Choosing Learning Walkers

Learning walkers are a great toy for your baby especially if they can graduate from one step to another as your baby grows. In addition to being able to be used for longer periods of time, you should always make sure that your walker choice is going to be steady and secure enough for your baby as he tries to learn how to first stand and then to cruise.

To start, many adjustable walkers may allow the baby to sit on the floor and play with the little attachments. When the baby is ready to start trying to stand up and walk, then you raise the legs on the walker. As the baby grows bigger and can actually walk fairly well, the toy can become a ride-on toy instead. That way, you are not buying an item that is only needed for a few weeks and then forgotten about.

Babies do not really need these types of walkers. Some of them never bother with these types of toys at all, happy to use furniture or the dog instead. Others may become so used to holding on to their little walker toy that their family is worried that they will be pushing it down the aisle for high school graduation. Eventually, the baby will decide to let go and take those first, teetering steps with no assistance at all. Most parents will agree that it happens soon enough, so they will overlook the walker moments for as long as possible.

Safety is the most important factor that you should keep in mind when choosing a walker. It should have a wide enough base to make it sturdy and should be made of durable material. If it folds up or down or has any type of adjustable sizing, then it should have a secure locking method to keep it from collapsing on the baby and pinching his little fingers. This is especially true if it is designed to become a ride-on toy after the baby is done learning to walk with it. In reality, most babies can use their walker as a ride on toy until he is two or so.

Design may also be important. There are some that look like a little car. The baby holds on to the back of the car when it is being used as a walker and sits on the seat when he is using it as a ride on toy. Since there are so many of them, it is a matter of personal preference for the type of learning walkers that you will choose to buy and use for your own baby.