Baby walkers, push walkers and balance bikes: what to do and avoid

Why moving toys deserve extra attention

Toys that let your child ride, bounce or roll around feel like a logical step towards walking. Yet this is exactly the category where speed, height and a child who cannot yet oversee their own movements come together. A child in a baby walker or on a balance bike is suddenly faster, higher and further away than you are used to, while having no sense of danger yet. On top of that, the products differ greatly: some are fine under the right conditions, others are explicitly advised against by VeiligheidNL, the Dutch consumer safety institute. This article goes through the most commonly bought types. For each product we explain the risk, what you can do about it and when you are better off leaving it.

The baby walker: why VeiligheidNL advises against it

A baby walker is a frame on wheels in which your baby hangs upright and pushes along with their feet, before they can stand or walk on their own. VeiligheidNL advises against using a baby walker, and there are clear reasons for that. A child in a walker moves much faster than they would crawl, can roll down the stairs or a step, and can suddenly reach things that are normally out of reach, such as hot drinks, hobs and cables. Accidents with baby walkers often happen within seconds, even when an adult is nearby. In addition, a baby walker does not help your child learn to walk earlier or better. Our advice is in line with that of VeiligheidNL: do not buy one, and do not accept a second-hand or borrowed one either.

Quick overview by product

• •Baby walker: advised against by VeiligheidNL, not second-hand either
• •Push walker: sturdy or weighted model, only once your child pulls up alone
• •Door bouncer: preferably not, otherwise briefly and under supervision
• •Activity centre: use briefly, never as a babysitter, away from heat and cords
• •Bouncer: always on the floor, harness fastened, not for sleeping
• •Balance bike: once your child walks steadily, always with a helmet, never along the road

Learning to walk happens by itself

Children learn to walk at their own pace, and no aids are needed for that. The steps go from rolling and crawling to pulling up on furniture, cruising along the sofa and then the first independent steps, and each stage builds strength and balance for the next. Space on the floor, sturdy furniture to pull up on and bare feet on a non-slip surface do more than any toy. There is a wide range in the age at which children start walking, and a child who walks later is not behind. If you are worried about your child's motor development, discuss it at the consultatiebureau (child health clinic). They look at the whole picture there, not at one milestone.

The push walker or push cart

A push walker is something different from a baby walker: your child pushes the cart along while already able to stand, and stays in control. That can be fine, provided you watch a few things. Choose a sturdy, wide model that does not tip forward when your child leans on it or pulls up on it; weighted models or carts with a brake or adjustable wheel resistance are the safest. Only use the push walker once your child pulls up and cruises along furniture by themselves, and not to force walking. Never let your child play with it near the stairs, a step or the front door, because a rolling cart does not stop by itself. Check regularly that the wheels and handle are still firmly attached.

Door bouncers and activity centres

A bouncer that hangs from the door frame and a stationary activity centre in which your child sits upright are often mentioned together with the baby walker, but they do not roll away. Still, they are not without risk: a door spring can come loose if it is not fixed properly, and your child sits in a position they cannot yet take by themselves. So preferably do not use such products, and if you do, then briefly, under supervision and never as a babysitter while you step away. With a door bouncer, always check the clamp on the door frame and the condition of springs and straps. Place an activity centre away from furniture, blind cords, hot drinks and the hob, because your child can reach further from it than you think. Floor time remains the most important thing for development.

Bouncers and swings: always on the floor

A baby bouncer is handy in the first months, but leads to a well-known type of accident: the bouncer that slides off a table, worktop or sofa because the baby moves. So always put a bouncer on the floor, never on a raised surface, not even briefly. Always fasten the harness, even when you are sitting right next to it. Do not let your baby sleep in a bouncer or baby swing; if your baby falls asleep, lay them flat in their own cot, as the safe sleep guidance advises. Stop using the bouncer as soon as your child tries to sit up or climb out, and keep to the manufacturer's maximum weight. A baby swing belongs on a flat, stable surface, away from stairs and cables.

The balance bike: from when and with which rules

A balance bike is a lovely toy for a child who walks steadily, usually around the age of two, but that differs per child. Choose a balance bike on which your child can stand with both feet flat on the ground while sitting on the saddle. Have your child wear a well-fitting bicycle helmet from the start, so it becomes normal. Children on a balance bike pick up more speed than you expect, especially on a slope; so ride in a flat, enclosed area, never along the road, near water or close to stairs. Wear closed shoes, not flip-flops or slippers. Always stay within arm's reach as long as your child cannot brake or steer by themselves.

Second-hand and borrowed moving toys

Many moving toys pass from family to family, and that is fine, as long as you check them properly first. Look for a CE marking and instructions, and if in doubt, search online whether the product has ever been recalled. Check wheels, brakes, hinges and clamps for wear, loose parts and sharp edges, and see whether small parts can come off. With door bouncers and activity centres, pay extra attention to springs, straps and the fixing. A borrowed baby walker is still a baby walker, even if it was free; so do not accept that one either. If you doubt whether something is still safe, leave it; you would rather not discover a broken brake or loose wheel halfway down the pavement.

Making space instead of buying toys

The best investment in learning to walk is not a toy, but a safe space to practise. Provide a clear floor with a non-slip surface, sturdy furniture that does not tip when your child pulls up on it, and a safety gate at the top and bottom of the stairs. Anchor cupboards and chests of drawers to the wall, because a child learning to stand pulls up on everything. Remove tablecloths and dangling cables, so that pulling up does not end with something heavy or hot on the head. Let your child practise barefoot and give them time. Use the room checklists in this app to check room by room whether everything is ready for a child who is starting to walk.