Best Scooters for Toddlers

Kick scooters have always been a kid’s favorite outdoor toy. But who says toddlers can’t scoot and have just as much fun as their older siblings?  If you can get your tot one of the best scooters for toddlers out there, they’ll always want to get out and ride. And active toddlers are happier, healthier toddlers.

Related: Best Electric Scooters for Kids

But choosing baby gear has never been the simplest activity for ever-busy moms and dads. If you don’t know how to spot the right 3-wheel or 4-wheel for a kid, you’ll likely end up with junk. Even worse, you might end up with an unsafe toddler scooter.

Who Came Out on Top?

*Affiliate Links Disclosure: This website participates in the Amazon Associates program. And as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

The Micro KickBoard Mini Deluxe won, and I’ll tell you why. Unlike many scooters with 2-4 height adjustments, this one lets you dial in a precise handlebar height for your little rider. Its 120mm PU wheels are great for sidewalk riding, and the scooter is easy to get on and off.

Its wheels light up as it glides along, but no battery is needed to keep this magic going. What’s more, this device is available in multiple colors and it’s highly likely that your kiddo will find a color that works for their style.

One downside is that the price might feel a tad steep for some. And the weight limit could be higher, not that it’s a big deal. Overall, it’s a beautiful buy for toddlers, one that’ll make them smile and love you…forever.

Scooter or Bike for a Toddler?

You can buy a scooter or a bike for your little one, but why would you choose one over the other? A 3 wheeled scooter aka a tricycle is the better choice if you’re wanting your child to learn to pedal a bike from an early age. Compared to a toddler’s balance bike, a good toddler scooter is a more stable piece of outdoor gear.

Increased stability boosts the child’s confidence a bunch. They’ll want to get out and exercise, building up their strength in their quest for kiddo freedom and happiness.

What’s more, scooters tend to give youngsters smoother rides compared to balance bikes. However, a balance bike is the better bet for learning balancing skills. In the end, both purchases make sense for kids. But if I had to choose one over the other, I’d definitely pick a scooter for my little one.

If you’re buying the second scooter for a kiddo with a decent amount of riding under their belt, consider buying them the best stunt scooter you can afford. BTW, a stunt scooter is a kick scooter used primarily for doing tricks and stunts. And here’s a list of the best kids’ stunt scooters out there.

If your kid prefers a balance bike, get them one of course. And once they outgrow it, invest in a decent kid’s recreational mountain bike. Alternatively,  get your kiddo one of the best kids’ BMX bikes on the market.

At What Age Can a Child Use a Scooter?

Pretty much any 2-year-old toddler can learn to ride a scooter. And if the scooter comes with a transition seat, kids as young as 1 year can use it safely. Most scooter manufacturers believe that age 3 is the best age to introduce a kid to the exciting world of scooters and scooting.

If your LO’s been trying to convince you to buy them a scooter, pick an option that’s safe, adjustable, stable (with 3 or 4 wheels), lightweight, and long-lasting.

Lucky you! All of the options I’ve reviewed here check all of these boxes. Your tot will love you even more for gifting them such a fun-packed piece of baby gear.

7 Reasons to Buy Your Loving Toddler a Scooter

Below are five good reasons to get a decent scooter for your little as opposed to a kid’s bike, skateboard, or hoverboard.

1.Scooters are Typically Cheaper and Easier to Main Than Bikes

Scooters tend to be cheaper and easier to keep in good condition than bikes. A good toddler scooter may cost as low as $40 while $40 balance bikes are pretty much junk. If you like saving money or putting your money to the best possible use, getting a scooter instead of a balance bike seems like the better decision.

2. Scooting is a Great Way for Toddlers to Get Around

You can walk around the neighborhood with your kid and have to really slow down your pace so the tyke can keep up with you. Or you can empower them by gifting them a decent toddler scooter. With a scooter, your kid moves somewhat easier and faster. Besides, who doesn’t want to be a cool kid?

3. Toddler Scooters Are Really Easy to Learn

Gear that’s too hard to learn ends up in the garage and stays there, gathering dust. It’s a waste of money. Kids want stuff they can use with ease, and a nice-looking scooter is one such thing. All your active tot needs to do to master their three-wheeled non-powered vehicle is get on the little deck and kick the hell out of the thing. Most kids don’t need any kind of training or even help to learn to ride a toddler scooter.

4.  Toddler Scooters Are Safe, Even Safer Than Balance Bikes

A balance bike is a pretty safe device since it travels slowly. It lacks a drive-train, derailleurs, pedals, gear shifters, and everything else that can give a kid leverage or get in the way when riding. But it’s a two-wheeled device, and there’s always the risk of losing balance and falling off the dandy horse.

