By Paula McLaren BA (Hons) Early Years Development & Learning •
Updated: 03/14/23 •
The best ride on toys for 1 year old toddlers are so much more than just objects for keeping kids entertained… They are an essential item to include in your playroom.
Used to teach balance and coordination, enhance motor skills, and encourage exercise… Ride on toys are also loads of fun for your little one too.
So, here are the best ride on toys for 1 year old toddlers that you can buy right now:
|
Our Top Pick
|
Best Wooden
|
Best Bike
|
|
Pros:
|
Pros:
|
Pros:
|
- Anti-tip design
- 17 BONUS sensory activities
- Baby push walker adaptability
- Under-seat storage
- Certified B Corporation
- Years of play longevity
- Award winning
- Unlimited mobility
- Durable and made to last
- Grows with your child's development
- No assembly required!
- Scratch & slip resistant wheels
- Designed to prevent side falls
- Easy to control
- Budget-friendly
- Available in a wide variety of colours
Overall Best Ride On Toy For 1 Year Old: Radio Flyer Busy Buggy
Perfect for any new walker, this 3-in-1 ride-on toy from Radio Flyer will help your little one learn to walk, ride and develop their senses with the security of anti-tip technology and a handy storage compartment for their travel essentials! It truly is a value for money ride-on-toy!
Radio Flyer is a family-owned company and leading producer of ride on toys who have been creating iconic children’s toys for over 100 years.
Not only are they a B Certified Corportaion, but their expertise and timeless creations produce some of the markets highest quality and innovative toys to spark your little one’s creativity.
With anti-tip technology and 17 additional sensory activities the Busy Ride On Buggy is a fantastic example of a Radio Flyer toy that will certainly keep little ones entertained for hours!
The adaptability to a push walker also makes this ride on toy an ideal playroom investment for longevity as your child grows and develops.
Best Wooden Ride On Toy For 1 Year Old: Wheely Bug
This classic wooden ride on toy is cute, sturdy and low enough to the ground for your 1-year-old to easily get on board. Perfect for Montessori inspired play sessions, this ride on toy will certainly complement any playroom!
A classic ride on toy, the award-winning Wheely Bug from Prince Lionheart is a well-known and well-loved children’s toy.
The unique design with multidirectional casters and easy-to-grip handle makes it the ideal toy for children to move and spin using their legs or hop on board for a ride, time and time again!
It offers a fun, entertaining way to encourage gross motor skills and foster active time.
And the wooden base is incredibly sturdy and built to last (no matter how many walls it crashes into!) but the padded seat makes the Wheely Bug a very comfy toy for your little one to sit on.
And if ladybugs aren’t your child’s favourite animal you can also choose from a bee, cow, hedgehog, mouse, pig, and a tiger!
Best Bike For 1 Year Old: Restrospec Balance Bike
This stylish bike from Retrospec is the perfect early bike for 1-year-olds. Its low design means your little one can keep their feet on the ground whilst riding around and it's also very easy to control with a 135-degree limit of movement in the steering to prevent side falling. The slip-resistant wheels also make this toy the perfect addition to any playroom!
This beautiful and sleek ride on balance bike from Retrospec is a wonderful addition to your playroom toybox.
With scratch and slip resistant wheels, your floor will stay clean and your little one will stay safe as the move around the room!
The ingenious 4-wheel design will also prevent side falls as your child learns how to balance themselves ready for a more traditional bike…
And with rubber grips on the handle bars and a cushioned seat, this comfy ride on toy is very easy to control and manoeuvre regardless of how much experience your child has!
A bedtime & nap cheat sheet so good your little one will ask you to put them to bed...
Laura Williams "This is a life saver! I'm so glad I downloaded your bedtime & nap cheat sheet. My little one actually asked me to put him to bed last night! Unbelievable! Thank you so much!"
Why Should You Invest In A Ride On Toy?
Ride on toys are fantastic playroom additions for many reasons…
Firstly, they are open-ended toys meaning your child’s imagination dictates the playtime rather than following a set game path. This provides excellent opportunities to develop their imaginations through pretend play.
Ride on toys also build confidence in your child’s physical movement and nurture a love of physical activity which are incredibly important skills to thrive.
Not only this but ride on toys also provide the perfect opportunity to learn how to share, navigate new social situations and expand their horizons as they explore the world in a new way.
Your child will absolutely love rolling around on their new ride-on toy and the joy on their face combined with these amazing benefits certainly make this toy a worthwhile investment.
