Rocking horses have been around for centuries1 and provide benefits to children such as improving motor skills, building leg and core muscles, and providing a fun way to exercise2. Rocking horse toys can even be calming and comforting for children, including those with autism.3
Best Baby Rocking Horses
Little Tikes Rocking Horse
The Little Tikes Rocking Horse is an indoor/outdoor rocking horse toy. It is designed for children 1 – 3 years and is 33″ x 10″ x 17.5″ in size.
This simple rocking horse is a classic one. The smooth plastic offers a comfortable ride for children and the deep seat and high back help keep them hanging on for the whole ride. Footrests are along the entire bottom of the horse, allowing flexibility for kids to place their feet wherever they want.
Since this rocking horse is lightweight, children are able to take it and place it wherever they want. It doesn’t look like a horse in comparison to many other rocking horses but it is durable yet fun. Also, with an Alexa-enabled Amazon device, your child can go on “adventures” with this rocking horse.
Our favorite part: Can be used both indoors and outdoors!
Pros
- Indoor/outdoor use
- Curved bottom to prevent toppling
- Made in the USA
- High seat back
- Lightweight
- Alexa game option
Cons
- Small
- Not “horselike”
Overall
The Little Tikes Rocking Horse has a simple design but is durable and great for indoor and outdoor use at a good price.
Qaba 2-in-1 Rocking Horse & Bike
The Qaba 2 in 1 Rocking Horse & Bike is a great option because you get two toys in one. It can be used as a rocking horse but then you can detach the horse from the base and it can also be used as a little ride on bike as well.
It is designed for children 1-4 years old. The weight limit is 44 lbs. The overall dimensions are 29.25″ L x 14.25″ W x 17.25″ H and the seat dimensions ar 7.5″ L x 5″ W x 9.5″ H.
There are some added safety features such as a 40 degree tilt angle to prevent falls as well as a higher back on the horse to prevent little ones falling backwards.
Pros
- Good price
- Safety features
- 2-in-1 toy
Overall
The Qaba 2-in-1 Rocking Horse and Bike is a good rocking horse choice for little ones, especially since it can also be used as a ride on bike.
Best Wooden Rocking Horses
The labebe Baby Rocking Horse is actually a unicorn that is designed for young children from ages 6 months – 3 years with a 3 sided seat and seatbelt to keep babies who need help with balance safe. The Animal Adventure Plush Rocker is slightly larger and says it will fit ages 3 – 8, however, taller children may not be able to use it that long.
B. Toys Wooden Rocking Zebra
The B. Toys Wooden Rocking Zebra is a plush and cozy rocking toy. It is designed for children ages 18 months – 5 years and is 13.5″ x 23.5″ x 18.25″ in size.
Designed as a rocking zebra, rather than a traditional horse, this rocking toy has a fun design that will capture a child’s attention right away. The soft cushion seat makes riding comfortable and the wide set of the rocker helps prevent toppling and flipping.
Inside the rocking zebra toy is a wooden ball that produces a trot-like “clip-clop” sound when rocking. This life-like sound will create a feeling in children that they are actually riding a horse (or zebra in this case). No assembly is required, which is a plus.
Our favorite part: The no-batteries clip-clop sound is a great feature.
Pros
- Clip-clop sound
- Meets high safety standards
- No batteries required
- Fun design
- No assembly
- Soft and comfortable
Cons
- None
Overall
The B. Toys Wooden Rocking Zebra is comfortable, safe, and makes riding feel life-like with the addition of the natural clip-clop sound.
B. Toys Loopsy Wooden Rocking Sheep
The B. Toys Loopsy Wooden Rocking Sheep is a kid-powered plush rocking toy. It is designed for ages 18 months – 5 years and is 13.5″ x 23.6″ x 18.25″ in size.
Inside the rocking sheep is a wooden ball that makes a “clip clop” sound mimicking a real horse trot which is lots of fun for children and their imaginations. The wooden handles and rockers give an authentic feel while the seat itself is soft and plush.
Parents love how comfy cozy this rocker is and the cute “clippity-clop” sound it makes. Since it is a kid-powered rocker, no batteries are needed!
Our favorite part: The soft and rounded design!
