Baby walker

Rectangular wooden structure formed by two parallel cylindrical rods with crossbars at each end supported on four legs. A folding square piece with a circular hole in the middle was inserted onto the rods. The baby was then placed in the hole in the middle. This piece has iron latches and can slide from one end to the other. There is a small box or compartment at the top of the crossbars, used to hold sweets or toys to encourage the child to walk. It is made of hazel and pine wood.

Gordailua has three examples of this very characteristic type of baby walker. Because there are no wheels, the toddler could only move within the frame. This meant that they were confined to a very limited and safe area, allowing the adult looking after them to go about other tasks, or sing and play with the child as they went about their work.

This one comes from Estella (Navarre) and is in the collection acquired by the Provincial Government of Gipuzkoa from Goruzaleok, a group working to preserve Basque fabric-related heritage.

Bibliography:

Bebés. Usos y costumbres sobre el nacimiento. Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, 2013. 105-106

http://museodeltraje.mcu.es/popups/publicaciones/Catalogo_Bebes_usosycostumbres.pdf

Inventory number: GFA-040919-001