He just started walking about a week ago, and I think that we have this toy to thank for a large part of it: LINK
The Playskool Step Start Walk 'n Ride, $29.99, was a recommendation from a coworker. It has two functions - you can collapse the green part above so that it's resting on the wheels, and it's a riding toy (baby can also stand beside it and push it). You can also leave it as shown, and it will function as a walker.
Our little Peanut is short, only about the 3rd percentile for height. Hence, putting this in the upright walker mode at first was a little too much for him. He kept it down in the rider mode, and pushed it around by standing beside it. I think he did this so much that he left permanent grooves in the carpet from his race circuit. It helped him to stabilize and learn the basic walking movements while still giving him a sense of stability. (It also made a wonderful bonking noise when he ran it into something stationary -- or his older sister.)
He now loves to use this in the walker mode (even though he's able to walk on his own), and has also discovered the joy in riding it like a little car. His little legs aren't quite long enough to push him, so his sister is happy to oblige pushing him around. (Please forgive the phone pic - I didn't have my camera nearby.)
As you can see, that's a face of pure joy. This toy is easily worth the $30, and is durable enough that it can be passed on to friends or family when Peanut outgrows it. Our daughter actually also enjoys playing with it a ton pushing her dolls around, to the point where I have to remind her that it's a baby toy!
