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Baby walkers and exercise jumpers: why they're best avoided

Baby walkers and exercise jumpers can be dangerous and may delay your baby's development.

Key facts

  • Using a baby walker or exercise jumper can delay how quickly your baby learns to walk.
  • Babies need plenty of time on the floor to work on the skills that help them move.
  • The more time your baby spends in a baby walker or exercise jumper, the slower they may reach key milestones.
  • If you choose to use a baby walker, make sure it meets current safety standards.
  • Never leave your baby unattended in a baby walker or exercise jumper.

    • What is a baby walker?

    A baby walker is a circular frame on wheels. Your baby can stand inside a baby walker and use their feet to move around.

    Some people believe that baby walkers are useful to help teach their baby to walk. This is not true. Baby walkers can be dangerous and can delay your baby's walking development.

    What is an exercise jumper?

    An exercise jumper, also known as a baby bouncer, is a device that holds your baby in a sling seat. An exercise jumper may come in a frame or can be attached to a door frame. Your baby can bounce in the seat by pushing off the floor with their feet.

    Exercise jumpers can cause accidents and delay your baby's development.

    How does a baby learn to walk?

    Most babies pass milestones while learning to walk, including:

    • rolling on the floor
    • reaching for objects
    • crawling
    • pulling themselves up to standing
    • moving around using furniture and other objects for support

    Babies need to spend plenty of time on the floor to learn and practise these movements.

    By about 8 months of age, your baby will be starting to get mobile.

    How can I help my baby's walking development?

    Let your baby spend lots of time on the floor. It's a safe space for your baby to learn to roll, sit and pull themselves up to standing.

    You can place your baby close to soft furniture so they can pull themselves up.

    If your baby is moving around, block off a safe area for them to play and move. You can also use a play pen.

    Do baby walkers and jumpers help my baby learn to walk?

    No — baby walkers and jumpers won't help your baby learn to walk. In fact, walkers and jumpers can delay your baby reaching these important milestones. The more time babies spend in a walker or a jumper, the more delay they experience.

    Babies need a lot of time on the floor to practise movements that help them start walking.

    Babies tend to use their toes more when they are in a walker or a jumper. Once out of the device, they often want to keep using their toes. This affects their normal walking development.

    When babies sit and pull themselves off the floor, they are learning how to balance. When in a baby walker or jumper, your baby does not practise balancing. This can delay their development.

    Being in a walker or jumper also means less time on hands and knees in a crawling position. Crawling is important as it helps your baby learn to take weight on their legs.

    Your baby needs to learn certain movements as they are developing their walking skills. They will have less chances to practise these if they use a walker or jumper.

    Are baby walkers and exercise jumpers dangerous?

    Baby walkers and exercise jumpers are not recommended in Australia.

    Baby walkers are considered unsafe because they can move very quickly. Your baby is also taller when standing in a walker, and can reach things that are higher up.

    Some dangers of baby walkers are:

    • falling down stairs
    • crashing into something sharp or hard
    • tipping over while moving
    • reaching electrical cords
    • moving to risky areas such as fireplaces or pools
    • being able to reach hot drinks or other dangerous objects

    Each year, many babies are injured in Australia when using walkers. Some sustain serious injuries caused by:

    Exercise jumpers can also cause serious injury to your baby, such as:

    Development delays caused by baby jumpers might mean your baby needs:

    • physiotherapy treatment
    • to be put in leg casts
    • corrective surgery

    What safety guidelines are there for baby walkers?

    Baby walkers sold in Australia must meet Australian consumer product safety standards (Opens in new tab).

    All walkers sold in Australia must have:

    • brakes to help stop it falling down stairs
    • labels with clear safety instructions
    • no sharp edges
    • no corners that can trap your baby's fingers
    • a latch to make sure it won't collapse once set up

    Parents are highly discouraged from using baby walkers. However, if you still decide to use one, please follow these guidelines:

    • Never leave your baby unattended.
    • Only use a baby walker on a flat surface.
    • Block off access to steps or stairs.
    • Don't place any objects on the baby walker that could cause it to tip over.
    • Remove all dangerous items such as electrical cords and hot drinks from the area.
    • Make sure the baby walker has a lock and a brake.
    • Limit your baby's time in the walker to no more than 15 minutes at a time.

    Resources and support

    Ask your doctor or child health nurse about how best to help your baby learn to walk.

    For more information about baby walker safety and recalled products (Opens in new tab), visit the ACCC product safety page.

    Learn more about child development milestones. You can also visit the Karitane (Opens in new tab) website.

    Speak to a maternal child health nurse

    Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 (Opens in new tab) or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

    Last reviewed: August 2025

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