We've never met a child who doesn't love to play on a ride-on. Once they can safely and confidently sit up, your child will enjoy sitting on it while you gently push them around. This toy will really come into its own once your child's legs can reach the ground and they can propel themselves forward too, and it's just a step away from a scooter or a bike. We've shared the best ride-on toys that are a brilliant way for a toddler to burn off excess energy.
You'll need to follow the minimum age and maximum weight guidance, to ensure your toddler can play safely. It also needs to be appealing and appropriate for their age and stage of development. Check they have the physical capabilities needed to use the toy properly and safely at the moment – and that their legs can reach the ground.
Many ride-on can be converted to a baby walker. This extends the age range from which it can be used, offering better value for money if your child is still young enough to benefit from a walker. Even when they're older, occasionally converting it from a ride-on to a walker and back again can spark their interest in playing with it more
Best for lightweight
www.argos.co.uk
Description
The Scuttlebug Bumblebee Ride On was awarded Silver for Best Toddler Toy at the Mother&Baby Awards 2024.
You'll have seen these at all the soft play areas in the UK - little ones take to them like a duck to water but do keep an eye on your child when they're on the smaller side, as toddlers can topple off very quickly (speaking from experience!). They're lightweight to use and in bright colours as if your toddler needs any more reasons to love it.
Review: "Perfect toy for toddlers. Easy to carry around because it's foldable and not heavy at all. Even bought another one for my friend's child. She absolutely loved it too. Highly recommended."
Read our full Scuttlebug Bumblebee Ride On review.
Pros
- Features an adorable friendly face.
- For ages 1 year and over.
Cons
- Only for domestic use.
Best for most magical ride-on
www.very.co.uk
Description
Magic is in the air with this Rock and Ride Unicorn. Your baby will adore riding along to three sing-along songs and 10 different melodies. This toy also encourages mobility, motor skill development and curiosity.
Review: "I bought it for my youngest's first birthday and very glad we did - she loves it. It's great that it can be used two ways, and my daughter also likes to hold the handles facing the unicorn and use it as a walker, so 3-in-1! It feels nice and sturdy and good seat size. The music and lights etc., are fab too. And best of all the price was great. I bought the Fisher-Price musical pony and princess for my eldest's first birthday a few years ago, and although nice, it was more expensive and not as good."
Pros
- 2 super fun ways to play.
- Will encourage colours and activating the motion sensor.
Cons
- Age Range: 18-36 months.
Best for electric
www.outdoortoys.com
Description
Push both joysticks forward to move, pull them both back to reverse and in opposite directions to spin around and have some fun. And if your little one just wants to sighsee and enjoiy the ride, a parental remote is included at no extra cost.
Review: "The ride-on toy is very sturdy and very well made. My daughter loves it. She loves going fast, so it helps that it doesn't tip up!"
Pros
- 2.4G Parental remote.
- Large Seat.
Cons
- 6 months warranty.
Best for adapting
babymori.com
Description
The Scoot & Ride Highwaykick 1 Scooter from Baby Mori is a versatile and innovative ride-on companion for toddlers. This 2-in-1 scooter transforms seamlessly from a ride-on with a comfortable seat to a three-wheeled scooter as your child grows. Crafted with safety in mind, it features a stable design, adjustable handlebars, and a durable frame. The intuitive folding mechanism enhances portability, making it ideal for on-the-go adventures. With a focus on both fun and development, this scooter encourages motor skills and balance in a delightful package, ensuring hours of enjoyment for your little one.
Pros
- Adaptable 2-in-1 design
- Portable
- Pad in the front prevents tipping over
Cons
- None
Best for balance
Description
How adorable is this puppy-inspired bike? Balance is a key skill for any toddler, and this little contraption will help develop your baby's motor and coordination skills, as well as their overall agility. The steering limit design prevents any falls, and the curvate seat ensures your little one is supported and comfortable.
Review: "Very cute bike design, now referred to as riding the woof woof bike. It has a very solid frame and is well-built, with a smooth seat and rounded handlebars. It has quiet wheels and can be used for a little one from 10 months to 3 years old. That said, there aren't any pedals for them to get caught up in it's just a cute scoot and balance bike."
Pros
- The wheels of the balance bike for kids are made of EVA material.
- Water resistant.
Cons
- The tail sometimes falls onto the wheel and gets filthy.
Best for movement
www.smythstoys.com
Description
Does your child love to explore? Whether it's with you on holiday, in the local park or even in your back garden, they'll love riding around on their own iconic Italian-inspired scooter.
Review: "Bought this at Christmas for my then nearly two-year-old. It's now been three months, and she still absolutely loves it! The battery power lasts very well, and it's a sturdy little Vespa. It's a little noisy, but that doesn't stop her jumping on it daily."
Pros
- Operated by child controlled foot pedal.
- Working headlights.
