11 Best Bouncing Toys For Toddlers + Babies [1 year olds to 5]

Finding ways for babies and toddlers to burn that active energy off throughout the years without jumping all around the house doesn't need to be a great mystery. Discover the best bouncing toys for 1 year olds up to age 5 that will provide hours of so much fun and can make the great gifts.

TP Toys Spiro Bouncer

TP Toys Spiro Bouncer is a great bouncy toy for toddlers. Aside from bouncing back and forth on the seesaw, it also rotates around in circles.

While this looks like a seesaw, the reality is each seat is actually a bouncy ball. Meaning if you have children used to hard pushes off required for a traditional seesaw they could pop a seat.

GYMNIC Rody Bounce Horse 

Rody the bounce horse is a favorite bouncy toy for 1 year olds and up. It's one of the most sturdy ride-on bouncy toys that is known to last for years.

Parents can also breathe easy knowing Rody is made from phthalate-free, latex-free and BPA-free vinyl which is soft, flexible and very durable. The seat height varies depending on how much you inflate it, but it's roughly 12 inches (one foot) off the ground making it the perfect size for young toddlers.

Once your child outgrows the Rody you can get the Rody Max for older kids.

Fisher-Price® Bounce & Spin Puppy

The Bounce & Spin Puppy is more than just a bouncy toy for your 1+ year olds to ride on. It rotates 360 degrees and includes over 100 phrases, music, and sounds for added learning.

The seat height is 12.75″ and is rated safe as a suitable bouncer toy for 12 month olds up to five years old.

Rockin' Rider Legacy Grow-with-Me Pony

A rocking horse is a classic toy, and the Rockin' Rider is a cool bouncy version that transforms and grows with your little ones from 9 months old to 3 years old in different positions.

Starting at 9 months old, babies can use it as a bouncer and removable safety seat, around 12 months old you can convert it to a rocker, and finally at 24 months it turns into a spring horse; making it an age appropriate gross motor activity through the years. The saddle height is 15 inches in bouncer and rocker mode, and grows to 19 inches in spring horse mode.

Additionally, pressing the right ears plays the “I'm a Little Pony” song and it's left ear has six fun talking phrases with sound effects.

Upper Bounce Mini Trampoline for Kids and Adults

If you are looking for a small, low-to-the-ground toddler trampoline with additional handlebar support, the Upper Bounce Mini is a great way to burn of energy for little kids and adults.

It's actually one of the best indoor jumping toys for toddlers that we own thanks to its durability and versatility. The handlebars adjust if adults want to use it. Our baby started holding onto the handlebar at the lowest setting and bouncing on it the day he turned 1, and has enjoyed bouncing on it in our living room ever since. It's small enough where it doesn't take up too much room for indoor use, but we've also used it with our 3 year old outside in the backyard.

Bouncy balls

Bouncy balls are the ultimate bouncy toy for babies and toddlers and the perfect way to flex creativity. We recommend this set or this set – as they are both 3″ in diameter to minimize choking hazards.

A good general rule of thumb: avoid smalls balls under 2.25″ for babies and toddlers under 3 years old. These still fit tiny hands and are the right size to limit risks.

The ArtCreativity pack of bumpy balls will deliver additional value to children with sensory input, and because they are light can be a good addition to a ball pit. The jumbo bouncy balls pose the least choking hazard, but are totally solid, so they are a bit heavy and don't bounce as well as a smaller traditional bouncy ball. If you're looking for something with a better bounce, but still not a choking hazard, we suggest getting these which are a bit smaller and lighter.

CocoNut Castles Bouncy Slide Water Park with Water Cannon

If you're looking for the ultimate multipurpose activity for toddlers look no further than CocoNut Castles Bouncy Slide Water Park. This inflatable bounce house is like a mini backyard water park complete with a cannon and water slide. It's sure to provide a good time whether they are using it for bouncing, sliding, splashing, or shooting each other with the water cannon.

HearthSong Inflatable Ride-On for Kids’ Active Play

HearthSong inflatable ride-on bouncy animals are great for the 5 year olds who may have outgrown GYMNIC Rody Bounce Horse.

You can choose dinosaurs, unicorns, or horses for your kids and/or their friends to ride and bounce on.

They are made from durable vinyl to support up a maximum weight limit up to 200lbs.

VTech® Bounce & Discover Llama

The Vtech Bounce & Discover is very similar and a slightly more affordable option to the Fisher Price Bounce & Spin with fewer phrases and sounds and less range of motion for spinning and moving.

This is a smaller toy rated for 12 months to 36 months; though many reviewers said they would introduce it between 1 years old as they felt their kids started outgrowing it by 18 months.

Playskool Bounce and Ride Active Toy Ride-On for Toddlers

The Playskool Bounce and Ride is a nice introductory sit down scooter for toddlers as young as 1 years old to start pedaling around with their little legs; or you can put the kickstand down and let them bounce on the seat in a stationary position.

This bouncy toy measures in at 6.06″L x 19.13″ Wx 15.13″ H and some reviewers said it was too small for their 15 or 18 month olds.

Monkey Jump Bouncer

A unique alternative to a trampoline or bounce house, the Monkey Jump Bouncer allows toddlers to move and jump around the circular tube while holding onto the steel poles for support.

It sits close to the ground so you don't have to worry about big falls from high heights like large trampolines or bounce houses. It's pretty compact, easy to assemble, and can be used both indoors or outdoors.

