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Rocking horses are more than just an adorable-looking toy for your baby or toddler, they're an excellent tool to stimulate their imagination and improve their balance, motor skills, and creativity from a very young age. Nowadays, rocking horses come in all sorts of designs from vintage wood to plush fabrics, with some even offering sound effects, so you really are spoilt for choice.
To help you choose the best rocking horse for your little one, we've compiled a buying guide alongside a list of our top 10 favourites. Including famous toy brands like Homcom, Little Bird Told Me and Labebe, our picks can all be easily purchased from Argos, Amazon and John Lewis. If only we were young enough to enjoy them too!
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Though you may have thought buying a rocking horse simply meant choosing a design that brings joy to your child's face, it actually requires a bit more thought! Our buying guide will tell you what other factors you should be considering before your purchase.
If you haven't noticed already, these days rocking horses are not limited just to horses. In fact, they can take the form of all sorts of animals – lions, rabbits, unicorns, elephants, you name it! So if you want a unique or perhaps a not-so-traditional rocking horse, why not consider something different?
Similarly, if you know the child you're buying for loves a specific animal, a rocking horse of that type may well mean they love and treasure their new toy even more.
Rocking horses aren't 'one age fits all', in fact, like most toys, each product is aimed at a specific age range. While there are rocking horses suitable for infants as young as 9 months old, there are also some that are made for children over the age of 3, and even up to 8! Checking the description will help you work out which to buy.
We'd like to remind you that safety always comes first and adult supervision is extremely important, especially when your infant is using the rocking horse. Even if they're above toddler age, make sure to always keep an eye on them.
Infants grow into young children so quickly! However, regardless of age, a child's size and weight can really differ. Hence, it's equally as important to check the maximum user weight, especially if you're hoping the rocking horse to last as long as it can, or you'd like one for siblings to share.
Some rocking horses can only support up to 20 kg, but others with strong constructions can support up to an impressive adult-suitable 65 kg. That being said, while this could make it tempting to try out the rocking horse yourself, we do highly recommend sitting back and letting your child use it instead!
Though the product photos you see online are fully assembled, some rocking horses do require you to assemble them yourself. Depending on the complexity of the components, it can take time to put together, and certain tools may be required, too.
If this sounds too challenging for you, make sure to choose a rocking horse which comes fully-assembled. This way, all you'll have to do is bring it home and let your child happily unbox their new toy.
Not every household has extra storage to store away all their kid's toys when they aren't in use, thus, as parents, it'll do no harm to check the dimensions of the rocking horse before you buy.
Smaller ones are easier for storage and take up less space, while larger ones would definitely require more! So be sure to check the size, especially if you have limited space at home.
The dimensions also give you a rough idea of how long it will take for your child to grow out of the rocking horse. While most have larger dimensions that will last many years (as long as they are taken care of) there are also some with exceptionally small dimensions that it probably will need to replaced in no time!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | HOMCOM Rocking Horse Plush Ride On Lion Seat w/Sound | £51.99 Low Mid | The Safest Lion Your Child Will Ever Meet | ||
2 | Labebe Child Elephant Rocker with Wheels | £84.99 Mid | A Clever 2-in-1 Stroller and Rocking Horse | ||
3 | Chad Valley Rainbow Rocking Unicorn | £30.00 Low | As Unique as It Is Affordable | ||
4 | Little Bird Told Me Infant Rocking Horse|Pixie and Fluff | £85.67 Mid | Encourage Friendship-Building and Adventure From a Young Age | ||
5 | MJ Mark Handmade Rocking Horse|Titan | £119.99 High Mid | Beautifully Handmade in the UK | ||
6 | Heunec Rocking Horse with Sound Effects | £81.07 Mid | A Sweet and Plushy Horse | ||
7 | Labebe Baby Rocking Horse | £56.99 Low Mid | Simply White and Wooden to Decorate as You Like | ||
8 | Vilac Plush Rocking Alpaca, White | £120.00 High Mid | A Quirky Design From an Experienced French Toy Maker | ||
9 | Pottery Barn Kids Monique Lhuillier Plush Rocking Elephant | £159.20 High | Inspired by a World-Renowned Fashion Designer | ||
10 | John Lewis & Partners Wooden Carousel Rocking Horse | £40.00 Low Mid | A High-Quality Vintage-Looking Horse |
We just can't tell you how perfectly designed this rocking lion is! Not only is it the only product with a safety belt, but the seat frame is also made from metal instead of wood, which makes sure the seat has a solid and secure structure.
