Rocking horses are the classic nursery and playroom accessory, and they go back several centuries. The predecessor to the rocking horse was a wheeled horse, which is believed to have hailed back to the thirteen hundreds.
Rocking horses is essential to child development, helping children develop balance and coordination and improving the motor skills necessary to walk and run.
Children love to be rocked. From the birth of a baby, we rock them to soothe and comfort them. Buying a rocking horse for your child is a natural extension of this comfort they can now do themselves.
We review ten of the best rocking horses available to help you purchase the right one for your child.
Table of Contents
- 1 Top 10 rocking horses for kids
- 1.1 1. Rockin’ Rider Lucky Talking Plush Spring Horse
- 1.2 2. Rockin’ Rider Charger 2-in-1 Pony Ride-On
- 1.3 3. Little Tikes Rocking Horse Blue
- 1.4 4. Little Bird Told Me Rufus & Ted Infant Wood Rocking Horse
- 1.5 5. Rockin’ Rider Diesel Stable Horse
- 1.6 6. Hape Rock and Ride Kid’s Wooden Rocking Horse
- 1.7 7. Smart Gear Pony Cycle Chocolate, Light Brown, or Brown Horse Riding Toy
- 1.8 8. Labebe Modern Plush Rocking Horse with Padded Animal for Little Toddlers Kids
- 1.9 9. Labebe Wooden Vintage Retro Classic Rocking Horse for Toddler Girls & Boys
- 1.10 10. Princess Pink Rocking Horse Pony
Top 10 rocking horses for kids
Check out our comparison table to see details of our top picks for the best rocking horses for toddlers at a glance.
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1. Rockin’ Rider Lucky Talking Plush Spring Horse
This talking, singing, and rocking horse will have your child enthralled. Press its left ear, and it sings, “I’m a little pony.” Press the right ear to hear one of six phrases or other sounds. The mouth is synchronized to move as it sings or speaks. It makes galloping noises as it rocks.
If all this noise seems a bit much, rest assured the sound level is adjustable. The horse is attached by springs to a durable steel frame. The soft, plush body makes the horse more realistic and lovable. It has adjustable stirrups making it suitable for children from two to five years old.
Check latest price on Amazon2. Rockin’ Rider Charger 2-in-1 Pony Ride-On
The Rockin’ rider 2-in-1 pony ride-on is a cute riding horse toy with wheels. This sweet little rocker has a soft, plush body. Designed for toddlers between twelve and thirty-six months, it has easy-grip handles and non-slip footrests. It is equipped with wheels so that it easily converts into a roller when the rockers are clipped off.
The horse has embroidered eyes so that there are no small parts that can be swallowed. At only 12.5 inches, the seat is low enough for the small child to mount and dismount. This horse sings and speaks. Press the left ear, and it will sing, “I’m a Little Pony.” It also says six phrases and makes other noises. The mouth moves in tune when it speaks or sings.
Check latest price on Amazon3. Little Tikes Rocking Horse Blue
- Download the Little Tikes Play Big Skill on any Alexa-enabled Amazon device to go on fun adventures with your Rocking Horse.
- One of Little Tikes classic items is back!
- Small size. Maximum weight limit- up to 50 pounds
- Perfect for small indoor or outdoor play areas. Age- 12 months - 3 years
- Seat is designed to keep kids from falling forward or back
- Easy grip handles; Made in USA
This sturdy little rocking horse has been around for many years and is still a firm favorite. It is made from durable blue molded plastic and is excellent for indoor and outdoor play. Because it is small and light, weighing less than eight pounds, and easily moved from one room.
The little tikes rocking horse is one of the best rocking horses for 1-year-old to 3-year-old kids. The toy has smooth edges and corners to prevent injuries. The high back seat, low saddle, and easy-grip handles are designed to prevent the rider from falling over the front or back of the horse.
