15 best baby walkers to buy in the UK in 2023, including compact and with wheels

May 30, 2023

WHETHER you’re looking for an all-singing, interactive toy or stable support for younger babies who aren't quite walking yet, a baby walker can be a really handy piece of kit to keep your little one busy.

With so many different types to choose from, we’ve looked at the materials, manoeuvrability and safety features to bring you the definitive roundup of the best baby walkers with wheels available to buy now in the UK.

Whatever your style or budget, and whatever your baby's stage of mobility, there's a baby walker to suit them.

Some of the best baby walkers can entertain a baby even when they aren't pushing it around, thanks to music and buttons to press and play with.

There are different styles to choose from, like seated walkers for younger tots, walking frames for older ones to push and walkers with trailers or baskets that can wheel toys around.

Other top baby walkers work to contain younger children, providing a padded seat and plastic tray enclosure.

This ride-on dog from John Lewis is designed to teach the value of concentration and improve balance.

It's made from FCS wood, which means it's sourced responsibly and it should provide hours of fun and development.

Happy reviewers on John Lewis praise how well-built and sturdy this walker is.

It's also billed as being easy to put together.

Size: H40 x W27 x D45cm Suitable from: 18 months

Suitable from six months, this multi-tasking baby walker has a rotating seat with activities on either side of the tray featuring a range of sensory toys, as well as lights, sounds and tunes.

It can be used as a bouncer or a walker.

Parents like that it's easy to put together, sturdy, reliable and that it buys them some much-needed hands-free time.

Size: 74 x 66.5 x 44 cm Weight: 11.68 Pounds Suitable from: 6 months

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This four-wheeled baby walker comes with a removable interactive activity centre with lights and sounds.

It's hard-wearing, great value for money and the colours and knobs to push, turn and pull will entertain your baby even when the batteries run out.

Suitable from: 6 months

Once you start looking into baby walkers, you’ll be surprised at the myriad car-themed options available.

MyChild's Car 2-in-1 baby walker is suitable for babies from six months and features three height positions, a padded seat and back support and a racing car play tray with lights and sound. It also converts into a rocker.

Size: 70 x 15 x 63 cm Weight: 6 kg Suitable from: 6 months

This Little Tikes’ walker folds down into an activity table with plenty to engage a curious baby.

As the child pushes it along, lights activate to create a cool, entertaining and motivating projection on the floor for them to chase after.

Size: H42.42, W43.69, D53.85cm Weight:2.87kg Suitable from: 9 months

This fun zebra walker has lights, sounds, ABCs and 123s, making it a favourite for engaging little ones and keeping them interested as they get older.

Suitable for babies from six months, this interactive walker allows your child to use it in two ways: either ‘sit and play’ or ‘stand and walk’.

The easy-grasp handle and sturdy four-wheel base can help steady baby's first steps.

Size: ‎10.5 x 46 x 40.5 cm Weight:2.44kg Suitable from: 6 months

This walker grows with your baby (it's suitable from nine months), starting out as a supported walker with an activity tray and transforming into a pusher.

It can fold down ultra-compactly for easy storage and the seat cover is machine-washable, too.

Size: ‎68.6 x 15.8 x 71.3 cm Weight:5kg Suitable from: 9 months

Wooden toys are increasingly popular with parents — they’re more eco-friendly than plastic and they look great too.

This beautifully designed sturdy wooden walker is no exception, and it comes with a mini abacus, spinning mirror, spinning cage rattle and matching blocks to keep your baby busy.

Kids will also love the storage tray at the back, which is perfect for transporting a favourite animal or doll.

Size: 50 x 33 x 34 cm Suitable from: 12 months

Another wooden walker, this cute Little Dutch pram from Scandiborn is a beautiful doll's pram and walker in one.

Your little one will love tucking up their favourite doll or toy in this wooden pram and it's also super sturdy and stable for babies to hold onto when they’re learning to walk with support.

This wooden pram has a retro style and includes a pillow, blanket and sheet, with a Flowers & Butterflies design.

Size: ‎44 x 24 x 38 cm Suitable from: 18 months

Ice Cream Baby Walker, £75 at Alex & Alexa – buy here

We can't resist a good multi-tasking toy, and Stoy's wooden baby walker has plenty of positives.

Designed to resemble a mini ice cream van, complete with accessories, it doubles as a shape sorting toy and even has a blackboard.

It's perfect for inspiring little one's imagination, as well as encouraging walking.

