Best ride-on toys for one-year-olds and beyond, as recommended by parents

Tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Scuttlebug review

These cute, googly-eyed characters are a great set of wheels to take your toddler right through to their first bike. They’re designed for one to four-year-olds with three wheels and front-wheel steering which makes it easy for your toddler to stay in control.

They come in a range of designs and colours, including beetles, bees, grasshoppers and butterflies so you’re sure to find a colour your toddler will love.

We like the three-click fold which means you can collapse the Scuttlebug within seconds into something small and lightweight that fits easily into the basket of most buggies. They’re so easy to put together from new, too. Best of all, Scuttlebugs are an absolute bargain, offering many hours of play for little over £20.

Related: The best beach tents for a sun-safe summer holiday

For a bargain ride-on that stores flat, an inflatable like this one from B. Toys is a great option. Little ones can grab onto the antennae and bounce around - it's basically a modern spacehopper. A manual air pump is included which inflates the bee in just 5-10 minutes, if your toddler possesses that level of patience.

The material is pretty thick and sturdy, but it's not as ready-for-anything as the other ride-ons on our list, and we wouldn't recommend using it outdoors on anything other than grass.

Related: The best remote control cars for kids of all ages

Little Tikes Cozy Coupe is a bona fide ride-on classic. It’s been whizzing around back gardens and playgroups for 30 years and is available in several styles now, as well as the classic little red car. Reviews suggest it’s a bit of a pain to put together but once it’s set up, it’s really tough and robust and will be good for years. It’s also hardy enough to be left out in the garden in all weathers, although you should expect some discolouration over time if you leave it to the mercy of the elements.

There is plenty here to appeal to toddlers including a working horn, an ignition that moves and clicks, a fuel cap to open to add petrol, and even cup holders! The door opens to get in easily and there’s a storage area in the back to pop your best teddy bear in, too. The front wheels rotate 360 degrees and there’s a removable floor so the car can be pushed along by the parent or propelled by your toddler’s own feet on the floor. That’s what gives this ride-on real longevity - kids can start using it long before they’re capable of pushing it themselves. As well as being a great ride-on toy, we think it's one of the best toys for 2-year-olds.

Beloved by parents and toddlers alike, Wheelybugs are fast becoming a classic ride-on toy. And despite being nearly £70, they still go like hot cakes. Possibly the reason behind their huge success is the fact that they manage to tick both the ‘appeals to toddlers’ box AND the ‘doesn’t look like a horrible lump of bright plastic in your house’ box. Very clever.

They are beautifully made though, with a solid wood base, smooth handle and a cover made from - vitally - wipeable polyurethane leatheroid that feels really comfy to sit on. They feel solid, yet lightweight to carry and they age really well so you can keep it as a family heirloom to pass from child to child.

Wheelybugs are pretty nippy too - you’ll be amazed at the speed your toddler can reach once they get going. They are recommended for ages one to three but many children will use them for much longer. They’re available in several different animal designs and you can now even buy plush covers for them that turn them from a ladybird to a lion… or anything you wish!

Read next: Best outdoor toys: get your kids active with great toys and games for your garden

With soft, grippable handles and a sturdy frame, this Cocomelon Bobble Ride On makes a perfect first ride-on for your little one's first birthday. Not a Cocomelon fan? Not to worry - this design is available with lots of other characters.

The seat is ergonomically moulded for comfort and steadiness, and the wheels are puncture-proof for both indoor and outdoor use. Little ones will be able to find their feet on this cute ride-on, designed specifically for 1-year-olds.

Read next: Best toddler reins to keep your little ones close

Tiny tractor fans will love this ride-on, which is licensed by John Deere itself. Great for getting in the harvest in the garden, it comes with big, chunky wheels that mean uneven ground poses no issues. It also has a large, detachable trailer so you can invite a few toys along for the ride, and the bonnet lifts up if your toddler needs to do any emergency repairs.

This is a brilliant toy for pretend play and role play, but it’s also great exercise, using the anti-slip pedals to make your way around the outdoors. It’s very sturdy and will stand up to most weather but it <is> very big and you might not want to leave it outside all the time, so make sure you have space to store it.