NOTE: In some places it says safety recommended for 2 year olds and up, while in others it recommends starting at 3 years old to age 6.

How To Choose The Best Bouncy Toys For Toddlers:

Safety

Choosing safe toys is always a top concern. Always check the manufacturer's weight, height, and age recommendations and safety rating before giving your child any toy. Additionally, you can check the Consumer Safety Product Commission (CSPC) for any safety recalls.

Beyond that, always supervise your child while playing. Depending on the type of toy consider how high of a bounce it is and if there are any hazards around if your child were to fall.

As with all children's toys, regularly check for wear and maintain their original condition or discontinue use if you can't safely repair.

Lastly, keep in mind that 1 year olds still put a lot of things in their mouth. Ideally choose toys that are free of toxic chemicals like BPA, BPS, and phthalates found in some plastics.

Price

Finding toys at a reasonable price is always important. Typically the bigger the bouncy toy the more expensive it is. Most of the sit and ride toys range between $40-$80, while the larger trampolines, and bounce houses can go from $100-$600, and simpler bouncy toys like the balls can be under $20.

Keep in mind your child's interest and motor skills; a higher price tag doesn't always mean the best jumping toys for toddlers.

Motor skills

Sit or ride on bouncy toys offer some of the best ways to improve your 1 year old and toddlers motor skills, balance, and strength thanks to vestibular and proprioceptive input. These forms of input can enhance their coordination as they are taking their first steps. Bouncy balls, like the sets listed above, will also help with sensory play and hand-eye coordination.

Indoor/outdoor use

Consider where you plan to use your bouncy toys. While most picks on this list are ok for indoor or outdoor use for a time, you want to keep in mind the material and footprint incase you need/want to move it inside regularly.

Keeping toys outside in general, often leads to quicker wear, rips, cracks, or tears. Also be aware that any inflatable toy sitting outside through rainy days or sprinklers has a greater chance of water pooling/sitting which can lead to mold growth.

Longevity

Before purchasing a bouncy toy, consider how long you want it to last. Most bouncy toys will grow with your child from 1 years old to 4 years old.

However, some have a shorter lifespan like the Fisher-Price® Bounce & Spin Puppy or VTech® Bounce & Discover Llama which don't seem to last beyond 2 years old. They would not be good choices to grow with your toddler compared to the Rockin' Rider Legacy Grow-with-Me Pony is designed to grow with your toddler through the years and provide fun for a long time.

Of course other toys like Upper Bounce Mini Trampoline or CocoNut Castles Bouncy Water Park can be enjoyed by the whole family for years to come.

FAQS About Bouncing Toys For 1 Year Olds + Toddlers:

Are bouncy toys safe for 1 year olds?

Safety of bouncy toys for 1 year olds and up largely depends on the safety rating and style of the bouncy toy.

If a toy is rated safe for 1 year olds, the next thing to consider is hip positioning if it's a seated bouncy toy. Ideally, your babies hips will always splay out into a nice open hip placement. Just like when choosing a baby carrier, you want baby's hips to create a nice wide M shape ideally.

Why are bouncy chairs and bouncy jumpers not recommended for babies and toddlers?

Similar to the issues related to baby walkers, which the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has put a ban on, a baby jumper and bouncy chairs place babies in unnatural positions they aren't ready for yet, which stresses their bodies and can lead to injuries or developmental issues.

The AAP has made a push for “out of the container, onto the floor” so even if a bouncy baby chair is rated safe for babies and toddlers, we suggest being overly cautious and staying away. These historically lead to development issues, injuries, or hip dysplasia. Additionally, they don't work gross motor skills as well as other options on this list where babies have more freedom to adjust their positions freely.

What are the benefits of bouncy toys for babies and toddlers?

Bouncy toys can cover a wide range of developmental opportunities including: fine motor skills and gross motor skill development, increase strength, ballance, and coordination, receiving vestibular and proprioceptive input, working cognitive skills for language and social skills, developing confidence and self worth.

Can a 1 year old use a bounce house?

Some bounce houses are safety rated for 12 months old; but most are not.

Toddler parents who are unable to find a safety rating, like at a bounce house for a 1 year old birthday party, should consider the following prior to use:

• Size (smaller the better),
• Safety enclosing (sides with nets so little one's can't bounce out),
• Suffocation hazards (bounce houses should be free of balls or materials that could close the child's airway off), and
• Number of jumpers (ideally they jump alone, or with only one other person).

As with all toys at this age, you'll want to have adult supervision as they play on the bounce house.

What toys do 1 year olds play?

Generally the best toys for one year olds are montessori or open ended toys as they're the most developmentally appropriate. Check out our Montessori Friendly Gift Guide For 1 Year Old to 2 Year Olds for our top suggestions. Those toys can be introduced at 1 years one and will last for years to come.

While interactive toys that light up and make noise can make a great addition, they don't get a lot of use as time goes on compared to more traditional toys like bean bags, a pikler triangle, soft dolls, or block sets.

Final thoughts on the best bouncing toys for babies and toddlers:

For babies we suggest starting off with Rody the Bounce Horse. It's a durable favorite that can be introduced before the child's first birthday and will last a few years before they need to graduate to the Rody Max.

Additionally, the whole family has gotten years of daily use out of the Upper Bounce Mini Trampoline and simple (but overlooked) bouncy balls like this.

For water play or backyard ball pit fun, we love CocoNut Castles Bouncy Water Park.