15 best rocking horses for toddlers

What is the best rocking horse for toddlers?

An all-time favorite classic toy, the rocking horse has maintained a place in American households for generations. Beautiful in its simplicity, a rocking horse is also a great way for young kids of a variety of ages to remain active, even indoors, and also improve their balance and coordination. Nowadays, two primary styles of a rocking horse are manufactured: the type that moves in tandem with its rockers, and the type that rocks within its own frame.

A classic symbol of childhood, rocking horses and activity rockers have always been a hallmark of play. Keep the rocking horse tradition alive in your home with these best rocking toys for kids:

ImageBrandProductTypeWhy it's greatRecommended AgeLearn more
best rocking horses for toddlersKidKraftDerby Rocking Horse – NaturalWoodenSturdy, solid wood construction with a real wool mane and tail, with unique anti-tip rockers for added safety. This timeless, heirloom-quality rocking horse is a treasure for every child.36 months - 8 yearsCheck price
best rocking horse for kidsHapeRock and Ride Wooden Rocking HorseWoodenThis classic rocking horse toy provides hours upon hours of imaginative exercise by gently rocking at a steady pace or safely galloping, while helping to develop basic balance and coordination skills. High-quality finishes are all non-toxic and child safe.10 months - 3 yearsCheck price
best rocking horse for 1 year oldEverEarthBamboo Rocking HorseBambooMade with sustainable resources, water-based paints, recycled packaging, and manufactured to the highest quality, this bamboo rocking horse encourages your child’s imagination and fine motor skills development.12 months - 6 yearsCheck price
best rocking horse for babylabebeStuffed Animal RockerPlushThis adorable crocodile rocking horse is complete with wings, a mirror, and a pocket.6 months - 3 yearsCheck price
best rocking horse for 2 year oldRockin’ RiderLucky Talking Plush Spring HorseSpringThis soft huggable plush rocking horse also talks and sings “I’m a Little Pony” song, 6 talking phrases, and other sound effects from its synchronized moving mouth. The 3-position stirrups grow with your child and the sturdy steel frame ensures safety for ages 2 to 5 years and up to 65 lbs., making this one of the best spring horses for kids.24 months - 10 yearsCheck price
best rocking horse for 6 year oldRadio FlyerBlaze Interactive Riding HorseSpringThis horse has 3 distinct riding actions: walk, trot, and gallop. The built-in safety straps provide added protection and the easy climb step allows easy access and dismount for kids up to 60 pounds. The best rocking horse for a 3-year-old!24 months - 6 yearsCheck price
best rocking horse for 3 year oldRockin’ RiderLegacy Grow-with-Me PonySafety seatRocking horses with safety seats are best for babies that are still developing their balance. Converts in minutes without tools to grow with your child from a bouncer, to a rocker, to a spring horse. Recommended for as young to 9 months, converts at 12 and 24 months (up to 50 lbs.) Babies will love the soft, huggable plush, detailed saddle, and embroidered eyes, and are soothed by the gentle rocking in the removable safety seat. The best rocking horse for a 1-year-old!9 months - 3 yearsCheck price
best rocking horse for 24 month oldLittle TikesPlastic Rocking HorsePlasticThe small size is portable and ideal for indoor or outdoor play areas. The seat and easy grip handles are designed to keep kids from falling forward or back, and the sturdy construction and unique design will keep kids in the saddle for hours. 12 months - 3 yearsCheck price
best rocking horse for 12 month oldStep2Patches the Rocking HorsePlasticThe charming yet sturdy double wall poly construction is durable and will last for years, and prevent rocking or tipping. The contoured seat and easy grip handlebars are designed for optimum comfort, and the lightweight design makes it extremely portable and easy to store. 12 months - 3 yearsCheck price
best rocking horse for 18 month oldVTechGallop and Rock Learning PonyPlasticGrows with the user by transforming from a simple rocking horse to a ride-on or rolling toy. Encourages rocking and riding with motion detectors that activate realistic horse sounds, fun phrases, 60+ songs, melodies, sounds and phrases for imaginative play. A different, fun spin on kids plastic rocking horses. 12 months - 3 yearsCheck price
safest rocking horse for toddlersGymnicDerby Rocking Horse – NaturalInflatableThis Inflatable Rocking Rody Rider has a detachable base that converts it to an adorable and safe rocking horse. Remove it, and the Rody returns to its original hopping and bouncing form, making him grow with your child. Regular play with the Rody has been shown to tone muscles, improve balance and heighten cardiovascular exertion.18 months+Check price
best metal rocking horseQaba KidsRock and Ride Wooden Rocking HorseMetal and plushThis rocking horse has a traditional plush design, but also comes equipped with more modern features, such as electronic neighing and galloping sounds when you press down on the ears. It weighs an extremely light 4 pounds, yet is still able to support up to 88 pounds.3 years+Check price
best rocking horse for 7 year oldAnimal AdventureBamboo Rocking HorseWood and plushAn out-of-the-box design - a rocking bee!18 months - 8 yearsCheck price
wooden rocking horse for toddlersB. ToysStuffed Animal RockerWood and plushOne of the more cuddly and durable rocking horse designs that we've seen18 months - 5 yearsCheck price
best wooden rocking horseQaba KidsLucky Talking Plush Spring HorseWood and plushWhy ride on a rocking horse when you can ride on a rocking llama?18 months - 3 yearsCheck price
Rocking horse comparison matrix

