmanship of the materials and attention to detail shows just how much he cares. This all-wood option uses non-toxic stains to avoid chipping paint or unsightly scratches. It feels sturdy and durable and looks like an heirloom you'll be proud to pass on to the grandkids. We like this walker doubles as a chair and can also carry small treasures. Plus, the rubber wheels prevent sliding, and the front brakes stop little ones from going faster than they want to. In our tests, we found older siblings really enjoyed the chair portion while letting younger siblings push them around. The HABA is a parent favorite.
This walker is by far the most expensive in the group, which could be a deal-breaker for those on a tight budget. However, you do get what you pay for with this simple walker, and we think generations of little ones will enjoy what it has to offer. So whether you pass it down from sibling to sibling or from child to grandchild, we think you'll get your money's worth with this quality walker if your budget allows.
The cool-looking Skip Hop Kids 3-in-1 is a versatile walker with three distinct options fo varying ages and skill levels. This little scooter is first a push walker with a carry bin for moving treasures from place to place while learning to stand and walk. It then converts to a sit on scooter reminiscent of tooling around the Italian countryside. Finally, it changes into a standing scooter for older children who are ready to roll a little faster. This 3-in-1 walker is the most versatile in the group and is suitable for a more extended age range than some of the competition. It features a working headlight, has sound effects, and plays melodies for more interactive fun. We like that the seat converts to a bin and can be removed for even more versatility and fun.
With an age range of 1-4 years, this walker is not the best for first-time standers or toddlers who lack coordination. We encourage parents to keep the one year lower limit in mind before using this option with younger babies, as there have been some reports of tipping when younger babies push on the handlebar when dismounting the seat. We believe parents and children alike will enjoy this unique walker, and we love that it has multiple uses to keep the fun going past the toddling years.
The VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker is an ultra-interactive baby entertainment machine. With all the bells whistles, lights, and buttons you can think of, this walker does almost everything but makes fries. Only kidding. It does, however, draw the attention of toddlers and keeps it longer than the competition, which could be a lifesaver if you're a busy parent who needs a moment alone. In our tests, this was a baby favorite with the removable faceplate and melodies with adjustable volume. We like that the wheels are slip-resistant, and it has an adjustable brake to keep it from going too fast.
This walker is entirely plastic, which isn't our favorite, but it does feel sturdy compared to some of the plastic competition. Also, we suspect the noises and lights will grow old over time, and some parents will long for a quieter house, but at least you can turn the volume down or off if you need to, though this may be frustrating for little ones. Overall, it is hard to argue with a baby's favorite walker, and we think most babies will find this option to be an enduring favorite even if parents long for a more nostalgic wagon walker.
the Hape Wonder Walker is a wood walker with a taller design that includes several interactive stations with moving parts, gears, and balls strung on elastic. We like the craftsmanship and overall feel of this durable walker and enjoy that it isn't the usual plastic activity fare or boring wood wagon. This option has slip-resistant wheels, and rounded edges to avoid injuries should little ones take a tumble when using it. Our little testers did find this option more engaging than the basic wood wagons.
This walker has no brake or way to adjust the resistance of the wheels, which could lead to the walker moving too swiftly for new walkers. Also, the wheels squeak repeatedly in a high-pitch whine we suspect will eventually feel like nails on a chalkboard to parents. We aren't sure if this will get better over time or if a little oil would help, but we weren't the only reviewers with this problem, so it seems to be systemic. Those issues aside, we do adore this lovely little scooter and its ability to engage little ones without going over the top by overstimulating the baby with flashing lights and repetitive sounds.
The Janod Crazy Doggy Cart is a whimsical pushcart little ones are drawn to. This adorable dog head design comes with floppy felt ears, a simple bell collar, and slip a carry tray for all your baby's treasures. We like the color design and cute dog-shaped head, as well as the rounded edges, through axel design, and rubber edged wheels to prevent slipping and faster speeds.