Pros
- Wooden handles and rockers
- Natural “clip clop” sound
- Plush feel
- No batteries needed
Cons
- None
Overall
We couldn’t find one negative about super-soft the B. Toys Loopsy Wooden Rocking Sheep and we love the clip-clop sound so we must recommend this toy rocker!
labebe – Wooden Rocking Horse
The labebe – Wooden Rocking Horse is an electronic-free wooden rocking horse built to encourage the imagination. It is created for ages 18 months and up and is 10.53 x 17.55 x 26.52 inches in size.
This rocking horse is set up with quality detail and features including an all-white frame with brown handles, beautiful design, and wooden rockers. For littles, there are wooden rails to act as rockers and footplates that can be used and then removed when the child gets older.
Parents absolutely love this rocking horse toy and its well made long-lasting build making it a great family heirloom to pass down year after year. As it’s all wood, cleaning this rocker is easier than most of the other options on the list and it’s heavy too at 7.7 pounds.
Our favorite part: The high-quality design and it’s easy to clean.
Pros
- Wooden design
- Made to last (high quality)
- Water-based paint
- White with wooden handles
- Sturdy design
Cons
- Pricey
Overall
The labebe – Wooden Rocking Horse features great detail and quality making it a wonderful toy for years to come. We believe the price is worth the purchase.
lebebe Baby Rocking Horse
The labebe Baby Rocking Horse is a safe starter rocking horse for kids. It is designed for children ages 1 year – 3 years and is 25″ x 12″ x 27″ in size.
This is a great rocking horse to accommodate younger toddlers and older toddlers so it’s perfect for families with multiple young children. The included three-sided seat with seatbelt is a safe way to play for all ages. A plush seat keeps everyone comfortable.
Parents rave about this rocking horse being fun, comfortable, and high quality to last years down the road.
Our favorite part: An included seatbelt for younger kids and safety!
Pros
- Award-winning
- Comfortable seat
- Meets safety standards
- Three-sided seat
- Seatbelt
- High quality
Cons
- Not gender-neutral
Overall
The award-winning labebe Baby Rocking Horse is a great starter rocking horse because it includes a three-sided seat and a seatbelt!
Happy Trails Rocking Haley Horse
The Happy Trails Rocking Haley Horse is a kid-powered rocking horse. It is designed for ages 2 – 3 years and is 28.5″ x 13.5″ W x 26.5″ H in size with a seat height of 17″.
This horse has a wooden core and rockers that are easy to assemble. Once assembled, it is sturdy for children to climb on and rock on their own. Whether boy or girl, this rocking horse is gender-neutral and a great gift for parents who may not know if they’re having a boy or girl yet.
Our favorite part: Sturdy and gender-neutral!
Parents have complained that this rocking horse is more suited for shorter children, otherwise, the horse can tip over easily. In addition, some buyers have received a differently style of rocker than what they ordered.
Pros
- Wooden core and rockers
- Sturdy
- Easy to assemble
- Gender-neutral
- No batteries needed
Cons
- No sound
- May not get style ordered
- For smaller children
Overall
The Happy Trails Rocking Haley Horse is a great gender neutral gift for younger kiddos!
Animal Adventure Plush Rocker
The Animal Adventure Plush Rocker is a unicorn rocker with movable reins. It is designed for kids ages 3 – 8 years and is 28″ x 12″ x 22″ in size.
Pink details and usable reins make this rocking horse toy quite appealing to little ones. While the rocking horse isn’t gender-neutral, there are a variety of other rocking animal options that Animal Adventure provides.
Parents love that they can pull this rocker right out of the box without having to assemble anything. It is lightweight so it’s easy for kids to pick up and move around but also makes it easy for children to tip the rocker if they are rocking hard.
Our favorite part: The fluffy and fun hair detail!
Pros
- Movable reins
- Cute details and hair
- No assembly
- Lightweight for moving easily
Cons
- Not good for hard rockers
- May be too small for tall or larger kids
- Horse isn’t gender-neutral
Overall
The Animal Adventure Real Wood Ride-On Plush Rocker arrives at your doorstep completely assembled! While it’s designed for older children, its light weight may make it easy to flip if rocking hard.
Best Interactive Rocking Horses
The Radio Flyer Interactive Riding Horse has three modes of riding, including walking, trotting, and galloping as well as making eating noises when you feed the carrot toy; whereas the Rockin’ Rider Pony plays music, sounds, phrases and can be used as a rocker or roller.
Radio Flyer Interactive Riding Horse
The Radio Flyer Interactive Riding Horse is an interactive rocking horse with sound! It is designed for ages 2 – 6 years and is 36″ x 41″ x 21″ in size.
