In this article
Yes, baby walkers are banned in Canada. Since 2004, it's been illegal to sell, advertise or import them, and that includes second-hand walkers at garage sales and flea markets. Health Canada says the main danger is falls down stairs, which can cause serious head injuries, and babies in walkers can also reach things they normally couldn't. If you already have one, Health Canada says to stop using it and get rid of it so no one else can use it. Push toys and stationary activity centres are allowed. Prices are in CAD.
What counts as a baby walker under the law
Canada's Consumer Product Safety Act bans walkers that have wheels, or anything else that lets them move, and an enclosed area that holds a baby sitting or standing with their feet touching the floor, so the baby can push themselves around. Put simply: if your baby sits or stands inside it and it rolls, it's banned.
That's why two products with "walker" in the name can be very different:
- A seated walker (a seat in a frame on wheels) is banned.
- A push walker is a toy your child stands behind and pushes while they hold the handle. There's no seat and nothing holding them up, so it isn't a baby walker under the ban.
- A stationary activity centre holds your baby in a seat with toys around it, but it has no wheels and doesn't move across the floor.
Why walkers were banned
A baby in a walker can move faster than you expect and go places they couldn't reach on their own. Health Canada's main concern is falls down stairs, which have caused head injuries. Health Canada also warns that walkers let babies reach dangerous things on tables and counters that they normally couldn't.
Buying online, or given one second-hand
The ban applies however the walker reaches Canada. Health Canada has issued warnings about baby walkers listed for sale on online marketplaces, including eBay.ca, AliExpress.ca, third-party sellers on Amazon.ca and Fruugo.ca. A listing on a Canadian site doesn't mean the product is legal here. The same goes for hand-me-downs and garage sales: walkers can't legally be sold second-hand either.
If you have one at home, Health Canada says to stop using it and dispose of it so it can't be used again. Taking it apart before it goes in the garbage stops someone else picking it up from the curb.
What to use instead
Canada's 24-Hour Movement Guidelines put floor-based play at the centre for babies, with interactive play several times a day.
- Floor time. For a baby who isn't moving yet, a clean, firm floor and supervised tummy time are the foundation. Our tummy time guide explains how much and how to start, and our guide to play mats vs activity gyms covers what to put on the floor.
- A push walker, once your baby is pulling up. The Janod Sweet Cocoon Multi-Activity Baby Walker ($119.99) is a wooden push toy for 12 months and up, with shape sorters and spinning gears to play with while standing. Your child walks behind it, so use it on a flat floor and keep stair gates closed.
- A stationary activity centre, in short sessions. The Tiny Love 5-in-1 Here I Grow Stationary Activity Center ($229.99) has no wheels and changes through five set-ups as your child grows, with six toys including a musical piano with lights and sounds. Canada's 24-Hour Movement Guidelines say babies shouldn't be restrained for more than an hour at a time, for example in a stroller or high chair. Treat an activity centre seat the same way, and keep floor time as the main event.
For more ideas by stage, see our guide to Montessori toys by age.
Stairs and reach still matter
A baby who's crawling, cruising or using a push toy can reach the top of the stairs and the edge of a table just as a walker would let them. Gate the stairs, and move hot drinks, cords and small objects out of reach as your baby gets more mobile.
Prices were current when we wrote this. Push toys and activity centres are also at our Richmond, Burnaby and Ottawa stores. If you'd like to see one in person, call the store ahead of your visit to check.