Cons
- Running time: 45 minutes
Best for design
Description
We love a Wheelybug. They're suitable for ages one to three and are handcrafted from wood with a sponge covering. They come in a variety of designs, including ladybird, mouse, tiger, and cow. It'll encourage exercise, develops balance, and, most of all, allow your little one to have some fun indoors and outdoors.
Review: "What a lovely, beautifully made toy! Colours are gorgeous, finish is sleek and durable. I especially appreciated the small size. Got it for my baby when he was just over 12 months and didn't walk yet. Wasn't sure if this would be completely safe for him, but I didn't need to worry. He instinctively knew how to sit/move and hold onto the toy. Six months on, he walks but still really enjoys riding on his bee and chooses to play with it most days. Despite that, the quality is so good that it looks completely brand new. I think this toy would stay in the family for generations! Highly recommended."
Pros
- Suitable For Ages 1 To 3 Years.
- Wooden base And body with a padded layer of sponge covered with tough polyurethane.
Cons
- Adult supervision required.
Best for sound
www.argos.co.uk
Description
Life just got easier with this three ways to play ride on. Sitting babies will be able to enage with hands-on activities and explore. While toddlers will get ready to get up and go, lift the seat for a handle and walk, with with its adjustable settings to help control wheel speed.
Review: "My Granddaughter loved this it was a 1st birthday present. She said unicorn as one of her first words. She loves sitting on it and pushing herself along. It is helping her learn to walk."
Pros
- Enchanting activities with 9 melodies, 3 light effects and 30 sound effects.
- Seat lifts for walking, drops for riding and features ball storage underneath.
Cons
- Batteries required: 2 x AA (not included).
Best for steering
Description
With four play modes – sit-down play, walker, pull-along wagon and ride-on train – this is packed with features to keep little ones occupied, including letter blocks, light-up piano keys, a turning book and beads and cogs.
Review: "We have a love/hate relationship with this. Alexander loves it and spent ages playing with the activity centre, but we considered 'losing' the batteries after five minutes. It's very loud and flashy. He's a bit small for riding it, but it'll grow with him, so it's good value for money."
Pros
- Includes 4 different modes; sit-down play, baby walker, pull-along wagon and ride on.
- Encourages language development asnd stimulate auditory senses.
Cons
- Not many colours to choose from.
Best for patrol
Description
Wee-oww, wee-oww, wee-oww. Your mini officer will be excited to patrol around your garden to ensure there isn't any trouble from the neighbour's cat. With features like an ignition switch, petrol cap, and 360-degree steering wheel, this is a hard toy to resist.
Review: "My grandson absolutely loves this car. The only reason I gave it a 4 for the easy to assemble is because I need his dad strength to put it together. If I had been on my own, he would have had a long wait. But I'm overjoyed with my purchase, and I definitely would recommend it."
Pros
- A fun, police car theme creates a new world of imagination.
- Designed with a high seat back.
Cons
- May be difficult to assemble.
Best for comfort
Description
How cute is this little guy? This inflatable ride-on bouncer ensures a soft ride for your toddler with big chunky ears and head to hold on to. The four rubber feet keep this friendly hippo upright and stable as your little one bounces along. It comes with an air pump included and is great for improving your tot's balance and coordination.
Review: "Excellent product, which was super easy to pump up with the accompanying hand pump. The bouncer is sturdy, and the material is easily wipeable once your monsters get food and other junk on it. Toddler loves the bouncer, and it provides endless joy! This was also bought as a bargain compared to other comparable bouncers at around £30 plus."
Pros
- Comes with a manual air pump to get Hankypants up to maximum bounce in 5 to 10 minutes.
- Ergonomic and unique design.
Cons
- 18 months - 5 years.
Best ride-on FAQs
What other functions do ride-on toys have?
Some children will be perfectly content with scuttling around on the ride-on itself, and others will enjoy having lots of buttons, gear sticks, sounds and lights to keep them occupied. Some ride-on features a removable panel with buttons for music and lights for stand-alone use. And while your little one might love a beeping horn or engine noise, you might find it annoying, so check if there's a volume or mute button.
Where will you use a ride-on toy?
Think about whether you have enough space inside for it to be played with. And have a look at your floors too: smooth, hard flooring is best – if you've got thick-pile carpet, even the strongest toddler is going to struggle to get about. Most ride-ons are designed for gentle dry-weather outdoor use, too, so check whether the wheels look easy to clean.
Things to consider when buying a ride-on
Make sure your toddler ride-on toy is robust. Toddlers aren't the best drivers, so it needs to be robust enough to cope with being crashed into walls and furniture on a regular basis. Avoid thin plastic components which can snap easily.
A journalist since 2015, Emily Gilbert is the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for seven years. Emily writes about everything from the top baby products to pregnancy, fertility and maternal mental health. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.