For children and teens that are living with mobility issues or that are recovering from surgery or illnesses may have to use a pediatric walker to safely navigate their environment. Many people have the perception that walkers are just for seniors or adults but that is not the case. The best pediatric walkers are excellent mobility aids that help children and teens to gain mobility again.
Gait trainers and pediatric walkers are excellent mobility aids to get a child back active again inside the home or outdoors. gait trainers can offer excellent stability for uneven terrain and build confidence to get your child back out with others.
- What is a pediatric walker?
- Who should use a pediatric walker or gait trainer?
- The top 5 best pediatric Walkers & gait trainers for children
- Best Pediatric walkers and gait trainer comparison chart
- 1. (Best Overall) Walkabout Junior Four-Wheel Rollator
- 2. Guardian tyke Pediatric Walker
- 3. Crocodile Gait Trainer
- 4. Nimbo 2G Lighweight posterior Walker
- 5. Drive Moxie GT Gait Trainer
- what to look for when buying a pediatric walker
- What is the difference between a walker and a gait trainer?
- Wheeled walker or glide walker, what should you choose?
- Difference between Posterior vs Anterior in a walker
- Supportive walker and gait trainer features
- What is the proper height for a walker?
- Final thought on the best pediatric walkers and gait trainers
What is a pediatric walker?
Pediatric walkers are similar to adult walkers and while they may offer some of the same solutions as an adult walking aid they are designed differently than the adult walkers you may be more accustomed to. The most obvious is the size difference. They also come with much more advanced adjustability features so the child can grow into the walker over a specific time frame.
Not to mention kid’s mobility devices can come in some really cool colors that adult walkers typically do not. The best pediatric walkers provide a secure and safe way for all ages children to walk both indoors and outdoors. The device itself may also have four wheels, two wheels, or no wheels at all. You can also have the choice of having the walkers come in both gait trainer and walker configurations.
Who should use a pediatric walker or gait trainer?
Pediatric walkers and gait trainers are used by children to help with walking or standing because of a disability, disorder, or condition that limits movement from daily routines. We walk best when we are in an upright position when we cannot do this because of a condition a walker or gait trainer can be used.
However, be sure to consult with your child’s pediatrician so they can professionally determine the best course of action and what is the best mobility aid to use. In some instances pediatric standers might be your best option.
In the chase of children typically if your child is not walking by themselves unassisted within the age of 2 or 3 they could be a fit for a pediatric walker as long as they are able to walk with support by a hand. The assistance of a walker or gait trainer can help with cadence, strides, leg muscle, and more.
Children with other types of mobility issues like Spina Bifida or cerebral palsy or other similar types of disabilities can also utilize these types of aids.
The top 5 best pediatric Walkers & gait trainers for children
| Our Rank | Pediatric Walker | Our Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Walkabout Junior Four-Wheel Rollator | 4.7/5 |
| 2. | Guardian Tyke Pediatric Walker | 4.6/5 |
| 3. | Crocodile Gait Trainer | 4.7/5 |
| 4. | Nimbo 2G Lightweight Posterior Walker With Seat | 4.5/5 |
| 5. | Drive Moxie GT Gait Trainer | 4.5/5 |
Best Pediatric walkers and gait trainer comparison chart
| Key Specs | Walkabout Junior Four-Wheel Rollator | Guardian Tyke Pediatric Walker | Crocodile Gait Trainer | Nimbo 2G Lightweight Posterior Walker with Seat | Drive Moxie GT Gait Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight capacity: | 300 lbs. | 80 lbs | 66 lbs, 99 lbs | 75, 85, 150, 190, 250 lbs. | 75, 150, 200 lbs. |
| Product weight: | 11.5 lbs. | 5 lbs. | 12.1 lbs. , 14.3 lbs | 14, 15,18,20, 22 lbs. | 22, 26, 32 lbs. |
| Seat width: | 12″ | N/A | N/A | 20″,27″,31″,34″,37″ | N/A |
| Seat depth: | 12″ | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| The number of wheels: | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Frame color: | Red | Silver | Yellow | Purple, Red | Blue, green, gray |
1. (Best Overall) Walkabout Junior Four-Wheel Rollator
Our overall best choice for the best pediatric walker is the Walkabout Junior Four-Wheel Rollator. This lightweight walker only weighs in at 11.5 pounds and is very child-friendly in the colors of the frame. This particular model has 4-wheels making it easy to move forward and is really great for pediatric users.