In comparison, toddler scooters are safer since they have 3 or 4 wheels. They’re seriously stable, and no parent’s ever seen their kid fall off a three wheeler or four wheeler. And isn’t safety the most important thing when it comes to having kiddo fun?

5. Scooting Encourages an Active Lifestyle for Tots

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is critical for parents and other caregivers to let toddlers have some playtime each day. But how much playtime amounts to decent physical activity for toddlers? According to UK’s NHS, toddlers should get a minimum of 180 minutes (3 hours) of physical activity each day.

A safe toddler scooter is a fun way for a tyke to spend an entire afternoon while burning some of that excess energy. Whether you end up picking a 3-wheel or 4-wheel option, make sure it’s a piece of baby equipment that prioritizes safety.

Encourage Use of Safety Gear When Scooting

I get it. Lots of active tots in your neighborhood whizz around on colorful toddler scooters without any kind of protective safety gear. But you’re a responsible mom/dad. And you want to teach the benefits of wearing safety gear to your LO while consistently encouraging them to gear up before hopping on their scooter.

Wondering what the best kids’ knee pads for scooting are? Wonder no more because here are 5 children’s scooting knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards that work great for kids of different age ranges.

Luckily, children’s outdoor fun knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards are relatively inexpensive. And the best ones offer tons of padded protection to young knee caps. Well, knee pads may not be an absolute necessity for riding a really safe toddler scooter. But I suggest that you make the tyke at least wear a helmet before hitting the playground.

I imagine your tot already owns a protective dual-certified helmet for riding a scooter. And that the lid fits and looks good to encourage use. Here’s a list of the best kids’ helmets for riding a scooter.

Not only are these children’s brain buckets adequately protective, but they also look nice and fit comfortably. And some have prints or graphics that kids love.

6. It Improves a Kid’s Gross Motor Skills

According to Mom Loves Best, riding a scooter is an effective strategy for enhancing a toddler’s gross motor skills. Your kid exerts their young muscle when pushing against the riding surface as they try to build up momentum. And this helps a whole lot.

Also, your lovely little one gets to dramatically improve their coordination skills. How? As they ride, they have to make sure that their legs, hands, and the rest of the body work in complete harmony for efficient riding and turning. The longer the kid repeats these scooter riding actions, the better their coordination skills get, naturally.

7. Scooting Helps Inculcate a Sense of Independence in Kids

Your tot gets to ride their scooter. You don’t need to always carry them in a fancy baby carrier or wheel them around in some expensive baby stroller or car seat. They get to learn to do stuff for themselves. They get to learn the value of independence and taking care of oneself instead of waiting for others to do stuff for them.

If there’s one thing people will absolutely need to be down the road (in 2050?), it is independent. The year 2020 revealed to everyone just how vulnerable most governments and corporations are when disaster rears up. And that folks can’t hope for government assistance when global calamity comes calling in the future.  So spend that $50 wisely: get your toddler that scooter they’ve been asking for since forever.

How to Choose the Best Toddler Scooter (Toddler Scooter Buying Advice)

Below I handhold you through the most important considerations when it comes to picking out a good and safe 3 wheel or four wheel scooter for a toddler.

Decide Whether Your Tot Needs a 3 Wheeler or 4 Wheeler

Even though four-wheel scooters are extremely hard to find, they are a safe practical option for very young kids (1 year olds). The typical toddler’s scooter is a three wheeler, and everywhere you look these days, that’s what’s selling.

Three wheelers are stable too, just not as stable as 4 wheelers. And while searching for three-wheeled options at Amazon is increasingly proving to be a frustrating experience, they’re easier to find compared to 4 wheelers.

A three/four wheeled scooter is a great choice for 2-5 year-olds because the multiple wheel design translates to a wider foot base. And a wider foot base dramatically increases scooter stability and safety.

Safety First: Make Sure the Thing Features an Effective Fender Brake

I’ve yet to see a toddler scooter with any kind of hand brake. Not that these kinds of vehicles need them. These scooters come with a fender-style brake where the tot steps on the rear fender to slow down and stop the device.

If you ever see a scooter with a reliable, non-slip fender brake, grab that deal. Because if a scooter can’t stop when needed or the little rider’s foot slips any time they attempt to activate the brake, it’s unsafe.

The Best Toddler Scooters Boast a Lean-to-Steer Mechanism

Toddlers are amateur scooter riders. Some are still learning how not to panic once they get on the deck while others are still working to improve their balance. Given their inexperience riding a scooter, toddlers would really struggle steering anything that works like a standard two-wheel scooter.