This walker doesn't have a brake, so new walkers could potentially end up moving too fast. The pointy nose of the dog could also potentially damage drywall or other furniture if your little one crashes or intentionally rams the face into stationary objects. Also, some users report missing parts in their box (we did not), so we recommend opening your box and assembling the walker immediately so you don't miss the return window should something be missing or ill-fitted. Otherwise, we think this cute little dog might be the ticket for canine loving friends who will value the pure cuteness of it.
The cute Fisher-Price Learn with Me Zebra Walker is an inexpensive plastic walker with an eye-catching black and white zebra with baby-centric interactive features that include the ABC's and 123's. This walker features music, lights, and textures to keep little ones busy and includes volume control and off button for parents who may tire of hearing the repetitive strains.
The Zebra does not have a brake, and many testers feel it moves to fast for younger babies. This product has thin and sort of flimsy plastic that flexes under pressure and could potentially break under duress. While we suspect the lower price and cute face will draw in most parents, our little tester did not find it as engaging as some of the competition, and the quality is disappointing. We think parents should consider other options unless they just love Zebras and can't walk away from the happy equine.
The cossy Baby Walker has an adorable fox face and includes several real wood blocks in fun colors and shapes. We like the wood construction and cute face and think it is likely a shoo-in for forest themed nurseries. This walker has an easy to clean plastic handle and rubber on the wheels to prevent them from slipping as little ones pull themselves up.
This walker has no brake, and some feel it moves to fast for new walkers. Also, while we didn't have quality issues with our product, several reviewers did experience problems with poor hole alignment, chipped wood, and faulty screws, so you'll want to open your package when you get it to ensure your walker is good to go. While we like the blocks and the design, we worry the quality issues and limited customer service could result in disappointment for little ones as well as parents.
The Melissa & Doug Chomp & Clack Alligator looks pretty cool on first blush with moving alligator heads, and bright, eye-catching colors with a basic design and wood construction parents will like. It comes with spinning blocks, rubber wheels for slip resistance, and a design that prevents most back tipping.
Unfortunately, this walker is surprisingly dull as the baby can't see the action of the moving heads while using the walker, making them sort of useless. They also don't make any noise as they have felt padding, and while this might be a relief to some parents, it once again fails to intrigue little ones who may not even notice the best part of this walker. Also, the gator heads fill the space that might otherwise be open for toy storage, so the walker serves no other purpose than giving little ones something to steady themselves with while walking. Our little testers were fairly unimpressed and chose several other wood walkers over this limited product.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our BabyGearLab team has been assembling and testing baby gear for over 20 years of combined experience. This review team includes Abriah Wofford, Senior Review Editor, who was responsible for product selection, testing, and assessing baby engagement with each walker. Abriah has been one of 7 siblings and has extensive experience as a nanny and tester for baby gear. Assembly master, Bob Wofford, Senior Review Analyst and father of 7, put each walker together and scored products with a keen eye for quality, durability, and longevity. Bob has been assembling baby gear for over 7 years and has put together more gear than anyone we know of. Wendy Schmitz, Senior Review Editor and mother of 2, rounds out the team helping to assess the award winners and product ranks using the test data and her experience as a guide.
Analysis and Test Results
We purchased and tested 10 top baby walkers in their review to determine which options are the best for specific goals and budgets. We used each walker with little ones of different ages to assess baby interest, quality, and ease of assembly.
Baby Interest
As expected, little ones like lights and sounds and bright colors. So it is no wonder they were immediately drawn to the plastic walkers with interactive features like the VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker and the Fisher-Price Learn with me Zebra Walker. Over time, they preferred the V-Tech as it has more going on and seems to respond to baby's touch more than the Zebra. However, parents might not be interested in hearing repetitive sounds that often continue when no one is near the walker. This reality could mean that you'd rather something more on the quiet side, but you still want the walker to be interesting and interactive.