The design makes this walker fold really easy into a smaller compact size that makes traveling a breeze or for storing when not in use. We also like that this model has a padded seat and padded backrest that allow for resting and is more comfortable than some other models.
It comes with ergonomic handgrips and large squeeze-style brakes.
Key Specifications
- Weight capacity: 300 lbs.
- Padded seat
- Paddded backrest
- Hand brakes
- Lightweight: 11.5 lbs.
Score: 
(4.7 / 5)
Pros
- Great weight capacity
- Ability to sit with backrest
- 4-wheels
- Lightweight
- Easy-to-fold
Cons
- Brakes may be difficult to squeeze for week or smaller hands
2. Guardian tyke Pediatric Walker
The Guardian Tyke Pediatric walker is an ultra-lightweight walker made for easy mobility both indoors and out with the help of two 3″ wheels. This allows the walker to easily move over a lot of different surfaces inside and outdoors. The large rubber tips also make stopping much easier and it offers great stability for the user.
For those users that are looking for a simple, but extremely lightweight kids walker that can be used in a multitude of situations this pediatric walker may be what you are looking for.
Key Specifications
- Product weight: 5 lbs
- Weight capacity: 80 lbs.
- Width: 17″
- Lenght: 10″
- Number of wheels: 2
- Color: Silver
Score: 
(4.6 / 5)
Pros
- Extemely lightweight
- Adjustable
- 3″ wheels for different surfaces
- Large rubber tips for easy stoping
- Easy to travel with
Cons
- Light weight capcity at only 80 pounds
- No seat
3. Crocodile Gait Trainer
The crocodile gait trainer is our top choice when it comes to a pediatric gait trainer. This mobility device comes in two sizes and is designed for kids that are from 2 to 14 years of age. Depending on the needs of your child this model can be equipped with a lot of different features.
For example, this can be equipped with a sling seat for those children that find it difficult to stand for long periods of time.
This gait trainer folds quickly and can be disassembled also and it will fit into almost any vehicle. We love the size of the wheels and because of this it provides excellent stability and it can be used over most terrain that your child comes across. The directional lockout feature also helps to keep the device moving in a straight line.
Key Specifications
- Weight capacity: 66, 99 lbs.
- Width: 24.75″
- Lenght: 28.75″
- Number of wheels: 4
- Handle width: 10-22″
- User height maximum: 3′ 3/4″
Score: (4.7 / 5)
Pros
- Exellent stability
- Can go over a lot of different terrains
- Exellent add on features
- Height and width adjustable rotatinal handles
- Directional lockout
Cons
- May feel a little heavy for some smaller users
- Add on featuers can add up quickly
4. Nimbo 2G Lighweight posterior Walker
This walker is a little unique in the fact that it can be used for children and adults because it can be put into five different height settings to get the perfect fit. It also comes in sizes from extra small to extra large that can accommodate weights from 75 pounds up to 250 pounds.
Things we love:
The ability to fold and take with you in almost any vehicle. We love the foldable seat also that makes resting possible.
Storing is simple when folded and not in use and the soft rubber wheels grip well on many different surfaces. This device can easily switch from a swivel to a non-swivel front wheel setting and it’s available in four fun colors that children love.
Key Specifications
- Seat: Foldable
- Weight capacity: from 85 to 250 lbs
- Wheels: Rubber
- Colors: Four fun colors for kids
Score: 
(4.5 / 5)
Pros
- Five height settings
- Many different weight capacity to choose from
- Four colors
- Improved handgrip design
- Soft rubber wheels
- Swivel to non-swivel front wheels
Cons
- Not many negatives to speak of currently
5. Drive Moxie GT Gait Trainer
This gait trainer by Drive Moxie GT is extremely versatile in that it can be adjusted for height in 1″ increments and comes in 3 different weight capacities. Small, medium, and large that can support weights from 75 to 200 pounds making this gait trainer almost for any child.
This gait trainer can be used either in posterior or anterior positions and still can fold for easy vehicle transport or storage when not being used.
The wheel locks are on all four casters making it even more stable during transport. It has a directional lever that allows for either reverse or forward mobility or just forward when you want it.
This trainer also comes in 3 different colors that children will love.
Key Specifications
- Weight capacity: 75, 150, 200 lbs.
- Product weight: 22, 26, 32 lbs.