Size: ‎33 x 33 x 44 cm Suitable from: 3 years

Baby Einstein Musical Mix ‘N Roll 4-in-1 Activity Walker, £39.99 at John Lewis – buy here

Is your little one a music lover? This award-winning baby walker combines music and movement as well as lights, and the baby can play the keyboard or spin some tunes as a DJ.

In addition to being a baby walker, this multitasking toy grows with your little one and can be used as a floor toy or creative play table.

Size: ‎H48 x W50 X D43cm Suitable from: 6 months

This classic wooden baby walker is great for moving and learning.

The colourful bricks come with numbers and letters to keep your kids occupied and the chunky wheels mean that it is easy to steer for little ones, too.

Size:H46 x W42 x D16.5cm Suitable from: 12 months

This cute multi-activity baby walker comes in a fun cat design and features eight activities, including bead games and shape sorters.

The removable brake can block the wheels and release them gradually, helping tots to get used to the speed of the walker as they learn to walk.

Size: 39.5 x 34.2 x 54cm Suitable from: 12 months

Little ones love pretending to shop and this cute little wooden shopping trolley is sure to go down a treat with mini shopaholics!

A role-play toy and baby walker in one, the sturdy wooden design makes it perfect for babies to push to help keep them steady on their feet.

Plus, it features a little seat that's perfect for tots taking their favourite toy along on shopping trips.

Size: L41 x W37 x H51cm Suitable from: 18 months

If you’re looking for a wooden walker with plenty to keep your baby busy, this cute learning walker from Kidly has sorting blocks, cogs and a simple puzzle to keep little hands busy.

It's a stable walker with a sturdy base to help little ones build their walking confidence; plus, there's a xylophone so they can play some tunes on it too.

Size: L47 x W35 x H35cm Suitable from: 18 months

A baby walker is a handy device that parents can use for babies who cannot walk on their own yet.

There is a range of different designs available, from plain, old-fashioned wooden options to modern ‘activity centre’ style walkers that have numerous extra features to help keep small kids occupied as they move.

You can buy baby walkers from many toy shops, specialist baby and children's shops and department stores. We would recommend looking for baby walkers at the following stores.

There are lots of considerations when choosing a baby walker for your child.

Age ranges and restrictions vary so consider this to start with; some of the options in our list are suitable from six months while others state not to use until the child is 18 months.

Also, you may have a preference when it comes to materials. For example, wood is more eco-friendly than plastic.

There are practical considerations for parents too, such as whether the seat cover and any material features are machine-washable.

Finally, there are safety concerns when it comes to baby walkers so ensure you’ve fully researched this before choosing one for your child.

There's a wide range in pricing on baby walkers, starting from around £20 to £100 or more.

The brand often influences the price – as well as the number of functions the walker offers and if it is multi-purpose e.g. a bouncer as well as a walker.

Wooden walkers are also often more expensive but will often last longer too and are better for the environment than plastic walkers.

There are some concerns about the safety of baby walkers that you should be aware of before your child uses one.

These concerns — mainly aimed at adjustable height, seated baby walkers rather than push walkers — stem from reports of injuries caused to babies while in seated walkers.

The European Standard for baby walkers was changed in 2005 to make them move more slowly to protect babies from trapping hands or limbs.

If you want to make sure you’re buying the best baby walker, make sure it meets standard BS EN 1273:2005.

The NHS advises that all baby walkers and bouncers encourage babies to stand on their tiptoes, which can delay walking if over-used so they recommend only using these for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time.

As with all baby gear, it is the parent's responsibility to make sure the items are being used safely and as intended, and you should be vigilant to never leave your child unattended.

Baby walkers and activity centres are designed for a range of ages depending on how they can be used and the included features. Also, some can adapt and change how they’re used as your baby grows.

Refer to each individual walker's details, which will state the age range for that specific product.

Using a baby walker is pretty simple — parents simply place their child into the walker or encourage them to use the handles on push designs.

But to get infants to use them and get on the go, sometimes holding a favourite food or toy in front of them can be used as encouragement for them to start moving.

If this doesn't work, adults can gently pull the walker along whilst the baby is in it to show them.

The best baby walkers to use on carpet are those that your little one stands behind and pushes with their hands, such as the VTech First Steps walker.

These aren't suitable for babies who are only just sitting unaided, or those still a little unsteady on their feet.

Further to the changes made to the European Standard, designed to make baby walkers safe, the wheels on seated walker models have been deliberately designed to move more slowly and with greater resistance.