Check latest price on Amazon4. Little Bird Told Me Rufus & Ted Infant Wood Rocking Horse
- Adorable plush rocking horse with stylish design and a plaid pocket for holding plush teddy bear friend
- Encourages gross motor skills, balance, coordination, imaginative play
- A beautiful playtime experiences little ones will love, parents will love to photograph
- Textured chocolate and cream woven check fabric, padded traditional leatherette saddle and bridle
- Soft material is comfortable to sit on
If you are looking for a toy that will become a family heirloom, this rustic little rocking horse will fit the bill. Rufus is a soft padded horse made from chequered brown and cream fabric. Tucked snugly into his pocket is his little friend Ted, a soft teddy bear with plaid ears and belly and an embroidered smile.
The horse has a leatherette bridle and padded saddle. His mane and tail feel great as they are made from faux suede, which crinkles when you touch it. The bowed rocking base is made from walnut-stained material. It has removable footrests and is suitable for children over nine months old.
Check latest price on Amazon5. Rockin’ Rider Diesel Stable Horse
This realistic-looking horse is suitable for three to ten-year-olds. It is made from soft plush material printed with realistic brown and white horse patterns. This horse has several talents. Able to sing “I’m a Little Pony” when his left ear is pressed, he is also capable of six phrases and horse noises.
When his reigns are pulled, he neighs. Pat his nose to hear him snort, and a tap on his rear end will be rewarded with galloping and trotting sounds. This is a great rocking horse for big kids and older kids because of its leatherette saddle and metal stirrups. The saddle height of this metal framed product is eighteen inches. No one can argue that this isn’t among the best rocking horses.
Check latest price on Amazon6. Hape Rock and Ride Kid’s Wooden Rocking Horse
- Gently rock at a steady pace or safely take your horse for a gallop
- Classic toy gives hours of imaginative exercise while developing basic balance and coordination skills
- Some easy assembly is required
- Hape finishes are all non-toxic, child safe, and of the highest quality
- For ages 10 months - 3 years
This is a classic wooden rocking horse. Recommended for children between the ages of ten months and three years, it is well-balanced and child safe. The seat and mane are painted a cheerful bright red using water-based paint. The rocking horse contains no padding and is very easy to keep clean.
Weighing only eight pounds, this toy is easily moved from one room to another. It has a wide seat back to prevent the child from falling backward. All finishes on this sturdy rocking horse wooden toy are high quality and non-toxic.
Check latest price on Amazon7. Smart Gear Pony Cycle Chocolate, Light Brown, or Brown Horse Riding Toy
- Riding Toy that Moves Forward in a Galloping Motion.
- This Toy Simulates Riding On A Real Pony Also Steers Left and Right.
- Kid powered ride-on PonyCycle is For Indoor/Outdoor Use, Boys and Girls to Ride Whenever they Want
- Like a Classic Rocking Horse Toy with a New Twist. It Moves! Exciting!
- No Batteries, No electric, just fun for any child. Wheels do not roll backwards.
Believe it or not, this horse moves forward in a galloping motion without batteries or electricity.
According to the manufacturers, this is the world’s first simulated riding toy and is a great rocking horse for an older child. The rider moves the pony cycle forward by gently moving up and down in the saddle, causing the horse’s head and legs to move backward and forwards, simulating a galloping motion. The horse can turn both left and right.
For safety reasons, it is prevented from rolling backward. Made from plush chocolate fabric with a leatherette saddle, it comes in two sizes: a small rocking horse for 3-year-old for three to five-year-olds and a medium-sized rocking horse for 5-year-old to nine-year-olds.
Check latest price on Amazon8. Labebe Modern Plush Rocking Horse with Padded Animal for Little Toddlers Kids
- The smart rocking horse design won the award from Melbourne and Nuremberg toys exhibition for the fabulous plush animal design and widely loved dual-use function. Rocker can convert into a stroller without tools, which is easy and space-saving. Wheels can run on any surface, and all the wheels are wrapped in rubber to reduce the noise and scratches from the wooden floor. Wheels can run on the beach, floor, and lawn.