- Height adjustable: 1″ increments
Score: (4.5 / 5)
Pros
- Different sizes
- Adjustable by 1″ increments
- Different colors kids love
Cons
- Accessories can be add up quik
what to look for when buying a pediatric walker
There are a lot of basic things you should know when purchasing a walker or gait trainer. Let’s take a look at some of the most important aspects when making a pediatric or gait purchase.
There are a lot of factors to look at but we will cover the most important so you can have a better understanding of what to look for.
What is the difference between a walker and a gait trainer?
While similar in their ability to help with walking a gait trainer and walkers are different. Walkers and gait trainers in children are used in the different stages of walking. The below will help you understand each.
When looking at both walking aids the difference is the ability to either have the full weight-bearing ability or partial weight-bearing abilities. If a child has the full weight-bearing ability then a walker might be the proper choice. For those children that only have partial weight-bearing ability then a gait trainer would be the best choice.
If a doctor prescribes the use of a gait trainer it is also used to help the child to regain back weight-bearing function and when this happens it may be time for the child to start the use of a pediatric walker.
Wheeled walker or glide walker, what should you choose?
There are different types of walkers for children but the most common and the choice for children are either the two or four-wheeled model design. This is because they are just easier to move and they also help with posture while moving.
The rollator-style walkers have a few more features like hand brakes, seats on some models, and some even have larger wheels that can move over rougher terrain.
Glide walkers are also a popular choice and combine two wheels that are on the front of the walker with rubber tips on the back legs allowing the walker to glide rather than having to lift the walker up off the ground. The rubber tips also allow for easier stopping for the child.
Difference between Posterior vs Anterior in a walker
When you start to research more about a walker for your child you will read about posterior vs anterior walker design. This means the following for both pediatric walkers and gait trainers as they are designed with models that offer both format types.
Posterior walkers and Gait trainers
A posterior walker or gain trainer gives better upright posture and provides the open front design that children might find a little more comfortable. These types of walkers overall are known to help with better posture for the child and help with walking as it may be slightly easier.
Anterior walkers and gait trainers
Anterior walkers and gait trainers use forward-leading stability for children that have a hard time using a posterior type walker. The position of the front-leaning design helps in moving in the forward position.
Supportive walker and gait trainer features
There are many features that can be added to a walker or gait trainer they can be the following features.
- Seat attachments: Some walkers have the ability to add a seat in different sizes.
- Pelvic Pads: These pads add extra comfort aroudn teh pelvic section.
- Pelvic Straps: Straps that help with lateral postioning for the pelvis.
- Anti-tip levers: Gait trainers espeicaly can benfit from having an anti-tip lever on them. This is to help so the gait trainer does not flip backwards.
- Forearm supports: These can be used on both posterior and anterior style gaint trainers and walkers and make it more comfortable on the arms.
- Trunk support: These help to keep the user in a bettter upgright postion.
- Ankle prompts: These elp to prevent scissoring and snap securelty into the frame and have padded ankle straps.
- Guide bars: These allow for caregiver to gide the user while gait training. Typicaly made from aluminum allow or other high strenght material and attach by quick-release calmps in most cases.
- Handgrips: These will offer a more comfrortable grip.
- Hand Loop: Are attached on teh upper frame and are height and angle adjustable. They can help with stability while moving, espeicaly for children.
- Hip positioner and pads: Straps and pads for the hip for more comfort and to make sure the hip stays in the correct position.
- Thigh prompts: These help to swing with the users stride so the can prevent leg scissoring. They ehlp the user so they cannot turn within the pacer frame.
What is the proper height for a walker?
Measuring the correct height or the walker is really easy. Here is what you should do in order to get the correct height for the best handle height for your child.
- Make your child keep there shoes on
- Make them stand up stright.
- Measure the wrist crease to the floor.
- That measurement will be the best handle height.
Final thought on the best pediatric walkers and gait trainers
pediatric walkers and gait trainers are excellent mobility aids for children that require extra help while walking. They come in all types of designs and colors making them versatile for many situations.
Remember, Walkers, are more designed for those children and teens that have full weight-bearing ability whereas gait trainers are more suitable for younger children that only have partial weight-bearing ability.
As we suggested above it is always best to consult with your child’s pediatrician to come up with the best course of action for your child’s walking needs. We hope this guide has shed some light on the differences between a pediatric walker vs gait trainer and what to look for on your next purchase. For those of you looking at wheelchairs. Take a look at our pediatric wheelchair review to learn more.