We liked the Hape Wonder Walker, which has several small interactive features that intrigued our little testers. It also features a tray for storing treasures to push from place to place. The bucket/seat on the Skip Hop 3-in-1 makes this walker interactive, giving children the option to use it as a bucket, a seat, a carrying device, and more. The cute design of the scooter offers more versatility than any other walker in the group. The Melissa & Doug Chomp & Clack Alligator is a surprisingly boring option in the group. While the moving alligator heads feel like a winner, toddlers pushing the walker can't see them moving, and there is no tray for carrying toys and other treasures, making this walker nothing more than a large push device.
Quality
The quality of the walkers is somewhat all over the place. Some of the wood options are very well-built and have great attention to detail using non-toxic materials, like the HABA Walker, While others use plastic with rougher edges and nooks and crannies for spit-up and snacks to hide in, like the Fisher-Price Zebra Walker. In our tests, we didn't have any trouble with quality per see, our kits came ready to assemble with holes in the right spots and functional screws, and none of the walkers broke or failed during testing. However, online reviewers remark on some quality issues for some of the walkers straight out of the box or over the long haul of use.
Besides the HABA, the Radio Flyer, Hape, and Brio walkers all impressed with varying levels of real wood construction, chipless paint, and attention to details like rubber on the wheels and brakes or resistance devices that help keep baby moving at a reasonable and safe pace. Each of these products feels like it will last through multiple children and impressed us with the attention to detail and overall design choices that speak to potential longevity and ease of use. It is easy to see how the Radio Flyer will remain a child favorite over the years, well past the toddling learning to walk phase, and the product's quality implies it will last as long as you need it to.
Some of the plastic options were less impressive. The Fisher-Price Zebra is thin plastic that has a significant flex when pushed on and feels like it might break under regular use. The V-Tech is also plastic but feels significantly sturdier and well put together than the Zebra. In our research, we found reviewers remarking on the poor quality of the cossy Baby Walker and the Melissa & Doug Chomp & Clack Alligator with comments about chipping particle board, flaking paint, and misaligned holes. We didn't experience these issues with either product, but it is worth mentioning as multiple reviewers remarked on the same problems for each.
Ease of Setup
Some of the walkers were easier to assemble than others and could be a hassle if an assembly isn't in your wheel-house or you try to avoid reading directions. The longest and most involved is the Radio Flyer Walker Wagon. With the most parts in the group, it feels like you built a kit as opposed to putting together a toy, and while easy to do and the instructions are good if building isn't your favorite thing to do, you aren't going to like it. Luckily, it is a one and done proposition, and you'll never find yourself building it twice. The Fisher-Price Zebra is next up for difficulty with lots of parts and more screws than most of the competition. While not hard to assemble, your hands and arms could be tired before you are done. The HABA requires a hammer and a wreck you supply yourself, and while not a challenge, it does feel more like actual building than assembling a toy. The Skip Hop Kids 3-in-1 requires the ability to follow instructions as you will end up doubling your efforts if you don't as the assembly is not intuitive and, if done out of order, will not work.
The easiest options to put together include those with few parts, a couple of screws and included wrenches. These walkers include the Brio, cossy, Melissa & Doug Chomp & Clack Alligator, and the V-Tech. A somewhat universal problem with most of the walkers is extremely long screws that take forever to turn and will give you a tired hand and forearm. We aren't convinced they need to be this long, and it extended the assembly tie of more than a few products.
We did not experience any trouble during setup with misaligned holes or faulty screws that we saw reported online. But it is worth mentioning that some parents had difficulty specifically with the Hape Wonder Walker, the Janod Crazy Doggy Cart, and the Chomp & Clack Alligator having either misaligned pre-drilled holes or faulty screws that did not work.
Conclusion
Testing baby walkers is fun, and listening to babies' honest takes on what is exciting and what doesn't pass muster even more so. Our review includes an inside look at the ease of assembly, quality, and baby interest level using real toddlers to determine the standout walkers. We believe there is something for everyone in this lineup of great walkers. Whether you want something for multiple ages, an heirloom to pass down to the next generation, or something with all the bells and whistles, this roundup has the details you need to find your winner.
— Wendy Schmitz