Plus, press the button on one of the lion's ears and it will make a roaring sound, which could keep your infant forever entertained. And all these features come at a reasonable price, too. This surely is the 'safest' lion to meet in the entire world!
We just love this parade-like rocking horse (or rather, elephant), as it can be used at several different stages of a child's growth with multiple purposes. For babies, it provides back seat support to prevent them falling, whereas for older children, it can be converted into a stroller without any tools required.
This rocking elephant also has the largest supporting weight of up to 65 kg, meaning it could technically support an adult's weight. Either way, this lovely elephant will make your child feel like they're having a parade both at home or outdoors!
This magical unicorn with vibrant pink wings and rainbow-coloured tail will allow your child's imagination to flourish, conjuring up many exciting adventures to fairyland whilst rocking away. What's more, this unicorn is the most affordable on our list, whilst also being of a sturdy build.
It can also withstand a relatively-heavy supporting weight of up to 50 kg, which will last very well as long as your child is within the maximum user weight. Unicorns might not be real, but the dreams from riding it surely are!
Pixie the rocking horse is made from a beautiful pink paisley fabric which makes it stand out from more traditional designs. There's also a mini-friend Fluff that sits perfectly on the pocket, and so the trio (which includes your child) could build a strong bond together and encourage many creative play sessions.
Infants as young as 9 months old can enjoy Pixie's ride along with Fluff's company, which is great for teaching your infant the importance of friendship from a very young age. Be prepared for your child to be inseparable with their new friends!
Handmade with meticulous and beautiful detail, both you and your child will be stunned by just how realistic this horse really is. Besides a saddle, it also includes stirrups, a bridle, and reins, so whether you want to nurture your child with the interest of horse riding or simply enjoy of the fun of riding a 'horse', this is the perfect way to do so.
Suitable for toddlers from 24 months old, this high-quality rocking horse will last until they reach the age of 8, or perhaps even older! This not only saves you any money spent buying a new one, but it's also a much more conscious choice environmentally.
With a softer and more toy-like look, this rocking horse has friendly and sweet features that children of any age will love. What's more, this is the only horse that comes with sound effects, which function when you press his ears.
It has a relatively low maximum user weight of 30 kg, so your child may grow out of it pretty soon if they only start using it from the recommended age, which is three. Otherwise, we believe they won't be able to stop talking about how plushy and sweet this rocking horse is!
This rocking horse proves just how simple a product can be to bring joy to your child. It's well-designed with foot pedals – a feature not found in many similar products – which provides support for young children who can't yet reach the floor. They're also detachable.
Some may think this product is slightly overpriced considering the basic design, but this could be a chance for your child to unlock their creativity and decorate their own unique horse! The lack of fabric also makes it ideal for outdoor play.
Vilac has been producing wooden toys in France since 1911, so you can be sure this rocking alpaca is one of the finest on this list. With a soft and white plush body, it will also encourage sensory play whilst your little one rocks on it.
However, this will also mean extra care is needed if you want to keep Mr. Alpaca's fur clean and white, as it cannot be placed in the washing machine. But if you or your child truly loves alpacas and you're after something different, give this product a go!
Inspired by the famous fashion designer Monique Lhuillier, this pastel pink rocking elephant would suit even the chicest of nurseries. Made with Velboa fabric, this cute elephant has an extra soft and snuggly touch that your child won't want to stop cuddling!
We have to admit that the obvious downside of this rocking elephant is the price, but if you want to spoil your kids, grandkids or other loved ones with a luxury toy just once, this could be the product for you.
This classic and vintage-looking rocking horse will remind you of the good old days being in a nursery as a toddler. The red paint and carousel design simply bring life to this wooden toy, and with its great quality build, happiness to many generations of users.
This product, however, has some of the smallest measurements on our list, meaning young children will grow out of it fairly soon and you'll probably have to purchase a replacement before long.
Need some inspiration for more new toys for your kids? Why not check out these related outdoor toys and products so both you and your kids can enjoy the warmth of the summer!
This article has probably unlocked your inner child and you just can't help imagining your kids (or future kids) riding on these adorable rocking horses. While you wouldn't wish your child to grow up too quickly, let's be honest – we want them to grow just old enough to enjoy the rocking horse for as long as they can!
Author: Angina Chow
No. 1: HOMCOM|Rocking Horse Plush Ride On Lion Seat w/Sound
No. 2: Labebe|Child Elephant Rocker with Wheels
No. 3: Chad Valley|Rainbow Rocking Unicorn
No. 4: Little Bird Told Me|Infant Rocking Horse|Pixie and Fluff
No. 5: MJ Mark|Handmade Rocking Horse|Titan
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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