The manufacturer recommends it for ages 2.5 to 5 years so it’s one for preschoolers rather than toddlers really, but this ride-on should bring lots of joy to farm fans and transport enthusiasts.

Read next: Best remote control cars for kids, test-driven by Mumsnetters

Another one for slightly older kids, this ride-on is actually electric, making it feel like the real deal and it’s an excellent copy of the Audi it’s based on, too. Budding car fans will love it. The car comes with working LED headlights and tail lights, a dashboard gauge, steering wheel, pedal and even a music player, so it really does feel like a proper car.

The large, comfy seat has a safety belt to secure your child properly and nice wide tyres. There are two speed settings - 1.5km per hour and 3km per hour so they can start off slow and go faster as they progress.

You’ll be pleased to know that it also comes with a parent remote control so you can still be in the driving seat when you need to be. Obviously, this ride-on isn’t going to offer any exercise for your child but it is lots of fun and great for a bit of role play.

Read next: Best toys for 3 year olds: gifts preschoolers will love

We like a toy that does more than one thing, so we were very impressed by this ride-on from Micro Scooter, which is a bouncy toy as well as a wheelie one. The Bike Hopper is an inflatable caterpillar that can be used alone as a hopper to help children improve their strength and balance, but it then attaches to a chassis, which turns it into a ride-on. The caterpillar is ergonomically designed to provide comfortable seating, and the chassis has 360-degree rotation on the wheels, which are hidden beneath a smooth-sided chassis so they can’t run over anyone’s toes - including their own.

The Hopper Ride-on is really intended for indoor use, so we were also pleased to see that the wheels were non-marking and the wheel cover on the chassis saves your furniture from getting beaten up, too. The toy is aimed at children aged 18 months-plus as little ones do need a bit of stability to sit on the bouncy caterpillar body, but then it should keep them busy for years. We liked the fact that the body can be deflated so you can take it away with you, too.

Read next: The best scooters for kids, tried and tested by Mumsnetters

Who says a ride has to be on wheels? This cute, bouncy rabbit is very appealing and huggable and offers toddlers a chance to strengthen their legs as they bounce around on the rabbit’s back. The chunky ears give them something to hold onto. The ‘bounce’ in the toy encourages your child to use their muscles and work on their balance, too, so it’s great for physical development.

The Hop Along Rabbit can be used inside or out, but, while it’s pretty sturdy we would keep it on the lawn and look out for any sharp stones that might give it a puncture.

That said, if you do need to deflate, you can do so easily so you could even take this on holiday to keep your little one busy while away. It’s recommended for 12 months to 3 years and is sure to become a playroom favourite.

Read next: 10 of the best travel games for 2026

This is a real beauty. It's so pretty you’ll be happy to have it parked up in your living room - as long as you have the space, of course!

Suitable from one year, this traditional metal toy car in smart racing green has an ergonomic seat and a very handsome style. It has a working steering wheel and just feels really lovely and well-made throughout. It’s definitely not cheap but it is totally delightful and is sure to become a family heirloom.

Read next: Best garden slides for toddlers and beyond

Tested by Mumsnet: smarTrike Xtend Ride-On review: a money-saving set of wheels to see them through childhood

It is very easy to spend an extortionate amount of money on things with wheels for your little ones, from the essential buggy or double buggy,  to the various trikes, ride-ons, scooters, balance bikes, bikes and skateboards that you inevitably end up buying throughout their childhood.

The team at smarTrike aims to help ease this financial strain with the ingenious 5-in-1 smarTrike Xtend Ride-On, which can be transformed from a trike to a ride-on, to a scooter in three different sizes. In short, the smarTrike Xtend Ride-On wants to be your little one’s trusted travelling companion from 12 months, all the way up to 12 years of age.

Although the £150 price tag may sound off-putting, the smarTrike Xtend Ride-On is a good investment that will help to save you hundreds of pounds in the long run.

Read next: Best stair gates and safety gates for babyproofing your home