Frequently asked questions about rocking horses for kids

What age is a rocking horse for?

Most rocking horse manufacturers recommend a minimum age of 18 months, to ensure that the child’s balance is sufficiently developed for safe use. Some rocking horses come equipped with seats or safety harnesses so that younger children or even babies can use them. Due to weight constraints, the vast majority of rocking horses are designed for kids under 6. There are some higher-capacity versions available for heavier or older children.

best rocking horse for kids

What is the history of the rocking horse?

The history of rocking horses can be traced back to the hobby horse of the Middle Ages, but they have come a long way from the original fake horse’s head attached to the end of a long stick, which would be positioned between their legs to simulate riding. It is even believed that children were often gifted these early rocking horses and hobby horses to practice the rudimentary jousting techniques prior to graduating to actual horses.

Around the 16th century, this version was replaced by a barrel horse, a circular log propped up on four legs and adorned with an imitation horse head. It wasn’t until the early 17th century that bow rockers, which first truly resembled the modern rocking horse, were invented. During the World Wars and the Great Depression, the craft declined almost to the point of disappearing forever, and indeed by the 1960s, there had been a significant decline in rocking horse manufacturers. It was around this time that a small community of skilled craftsmen began restoring antique rocking horses to their original glory and creating new designs which ultimately led to the examples we see being manufactured today. In 2004, the rocking horse was inducted into the Strong National Museum of Play National Toy Hall of Fame.

What was the most expensive rocking horse?

To date, the most expensive rocking horse solid on record was a solid 18k gold rocking horse, which was handmade by Japanese designer Ginza Tanaka. It sold for $600,000 in 2012 to Jay-Z and Beyonce for their daughter Blue Ivy.

What is the biggest rocking horse?

The title for the largest rocking horse on Earth is held by Yilan, China for a structure that weighs 4.5 tons, measures over 27 feet (8.3 meters) long, and is 10x the size of an average rocking horse. The record for the largest hand-carved wooden rocking horse is held by Katlinel and Les Hartness of California – it was built in 2000 and measures 7 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 1,200 pounds.

Are rocking horses dangerous?

Babygaga has rocking horses in their list of 15 Toys That Can Cause The Most Injuries (number 15). Of course, the vast majority of these injuries are due to falls. A large number are probably due to misuse (children that are over the weight limit or using it inappropriately). If kids are riding responsibly, the rocking horse is durable and well-maintained, and there is some parental supervision, then rocking horses are considered to be quite safe.

best rocking horses for toddlers

What are rocking horses made of?

Traditionally, rocking horses were nearly always made of wood. Today, many still are. However, it is becoming more common to see rocking horses made of a hybrid of wood and fabric, such as a wood frame with a plush animal body. This can make them more comfortable and also allows more creativity with the shape and design. It also makes it possible to standardize on one frame design, but have plush overlays that can help create different designs, or even different animals. Other brands will make their rocking horses out of metal or plastic with more modern manufacturing techniques. There are even some inflatable rocking horses out there.

What wood is used for rocking horses?

A lot of manufacturers (and DIY-types) build rocking horses out of pine, because of its resistance to wear and tear, dents, and scuffs.

Thanks for reading!

More articles you’ll love from Smart-Toys:
Best fort building kits
Best LEGO alternatives
Best activity bars
Best Nanoblock sets

No aggregators or algorithms on our “best rocking toys for toddlers” list- all of these amazing wooden rocking horses, kids plastic rocking horses, and spring rocking horse for kids are hand picked! Please make sure to confirm manufacturer recommended age, safety details, materials, instructions, and other warnings. We may receive a commission from certain affiliate links including the Amazon Affiliates Program, which allows you to support our site’s mission at no additional cost to you. You can read our full disclosure here. We strive to bring you the best!