The Best Bikes, Scooters & Riders for Toddlers
Ride, Push, Pedal — Toddlers! The best kids’ bikes, scooters, and ridable mini-cars and trucks to help your toddler keep active, improve their coordination, and find their own road.
Updated June 20, 2022
The Best Toddler Scooter — The Mini Deluxe Scooter
The Swiss-designed Mini Deluxe Scooter is easy to use, fun, durable, and looks sporty in all of its color options — red, navy, black, ice green, aqua, and ruby pink. It’s our go-to starter scooter recommendation for toddlers (2 to 5 years old).
Holds up to 110 lbs, yet is lightweight
Built with an adjustable T-bar handlebar that grows with your child
Requires no assembly
Part of the popular Micro Kickboard brand
Offers a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty and award-winning customer service
The Best Kid Bike – RoyalBaby Kids Bike
Start with the training-wheel-equipped smaller versions or go all in with one of the larger, kickstand-ready freestyle bikes. All RoyalBaby Kids bikes are built on the same sturdy steel frame. They all feature safe grips, a footbrake, and a handbrake — plus a bell and a water bottle holder. With sealed bearings and a handle-backed ultra-cushioned seat, they deliver smooth rides. Great for both boys and girls. Comes in blue, red, orange, green, pink, white, and fuchsia.
The Best Toddler Balance Bike – The Strider 12 Sport
More fun than learning to ride with training wheels, balance bikes build riding confidence and develop balance — plus they’re a great way for your child to get their energy out. The Strider 12 Sport balance bike boasts a durable steel frame, puncture-proof tires, and built-in footrests. Its adjustable seat and handlebar serves 18-month-old up to 5 year-olds (up to 27 lbs). Comes in 10 colors, including blue, green, silver, black pearl, red, pink, and yellow. For variations on the 12 Sport model, like the Strider 12 Pro and Strider 12 Classic, Check out Strider’s 12 Series Amazon store.
The Best Tricycle & Stroller Trike
The Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike is, dare we say, a truly transformative ride. This Swiss army knife of a stroller-trike does just that — transforms into four different vehicle types for four different early childhood stages:
- Strapped in and pushed like a stroller for older infants and young toddlers
- Strapped in, with some steering control for the young and energized toddler
- Fuller steering and pedaling control for the 2-to-3-year-old learning to explore the world, but with a parent’s hand
- The full-on, freewheeling freedom of fully transformed tricycle for the mature toddlers and early preschoolers
The Best Ride & Push Cars and Trucks
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Car
More cute and playful than fast and slick — think Labradoodle not Lamborghini — this fun ride comes equipped with front wheels that spin 360 degrees on durable little tires. Great for toddlers and preschoolers, this ride-on truck has a removable floorboard for hard pushing, fast-moving little feet. For younger riders, there’s a handle on the back for parent-controlled push rides. For extra fun, there’s an “ignition switch,” an open-and-close gas cap, and storage in the “trunk.” The Cozy Coupe is made in the United States.
Little Tikes Cozy Truck
Curious minds will appreciate the chance to get behind the wheel of their very own truck. They’ll love this ride-on toy’s working steering wheel, door, tailgate, and horn, plus a gas cap that opens. When the floor is in, little ones’ feet are protected as a parent guides them; when out, older preschoolers and toddlers can push off with their feet to move on their own. Fun for indoors and outside. For 18 months to 5 years old.
Toy Ride-on Digger/Excavator
For the construction-truck obsessed ground-movers in your home (and backyard), check out this sit-on excavator with scoop controls and 360-degree rotation. Its solid steel construction holds up to 110 lbs. Use year-round — move sand, dirt, and snow! Great for sandboxes and the beach.
The Best Protective Gear — Helmets and Pads
OUWOER Kids Bike Helmet
We love this helmet’s simple design and solid construction. And we trust it because it’s CPSC-certified, with a protective ABS shell and EPS foam for shock absorption. It’s designed for biking, scootering, and skateboarding, and keeps little riders cool with 11 vents. It comes in three sizes to protect 2-year-olds up to older youths. And it’s available in several modern hues: orange, lime, gray, black, pink, and red.
Simply Kids Soft Kids Knee and Elbow Pads with Bike Gloves
Simply Kids protective gear’s cool designs are nearly as important as their cushioning powers — your kids will want to wear this safety padding. We can’t resist the Captain America-inspired star-spangled option. (Too snug for adults to wear comfortably, we discovered the hard way.) And they come in over a dozen other fun patterns and solid color options. All sets include two knee pads, two elbow pads, two palm protector gloves, and a mesh bag.