- The structure and rocking horse appearance are all originally designed by our French team. All plush images are designed in-house, not copied! The supporting structure is made of solid wood with 150 lb. (68kg) as max weight capacity, so even an adult can sit on it. It is adorable and sturdy
- The filled pp. Cotton is all well stitched inside the plush fabric, and sewing is neatly done; you won't find any fiberfill coming out from the corner; they stay solid even when roughly pulled by babies—the abundant pp. Cotton is spread evenly at every corner, and this ensures the comfort and the seat will keep its form after years of use; The wooden structure and rails are rounded and examined manually to give a smooth surface, not to scratch kids clothes and skin.
- There are some amazing sound hiding in hand or somewhere of this cute giraffe, make a sound when squeezed, waiting for baby to find out. Parents can use this function to teach the baby nose, ear, etc. It is much easier to remember when learning with sounds; For early-age babies, exploring new things by themselves helps develop their independent play and curiosity. It can be well used as a cute baby rocker, baby girl rocker, or boy rocking horse.
- The 3rd generation plush fabric is soft, stain-resistant, and pill-free. A wet rag can remove stains with baking soda powder. Pp. The cotton used is breathable in summer. Solid wood and MDF (Medium Density Fiber) are used to structure but are not too heavy to rock. Materials comply with Toys Safety Standards EN-71 CE in Europe and ASTM F963 in the US. These all make it a suitable rocking horse stuffed animal or infant rocking horse, a must-have horse rocker.
This cute little number is intended for babies from six to 36 months. It’s an award-winning rocking horse with a plush design with high sides and back to keep your baby snug. The rocking horse easily converts from rocker to stroller; no tools are required. The rubber-coated wheels run quietly and smoothly on almost any surface and will not cause scratches.
The ears and tail of the plush, padded animal design will make noises when squeezed. This is a high-quality riding horse toy with wheels manufactured from fabrics resistant to stains and pilling.
Check latest price on Amazon9. Labebe Wooden Vintage Retro Classic Rocking Horse for Toddler Girls & Boys
- Extra Large Seat - This seat of child rocking horse is large enough for even kids around 5 years to ride on. Of course, kids can ride with their favorite toys! A parent can add a soft cushion to make the baby more comfortable. Also, it can be well used as kid ride-on toys, ride-horse toys, or girl and boy ride-on toys.
- Solid Wood & Easy To Rock - Cottonwood and density board are used to form a structure that is STURDY as well as not too heavy for small kids to rock. Wood as a natural material is one of the safe test materials for toy making, so it is a suitable kid-riding toy or baby rocking horse for two years old, a must-have kids rocking horse
- Easy To Control. With the handrails, children can steadily rock this wooden horse forward and backward. The achievable height of the rocking horse allows children to reach the ground if they want, so they are not afraid to swing and have more fun while rocking. They can have indoor and outdoor fun, independently or in group play
- Backrack Guard When Rocking Backwards. A lower back rack is mounted close to the horsetail to hold the baby in position when they rock backward. All these make it a suitable ride for kids or an animal ride, a must-have toy ride on.
- Great birthday gift for kids. The height of this horse fit kids up 1 year old, one of the long-use toy gifts you want to give to kids
This is another classic wooden rocking horse, but the modern design will bring style to any nursery. This large rocking horse toy is designed for children between twelve and thirty-six months old. It has a large seat for comfort and enough space for your child to take his favorite soft toy on a ride.
A back-rail ensures that your child does not fall off the back of the horse. It has detachable foot pedals to assist the smaller child in rocking. The plywood and wood construction ensures stability and durability. Still, it is also lightweight, so an adult can move it from room to room. The manufacturer backs the product with a thirty-day money-back guarantee.
Check latest price on Amazon10. Princess Pink Rocking Horse Pony
This pink rocking horse will make your special little girl very happy. Pink from top to hoof and with a very long pink mane and tail, she is made from plush, huggable fabric. Squeeze her ear, and she will reward you with horsey noises.
The lights flash on her chest, and her mouth moves simultaneously as she neighs or whinnies. Her mane and tail can be brushed and braided. This rocking horse has been designed for children over three with a seat height of eighteen inches.
Check latest price on AmazonRocking horses have come a long way since the days of the wheeled horse. They have innovative designs, styles, and features that will delight any small child receiving one as a gift.