Manufacturers make steering unbelievably easier by building toddler scooters with a lean-to-steer aka lean-to-learn technology. If a scooter this tot-friendly steering mechanism, maneuvering their three-wheel scooter becomes that much easier and more fun.

All the youngster needs to do to cause their contraption to change direction is to lean into the turn in that direction. If they want to head right, they lean right a little and to go left, they lean toward the left. One HUGE benefit of the lean-to-steer mechanism is that it makes learning balance and coordination remarkably easier.

The Handlebars Need to be Height-adjustable

Toddlers grow super fast, and baby gear that fit them like a fiddle yesterday proves too small for them today. Since families have limited budgets and ever-increasing needs, many parents today want baby stuff that grows as their little one does.

So consider getting an option with adjustable handlebars. A toddler scooter that lets you adjust handlebar height to fit your child’s height not only rides more comfortably but is also safer than one that offers zero adjustments. Fortunately, pretty much all toddler scooters sold on the market today are handlebar adjustable.

Most are also foldable for easier carrying and storage. And some fold down better than others.

If the Tot Isn’t Confident Enough Yet, Pick a Scooter With a Removable Seat

Even though 3-wheel and 4-wheel toddler scooters are incredibly easy to ride, not every toddler feels super confident stepping on the deck and rolling around. Some tots may need a little more time to get used to being on a scooter, and that’s where toddler scooters with a removable seat come in.

Scooters with a removable seat are 2-in-1 options that are attractive to kids who’re still trying to build up confidence around handling their first scooter.

With a 2-in-1 toddler scooter, you can pop the seat in to convert the toddler scooter into a confidence-boosting ride-on toy. As soon as your kiddo becomes confident enough to jump onto a real toddler scooter and start zapping around, simply detach the seat.

4 Best Toddler Scooters for the Money

Let’s go!

1. Micro Kickboard Mini Deluxe 3-Wheeled Tot’s Scooter: Overall Winner

The Micro Mini Deluxe features an aluminum frame and weighs just over 4 pounds. When Swiss manufacturers make things, they pour tons of precision engineering into the design. And that’s what they did with this three-wheel toddler scooter. Its lean-to-steer mechanism makes riding the thing remarkably easier.

Its weight limit is 75 pounds, which isn’t the highest limit. But it’s a younger toddler’s option, after all.

Its fiberglass platform soaks up shocks so that your LO can enjoy smooth, rattle-free rides. The wheels are large (120mm) and made from high-quality thane, and they go over cracks without strain. Also, the thing is designed with parts replaceability in mind.  And the components aren’t hard to find.

It’s designed for 2-5 year olds (up to 43″ tall). I guess this is the reason it’s the only toddler’s scooter from Micro Mini with light-up wheels. I don’t know why young kids love ride-ables with light-up wheels, but they do regardless of race or gender.

This scooter grows with your tot thanks to its height-adjustable handlebar. One thing that made the Micro Mini Deluxe stand out to me is that you can adjust the handlebar with great precision. Many models allow for only 3-4 adjustments.

But with this choice, you can position the handlebar at a height that’d be most comfortable for your LO. You get at least 8″ of handle height adjustability, from 17″ to 25“(from the deck).

With a handlebar height this low (17″) and adjustability this generous, most 2-5 year olds can find a ride that fits them. The deal includes a hex wrench to work in the adjustments and get the toy to a safe, secure setting.

Plus, every kid can find a color they like. Whether they prefer orange, ocean blue, purple, black, or pink play-gear, they’ll get the color. But the price could discourage some parents.

2. SKIDEE Y200 3-Wheeled Toddler Scooter: Best With Removable Seat

Like many toddler scooters, the SKIDEE Y200 features flashing wheels that light up as soon as it starts gliding. But these wheels seem plastic-y; I’d have loved to see PU wheels.

The handlebar is adjustable to three heights allowing you to use it for a decent length of time as your child grows and develops.

It weighs 7 pounds, which is heavier than most. But while it’s heavier than many non 2-in-1 scooters, it’s not heavier than similar options. It’s designed for tots as young as 2 and as old as 12, but older kids prefer conventional two-wheeled scooters.

How does the SKIDEE Y200 compare to the LaScooter 2-in-1? The SKIDEE Y200 allows you to fold the detachable seat down while you can’t do the same with the LaScooter. With the LaScooter 2-in-1, the seat doesn’t fold up or down. Wait for your kiddo to outgrow it and then detach it to allow for scooting. Both have fun light-up wheels and double rear wheels.

