The Truth About Baby Walkers
Explained by Pediatric Physical Therapist
Dr. Stella Kandyba, PT, DPT
They come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Some even look fun and exciting. But they all have one big thing in common: they’re bad for your child’s development.
I’m talking about traditional baby walkers, the ones with a fabric seat that suspends your baby’s bottom in the air while their toes touch the floor. These devices are marketed to make parents believe they help babies walk sooner. In reality, they often lead to problems, not progress.
To understand why, let’s look at how development really works. Babies are meant to roll before they sit, sit before they crawl, and crawl before they walk. Every milestone builds the foundation for the next. Walkers interrupt that natural order. They often lead babies to skip one of the most important milestones of all: crawling.
Many parents, without realizing it, put their babies into walkers before they’ve even had a chance to crawl. This takes away the baby’s motivation to get on all fours and explore. Crawling is essential, not just for movement but for developing hand-eye coordination and building core strength.
Even when babies already crawl, walkers still pose risks. Here are just a few I see all the time in my practice:
1. Walkers confuse the developing brain and body
Because a baby’s lower half is hidden in a fabric seat, the brain doesn’t get accurate information about where the legs are in space. This can lead to proprioceptive delays—meaning your child may not learn how to move their body without watching it. Later on, this can cause awkward movements and poor coordination.
2. Walkers encourage toe-walking
Most walkers are too low or too high, even when adjustable, causing babies to reach for the floor with their toes. This creates a habit of walking on tiptoes, which can stick around long after the walker is gone. In my practice since 2005, I’ve seen hundreds of toe-walkers. In all but two cases (turned out to be different underlying conditions), the parents admitted to using walkers. That’s why my first question when I see toe-walking is always: “Did you use a walker?” Sadly, the answer is almost always “yes.”
3. Walkers delay balance and body control
When babies bump into walls and furniture in a walker, they aren’t learning how to stop or shift their weight. That means their brains aren’t being trained to balance, a skill that’s key for everything from running and climbing to playing sports or riding a bike.
4. Walkers may affect brain development
Research shows that babies who never used walkers scored higher on mental development tests than those who did. Babies who used “see-feet” walkers scored in the middle. Babies who used standard, enclosed walkers scored the lowest (1).
5. Walkers are a safety hazard
Between 1990 and 2001, over 197,000 walker-related injuries were treated in U.S. emergency rooms in babies under 15 months old. These are real numbers, and they’re scary. Falls downstairs, tip-overs, and crashes are far too common (2). That’s why Canada said no to walkers, and hopefully, the US fill follow. In 2004, Canada banned the sale, import, and even gifting of baby walkers (3). Anyone breaking the law faces fines up to $100,000 or six months in jail. Why? Because science was clear: walkers cause harm.
Along with the walkers, products like exersaucers, baby jumpers, jumperoos, and other gear that hold a baby upright with their feet dangling or reaching for the floor, while blocking their view and supporting their trunk, do not support healthy development. These devices may seem convenient, but they often interfere with how babies learn to balance, shift weight, and understand their body in space.
What should parents do instead?
Let’s give our babies what they need most: time, space, and freedom to move the way nature intended. That means choosing open, supportive environments where babies can explore. The floor is best—it allows babies to discover movement, build strength, and develop coordination naturally. The best helpers? Push toys that babies walk behind. These promote balance, independence, and proper walking patterns—without doing the work for them.
BOTTOM LINE: Do NOT use traditional baby walkers for developing babies. DO use push walkers and hand support to teach walking the right way.
And if you’re ever concerned about your child’s development—whether it’s crawling, walking, balance, or anything else—talk to a pediatric physical therapist. We are trained to spot problems early and help babies reach their full potential.
References:
(1)October, 1999 Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics [1999;20:355-361]
(2)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16510623
(3)https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2004/04/minister-pettigrew-announces-ban-baby-walkers.html