What To Look For When Buying A Ride On Toy For 1 Year Old Toddlers
With so many toys on the market, it can be a little daunting deciding which one to pick for your little one’s playroom…
So, here is my list of things that you should consider when choosing the best ride on toy to buy:
- Are the materials planet-friendly and child-safe? As parents, we should all be conscious of our family’s impact on the earth. So ensure your ride on toy matches your principles but also make sure it is safe for your little one to interact with. Wood, silicone, hemp and cotton are great choices… However, avoid PVC plastics and styrofoam materials to keep your little one safe.
- Does it require batteries? I personally prefer minimalist toys that don’t require batteries as they typically last longer… But this is certainly a factor to consider when choosing the ideal ride-on toy for your little one.
- Is it designed with your child’s safety in mind? As well as using safe materials… Has the toy been designed in a way that is safe for your child to use? Will it fall over? Will children tip it up? Reviews from other parents are incredibly helpful to learn about this.
- Will it work on your floors? Do you intend to use the toy on the carpet? Wooden floors? Vinyl? Tiles? Outdoors? Make sure the toy you buy is suitable for your environment.
- Will it grow alongside your child’s development? Some ride on toys will adapt and grow with your little one. Choosing a toy that also becomes a push walker can be a great way to ensure the longevity of the item.
- Is it comfortable for your child? If the toy is comfy to sit on your child will enjoy playing with it which will mean it won’t get abandoned in the corner!
- Does it offer multiple play uses? Again, a ride on toy that includes other games and activities is a great way to keep the toy interesting and have a long playroom life!
NOTE: If you want to learn more about which plastics are safe or not for children, Samantha Radford from Evidence-Based Mommy has written an incredible article about exactly this… Check it out here.
Best Ride On Toy Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for more information about the best ride on toys for 1 year old toddlers? Find answers to the most common questions here.
When Can A Child Use A Ride On Toy?
There is no specific age at which a child can use a ride on toy…
However once your child has acquired the necessary developmental skills to use a ride on toy… There’s no reason why they can’t!
- Pull themselves to stand from sitting.
- Stand independently.
- Take a step or two on their own.
- Push a toy in a standing position in a controlled fashion.
Are Ride On Toys Good For Babies?
Ride on toys can be great for babies as long as they are developmentally ready to use them…
Push-along ride on toys are especially good for younger children as they can help improve their balance and encourage them to walk independently.
What Area Of Development Do Ride On Toys Help?
For 1 year olds, ride-on toys have many developmental benefits such as:
- Developing physical and mobility skills
- Developing gross motor skills
- Developing social skills
- Helping develop balance and coordination
- Developing spacial awareness
- Developing and strengthening muscles and bones
Are Ride On Cars Suitable For 1 Year Old?
Yes! 1 year olds can use ride on cars very successfully as long as they are low enough for them to climb onto and sit with their feet on the floor to help with their balance.
It may take them a while to learn how to propel themselves forward…
However, most 1 year olds will enjoy pushing a ride on car along and they will eventually sit on it and be propelling themselves around in no time!
What Is The Best Ride On Toy Brand?
If you want a great choice of ride on toys to choose from that come in all shapes and sizes and designs with decades of toy-building experience behind then… you can’t go wrong with the trusted Radio Flyer Range.
Radio Flyer have all types of ride on toys to fit all your child’s needs.
From planes to trikes and cars… Radio Flyer has it all.
And their well-made, classic toys will definitely delight your little one and stand the test of time!
|
Our Top Pick
|
Best Wooden
|
Best Bike
|
|
Pros:
|
Pros:
|
Pros:
|
- Anti-tip design
- 17 BONUS sensory activities
- Baby push walker adaptability
- Under-seat storage
- Certified B Corporation
- Years of play longevity
- Award winning
- Unlimited mobility
- Durable and made to last
- Grows with your child's development
- No assembly required!
- Scratch & slip resistant wheels
- Designed to prevent side falls
- Easy to control
- Budget-friendly
- Available in a wide variety of colours
Need More Parenting Help?
- Download our FREE Perfect Sleep Cheat Sheet. It’s a free, easy-to-use and proven formula designed for parents of 0-5 year olds to master the art of consistently undisturbed and restful sleep without the yelling, nagging or exhausting long-winded evenings.
- Check out our Parenting Toolbox. You’ll get access to expertly-chosen products that you can guarantee are the best for your little one and your wallet.
- Ready to create the calm, peaceful evenings you deserve? Then checkout our most popular course - The Bedtime Battles Masterclass
A bedtime & nap cheat sheet so good your little one will ask you to put them to bed...
Laura Williams "This is a life saver! I'm so glad I downloaded your bedtime & nap cheat sheet. My little one actually asked me to put him to bed last night! Unbelievable! Thank you so much!"
