Somewhere around the one-year mark most babies begin to walk. Some practically take off running while others need encouragement. Here are five categories of toys that will help new or emerging walkers practice, build confidence and get moving - with parents in hot pursuit!
Your baby certainly doesn't need a toy in all five of these categories and they'll probably be more interested in some than others. We recommend borrowing toys from friends or trying them out at a friend's house or the playground to see what your baby responds to. Of course, they'll always like someone else's toy better than their own, but it might give you an idea what they'll like best.
(Although we're including links and pricing for the toys pictured above, there are many beautiful, well-made versions of these toys and these are intended as representative of a category of toy.)
• Pull toys give babies a little job to do and can even be used on the floor by pre-walkers. (Happy Hippo pull toy, $18)
• Doll strollers are much sought after (and fought over!) at our local playground. Best for babies who've been walking for a month or two as they are too light-weight to lean on if your baby is unsteady on his or her feet. (Maclaren Junior Quest doll stroller, $30)
• Walking toys should have enough heft to them that they don't go flying forward when your baby leans on them. This Alligator Chomp and Clack by Melissa and Doug ($42) was a favorite of our son's when he was just getting started.
• Balls are good for crawlers as well as new walkers who are motivated to give chase to them. We like the Oball ($8 for this size) and the Edushape balls ($12 for this size) because they're easy to grip and lightweight enough both to be thrown easily and to do minimal damage to other kids or objects in their path.
• Push toys usually make a sound or motion which encourage babies to keep moving forward. (Flapping Penguin push toy, $18)
What are we missing? Is there another type of toy your child found helpful or fun as an early walker?
© 2010 Apartment Therapy
I also have the Alligator Chomp and Clack. Love it. It doesn't flip over like some of the plastic walkers do. If you do some online searching you can sometimes find it for as little as $25 too. Can't beat that.
view jensational's profile
My sons favorite toy when he started walking was this firetruck http://www.flickr.com/photos/26718205@N07/3557868992/in/set-72157617575299428/.
view lulu557's profile
I strongly recommend skipping the Melissa & Doug push-stick toys (the penguin above). We were given both the duck and the elephant versions and they are so hard to push they don't move at all for a new walker. It's just a poor design. I recommend the Plan Toys Dancing Alligator pull toy instead, that one was a constant favorite from pre-walking to running now at 20 months.
view p_capucine's profile
My push toy from 1977 (wooden handle, plastic base with three little faces that pop in and out and make noises) has been in constant use at my parents' house for 30 years...all visiting kids love it. I think the noises are the key, everyone wants to make the noise.
view TheLittlestChicken's profile
some walkers didnt work for us on our hard floors. the same walker used by a friend worked great...she had carpet.
view jackied302's profile
This is great, my daughter (a year on Oct 1st) has just learned to walk and I'd like to get her some toys along these lines. I'd love to hear more suggestions. We have carpet in our apartment, but she spends a lot of time with my parents who have hardwood floors. Does anyone make a wooden version of the classic popcorn popper?
view Pencils's profile
Our son also loved the Plan Toys Dancing Alligator and the Plan Toys Walk N Roll. We have given both of these toys as birthday presents and they have been big hits.
view lulu557's profile
I also strongly recommend avoiding the Melissa & Doug push toys. We got a flapping duck as a gift and it was so hard to push even I could barely make it move. My daughters both have Selecta push toys and they love them! And they are beautifully made:
http://www.maukilo.com/brands/selecta-81/9999.html
view ArtLibrarian's profile
"Somewhere around the one-year mark" is misleading. It's considered within normal limits for kids to start walking between 8 and 18 months, and the 50%ile is 14-15 months, not 12. I know this is just a website about things to buy, but it's this kind of misinformation that brings hysterical parents with perfectly normally developing 12-month-olds into the developmental assessment program where I work, asking us if they should sign their child up for social security benefits and start looking for accessible housing. Please do some research before posting these things.
view eeka's profile
14-15 months is somewhere around the one year mark. Way to overanalyze, eeka.
view moiety's profile
Eeka - thanks for posting your comment. My daughter is almost 14 months and content to cruise and crawl still. You wouldn't believe how many people ask if she's walking yet and when I say that "she's working on it" people say "Oh." Like - oh - too bad your kid is sloooooowwwwwww.
At any rate - I loved this post and am looking into some of these items as we speak. Thanks!
view annie t's profile
my daughter learned pushing a little shopping cart. bonus - she now uses it to push around her dolls and play with her play kitchen.
view monthcalledmae's profile
we got that hippo as a gift. my daughter loves it as seen here...
http://atinybean.blogspot.com/2009/06/lhippopotame-seul.html
j
http://prudentadviceformybabydaughter.blogspot.com
view jaime5's profile