And how does the SKIDEE Y200 compared to the SKIDEE Y100? The Y100 offers music and disco lights while the Y200 doesn’t. Also, the Y100’s detachable seat flips down but you can also rotate it to the front while that of the Y200 only flips down and both options utilize tilt-to-turn steering technology.

Assembling the Y200 entails more work than putting together the Y100. You have to assemble the collar clamp and T-bar, but it’s easy to do. And while the Y100 folds down easily for storage, you have to disassemble the Y200 for storage. But in the end, both versions are compact and easy to carry.

The Y200 features double wheels while the Y100 features a single rear wheel. Lastly, the Y200’s handle adjusts 8.5″ from 24.5″ to 33″ and its T-bar stands about half an inch taller while the Y100 adjusts 5″ from 27.5″ to 32.5″. The removable seat adjusts to a higher point for the Y200.

3. Hurtle Stand-and-Cruise Toddler Scooter: Multiple Color Options

The Hurtle 3-Wheeled Stand-and-Scoot scooter is a height-adjustable option many parents love judging from the thousands of +ve reviews on Amazon. It’s available in multiple nice colors, from black, green, and purple to teal, watermelon, and yellow. There’s even an option with nice graphics for artistic young riders.

*The package comes with a surprising extra, a helmet, but this applies only to US-based customers. We’re currently not living in the US, which is why we didn’t receive the lid.

The handle adjusts to 2 (not 4 as stated) height settings plus there’s a detachable seat. BTW, the handle sits 34″ above the foot platform. Also, the wheels aren’t pneumatic as the description says; they’re standard PU tires.

Removing this detachable seat converts the scooter to a regular three wheeler that an older kid can comfortably ride. For younger kids, the 45-pound seat lies flat so they can scoot while seated.

For a kid learning to ride standing, simply push the seat up and out of the way. Thanks to the 2-in-1 design, this scooter is use-able from a very young age (2 years) until the kiddo graduates to a serious two-wheeled scooter.

The manufacturer says 14-year-olds can use this, BUT I say no teen would ever ride a 3-wheeler unless they were a special needs kid.

It features standard (4.7″) PU front wheels and a smaller rear wheel. These wheels light up in multiple colors which kids like. They’re large enough to use on sidewalks with cracks, but it’s not an off-road monster.

But the deck isn’t as grippy as described, and it’d be easy for the little rider to slip off.

When our young tester rode this around the neighborhood, he found steering to be challenging even though the scooter boasts the so-called lean-to-steer technology. But once he got the hang of it, he’d easily shift his weight, leaning into turns.

This scooter supposedly folds down completely flat and compact, but that’s not our experience. It doesn’t fold fully flat. However, it doesn’t take up too much space in our storage and in the trunk.

4. SWAGTRON K5 3-Wheel Kid’s Scooter:Budget Choice

This Swagtron 3 wheeler features 4.7″ (120mm) UP wheels which work alongside the scooter’s front suspension to smooth out cracks. It’s a great option for beginner tots thanks to its lean-to-steer mechanism, and the rear wheel is a double which boosts stability.

The wheels light up with rainbow colors, but these lights aren’t as bright as we’d hoped. I contacted Swagtron because I thought maybe it was a design defect, but they said that the lights are supposed to be dim during daytime and brighter at nighttime.

Its maximum weight capacity hovers around 100 pounds. Even though this is 25 pounds higher than our best pick, the Mini Deluxe, the Swagtron K5 is heavier. It weighs 5.5 pounds vs. 4.3 pounds for the Mini Deluxe.

Our little tester did notice that this 3 wheeler doesn’t steer as easily as others. Maybe that’s because it’s a budget option (costs $40-ish), and low-cost baby gear doesn’t always work great.

One thing I don’t like about this scooter is that you can’t fold it down. To store it, you have to detach the stem from the base.

Also, and not surprisingly, the parts don’t seem very durable. You really shouldn’t expect this option to last long. Some parents reported that their tot’s scooter broke after a few rides. I wonder why this scooter is rated for a higher weight limit when it’s noticeably less sturdy than pricier options.

It’s designed for kids aged 3 and above. The handlebar adjusts to 3 different settings (from 22″-30″) so that you won’t have to buy a new scooter every 3 weeks! This handle height isn’t for the youngest toddlers though. It’s for 3+ toddlers.

Unlike many manufacturers who say nothing about toy safety, the Swagtron K5 meets the CPSC-formulated toy safety standard, the ASTM F963-17. BTW, all toys manufactured after February 28^th, 2018 should meet this safety standard.

I wish this device was available in more color options though instead of only blue and pink.

Did you find any toddler scooter in the reviews above that really spoke to you? Grab it as a birthday gift for that lovely little angel and see how easy and natural bonding gets.