You have a while until you have to really hand over the keys and watch your kid ride off into the sunset, but here are some starter wheels to consider for toddlers and preschoolers.
ROW ONE:
1. Ride On with Shape Sorter, $25. A riding toy and sorting toy in one.
2. Wonderworld Ride On Recycling Truck, $120: Made from rubberwood using safe, water-based paint. There is also a firetruck or zebra version.
3. Wishbone Flip Bike, $150: It's a rocker, it's a roller - it's both. Suitable for indoors and outdoors and made from 100% reforested birch plywood.
ROW TWO:
4. Trike 'n' Trailer, $80: For indoor or outdoor use, kids can ride as just a trike or attach the trailer for moving toys, rocks, etc. around. Made of solid maple.
5. Roly Poly, $150: Made in the USA from maple and ash, this ride on is classic and beautiful.
6. Wheely Bug, $60 (sm) or $70 (lg): On multidirectional castors for easy indoor maneuvering. 5 different animals available.
ROW THREE:
7. Svan Creativity Cruiser, $80: One of the best looking ride ons out there and can accommodate a wider size range than many riding toys. Also available in natural finish.
8. Rock n Rolla, $63: Starts as a rocker and wheels can be added when your child is ready. Also available as a dog or cow.
9. Mishi Designs Swing Up, $88. Easily converts between a rocker or ride on. In red/blue or green/orange.
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You're clearly favoring the plywood selections, but I'll put my vote in for plastic. My kiddo has loved her Little Tikes racer: http://www.littletikes.com/kids-toys/push-ride-racer
Simple unisex design, small enough to scoot around in our tiny Brooklyn apartment and fit in a cabinet, durable enough to hit the city sidewalks, lightweight and wipes/hoses down. And a whole lot less that most of those above at $25!
We got a wheely bug for my daughter for her birthday last year. I thought it was really cute and would be tons of fun for her. She thinks otherwise. I don't think she's ever gotten on it spontaneously.
On the other hand, she loves the same little tikes racer that @papaya's child has, which we bought at a yard sale for $5. Even though (because?) it's beat up, doesn't roll as smoothly, and the wheels only move in one direction. Don't be afraid of plastic.
Thanks for this post. I now know what to get my boys for the holidays.
We have both the Svan and Wheely Bug and like both. The Svan is one of my favorite baby gifts. Both are very smooth rides.
The Wheely Bug requires some careful sizing though so pay attention to weight suggestions. A small, immature toddler who isn't a daredevil will find it a big scary because it offers a LOT of mobility and speed.
I also have to plug the Little Tykes racer. My four year old still uses it and my 1.5 year old adores it (and he used it as a push toy when he was learning to walk). Now they push each other and sometimes both ride it together. One of the most beloved toys in our house! The only thing is I found it hard to put together, so if you can find it used, all the better!
We tried the ladybug in a store when my oldest was a toddler. She did not care for it- not very comfortable to sit on.
My 1 year old absolutely adores the Joovy Tricycoo (we have it in orange of course). It's convertible to grow with him, just remove the push handle and the seat surround. His 3 year old friend could even fit into it in the same setting. Pedals can be locked so they won't spin and whack his feet. It's plastic, but the orange/gray still looks pretty in my living room. (http://www.joovy.com/c-64-tricycoo.aspx)
The wheely bug isn't really "first wheels" like a pp I gave my son his (small one) when he was 1. Now he's 3 he really loves it & it's the only ride on out of about 6 he uses, & santa s bringing a large one. But it pretty much sat ignored till he was 2.5, its too maneuverable for kids that aren't yet stable themselves. Untill then I vote for the simple plastic motorbike type.
Ditto here re the wheelybug--we got the little bee for our son's first birthday, but it was too mobile at the time (tended to scoot off out from under him), but now that he's 19 months (and 28 lbs) he loves to ride it around!
My (not quite walking) 14 mo old loves to push the wheely bug around. She's also started to climb on it -- I think it is easier because we have carpet.
We got my daughter the wheely bug (large size) when she was 1, at the time it was too much for her to ride on. So she pushed it around for a while once she was a stable walker. By 18 months she had mastered riding on it. Now she's 3 and still uses it - and I'm guessing will continue to for a while. Love that it has lasted so long!
Loving this post because I'm ordering two wheely bugs for Christmas for our 14 mo twins. It seems from previous comments that they may be a bit older before they take interest in or use them, but would owners recommend that I get the larger size and allow them to grow into them? Thanks!
My kids have loved the Radio Flyer Retro Rocket and we bought our youngest the new Radio Flyer Bumper Car for Christmas this year!
My daughter loved the wheely bug! She was an early walker and was fairly nimble and stable when she was still tiny (I had older women tell me I shouldn't let her walk around, that she was "too young"! You try and stop her lady!). The bug was a great size for her to be able to actually move. She got frustrated with the slower, clunkier ride-ons. My nephew is just learning how to walk and he likes to play with it too, but only on the carpet, otherwise it gets away from him too fast.
We have tile floors and the wheely bug was a bit fast for my little one. We gave it to her for her for her first birthday, but since she didn't use it much, we put it away and "gave it" to her again. She was an early walker (10 months) but didn't have much long term interest in it until she was nearly 2 years. Now she loves it, so I wish I had gone with the larger size @ MeMoBaby. She still enjoys the smaller, and it is fine for now, but I think unless you have a very petite child, the larger will get more use.
My daughter loves her Piwi YBike. It also works as an early walker before they can ride on it.
Wow! Thanks for the wonderful article with a useful info. I just loved to read your article. I was planing to buy Ride On Toys for my 2 years son. Your post helped me a lot to get one for him.