How Long Do Babies Use Walkers Before Walking

November 16, 2025

If you’ve seen baby walkers on store shelves or in parenting forums, you’ve probably wondered: How long do babies actually use walkers?
The short—but important—answer is this: Pediatric experts recommend babies spend no time in wheeled seated walkers at all.

This can feel surprising, especially since many products are marketed for babies as young as 5 or 6 months. But understanding why medical groups discourage walkers—and what babies should use instead—will help you make the safest choice for your little one.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know: the typical advertised age ranges, how walkers affect development, real injury statistics, safer alternatives, and when to talk to your pediatrician.

Do Babies Have an Age Range for Using Walkers?

Most baby walker manufacturers list the recommended ages as 5–15 months, or suggest using a walker once a baby can sit upright and hold their head steady. Some parenting blogs go a step further and suggest 20–30 minute sessions of walker time.

But here’s the key issue: those recommendations come from marketing, not from pediatric medicine.

Organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), injury-prevention programs, and physical therapists all agree that:
Baby walkers are not safe, do not help babies learn to walk, and should not be used at any duration or age.

So while you will see age recommendations printed on product boxes, that doesn’t mean they’re developmentally appropriate.

Why Pediatricians Recommend Zero Time in a Baby Walker

Baby walkers may look cute and fun—but they create a perfect storm of risks:

1. They move far too fast.

A baby in a walker can move several feet in a single second. This makes it nearly impossible for caregivers to react quickly enough to prevent falls or hazards.

2. They offer no walking benefit.

Though they’re called “walkers,” research shows they do not help babies learn to walk. Babies actually use different muscles in walkers than they use when learning real balance and gait.

3. They may delay motor milestones.

Babies only have so much awake time to practice crawling, pulling up, cruising, and balancing. Time spent in a walker takes away from the real practice that builds walking skills. Some studies even show babies who use walkers walk later than babies who don’t.

4. They’re linked to a long history of injuries.

Common walker-related injuries include:

  • Stairway falls

  • Head injuries

  • Burns (because babies can reach surfaces they normally couldn’t)

  • Poisoning or drowning risks (again due to newfound reach and speed)

Investigators and pediatric trauma centers have documented thousands of walker-related ER visits over the years.

How Long Do Babies Use Walkers Before Walking?

Even though many parents historically used walkers hoping they would speed up development, walkers do not help babies walk sooner—no matter how long the baby spends in one.

Here’s the natural walking timeline most babies follow, with or without a walker:

  • Pulling to stand: around 8–10 months

  • Cruising along furniture: around 8–12 months

  • First steps: around 9–15 months

  • Confident independent walking: around 12–18 months

If a baby is not walking by about 18 months, pediatricians usually recommend a developmental check—not because of walker use, but because that’s a standard milestone marker.

How Long Should a Baby Be in a Walker Per Day?

If you’re looking for a medically-backed number, here it is:

Healthy, safe walker use per day = zero minutes.

But because some families still own walkers or received them as gifts, let’s cover the harm-reduction approach experts recommend when parents refuse to remove the walker entirely.

If you insist on using a walker anyway:

(Again, not recommended—but this is safer than prolonged, unsupervised use.)

  • Use only on a completely flat, gated surface

  • Keep baby in it for very short sessions (think under 10–15 minutes)

  • Keep baby in sight, within arm’s reach, at all times

  • Never use near stairs, kitchens, fireplaces, or water

And ideally, plan to phase it out completely as quickly as possible.

Why Longer Walker Time Increases Risk

Time in a walker isn’t harmless “containment time.” Even a few minutes can introduce danger:

  • Babies can reach stoves, counters, cords, and objects far outside their normal range.

  • Stair falls happen rapidly—even with baby gates in place.

  • Increased mobility without increased coordination leads to unpredictable accidents.

The longer babies are in walkers, the more opportunities there are for injuries or developmental delays.

Legal Snapshot: Walkers Are Actually Banned in Canada

A major detail many parents don’t know:

Canada banned baby walkers entirely in 2004.
They’re illegal to sell, advertise, import, or even resell at garage sales. Canadian authorities even advise parents to destroy old walkers so they can’t be used by others.

In the United States and many other countries, walkers are still sold—but this is due to a lack of legislation, not due to safety.

What Babies Should Use Instead (Safer and Developmentally Better)

If you want to support your baby’s balance and walking skills, here are alternatives pediatricians love:

1. Push Walkers / Push Toys

These are not seated walkers. They allow babies to stand and walk behind a sturdy bar when they’re ready.
Most babies use push walkers for a few months—from the time they can pull to stand until they walk confidently.

2. Stationary Activity Centers

These offer entertainment without wheels. Babies can spin, bounce, or stand safely.

3. Floor Play (the #1 best “walker”)

Tummy time, crawling, reaching, and cruising are the building blocks of real walking. This is where babies learn balance, coordination, and spatial awareness.

4. Furniture Cruising Spaces

Create a safe route with ottomans, sofas, or play couches that let your baby move while supported.

All of these options promote natural movement patterns—unlike traditional walkers.

If Your Baby Has Been Using a Walker: When to Stop

The safest time to stop is right now.

Once you remove the walker, encourage:

  • More floor play

  • Pulling up and cruising

  • Supervised play with a push toy

  • Barefoot indoor time for better grip and balance

If your baby has been toe-walking or seems hesitant to stand or cruise, bring it up with a pediatrician or pediatric physical therapist.

When to Talk to Your Pediatrician

Consider a developmental check-in if:

  • Your baby isn’t pulling up or trying to stand by 12 months

  • Your baby isn’t cruising with support by 15 months

  • Your baby isn’t attempting to walk by 18 months

  • Your baby shows persistent toe-walking after using a walker

  • You’re worried about how walker use may have affected development

Remember: every baby develops on their own timeline, but early guidance can provide peace of mind.

FAQs

How long do babies use walkers on average?
Most walkers are marketed for ages 5–15 months, but pediatricians recommend avoiding walkers entirely for safety and developmental reasons.

How long should a baby be in a walker each day?
From a medical perspective: 0 minutes. If parents still choose to use one, experts advise extremely limited, supervised use.

How long do babies use push walkers instead?
Push walkers are typically used for a few months—from the time a baby can pull to stand until they walk on their own.

Are walkers banned anywhere?
Yes. Canada banned baby walkers nationwide, and parents are advised to destroy existing devices rather than pass them on.

Final Thoughts

The question “How long do babies use walkers?” often comes from a place of curiosity or wanting to help a baby learn faster. But the truth is reassuring:
Babies don’t need walkers—and skipping them is one of the simplest ways to keep your little one safe.

Supporting walking with floor play, cruising, and push toys not only avoids risk—it helps build strong, confident motor skills the natural way.