While rocking on this horse, children not only get to experience three modes of riding (walking, trotting, galloping) but the horse produces related sounds for each riding mode. In addition, when children “feed” the included carrot toy to the horse, it makes an “eating” noise.
Children can easily get up onto the horse and back down on either side with the climb step. For protection, the springs come with coverings on them so no worrying about legs getting pinched.
Our favorite part: All the riding and eating sounds!
Pros
- 3 modes of riding (walk, trot, gallop)
- Sounds of riding
- Comb and carrot included
- Eating sounds
- Climb step included
- Covers over springs
Cons
- 3 AA batteries required
- Pricey
- Assembly may be difficult
Overall
There are many great features of the Radio Flyer Chestnut Plush Interactive Riding Horse; we think it’s worth the buy!
Rockin’ Rider 2-in-1 Pony Ride-On
The Rockin’ Rider 2-in-1 Pony Ride-On is a rocker and roller combo. It is designed for kids ages 1 – 3 years and is 23.5″ x 19″ x 10″ in size.
Pushing the left ear plays the “I’m a Little Pony” song and pushing the right ear plays sounds and six different phrases. As a plus, the horse’s mouth moves when “talking” and “singing!” Some parents find that the moving mouth is a little creepy. It does require 3 AA batteries but they are included with purchase.
To transition this horse from a rocker to a roller all you need to do is remove the base (no tools needed) and then pop back together when it’s time to rock again.
Our favorite part: The rocker and roller combo!
Pros
- Converts from rocker to roller
- Plays phrases, sounds, and a song
- Soft body
- No tools needed
- Adjustable volume
Cons
- Music/phrases may sound fuzzy
- Smaller than expected
Overall
Younger children won’t get bored with this Rockin’ Rider Charger 2-in-1 Pony Ride-On but older children may outgrow it fast.
Qaba Kids Rocking Horse
The Qaba Kids Rocking Horse is a light rocking horse that can hold a hefty weight! It is designed for kids ages 3 and up and is 30.75″L x 11″W x 26.75″H in size.
From an appearance standpoint, this horse is soft with a fluffy mane and tail which is appealing to the eyes. Wooden rockers and handlebars create a classic rocking horse look. With a push of the ear, children are able to hear this rocking horse neigh and gallop. It does require 2 AA batteries (not included).
This Qaba rocking horse is lightweight but says it can hold up to 80 lbs. Some parents feel the horse feels cheaply made and that it won’t last long.
Our favorite part: Soft fur and hair!
Pros
- Sounds (neighing, galloping)
- Soft riding saddle
- 80 lb weight limit
- Movable reins
Cons
- Questionable longevity/quality
Overall
The appearance of the Qaba Kids Plush Toy Rocking Horse Pony is done well and the electronic sounds are a plus.
Comparing Rocking Horses
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.
| Radio Flyer Interactive Riding Horse | 9.6 | 9.6 | 194.99 |
| Animal Adventure Plush Rocker | 9.0 | 9.4 | 112.23 |
| lebebe Baby Rocking Horse | 9.1 | 9.4 | 109.19 |
| labebe - Wooden Rocking Horse | 7.6 | 9.4 | 69.99 |
| Happy Trails Rocking Haley Horse | 8.5 | 8.8 | 64.13 |
| B. Toys Wooden Rocking Zebra | 5.5 | 9.4 | 58.95 |
| Qaba Kids Rocking Horse | 3.9 | 8.8 | 58.95 |
| Qaba 2-in-1 Rocking Horse & Bike | 5.8 | - | 54.99 |
| Little Tikes Rocking Horse | 9.9 | 9.6 | 34.99 |
| Rockin' Rider 2-in-1 Pony Ride-On | 5.5 | 9.0 | - |
Buying Considerations for Rocking Horses
Don’t let an adorable pony face trick you into buying the wrong thing. Here are some things to consider when purchasing a rocking horse toy:
Age
What age is the rocking horse toy for?
A younger child may benefit from a three-sided seat and seatbelt like lebebe Baby Rocking Horse offers.
On the other hand, an older child may enjoy a taller and more mature-looking rocking horse such as the Radio Flyer Chestnut Plush Interactive Riding Horse.
In addition, it’s good to keep in mind how your child plays based on their age.
An older child may play “rougher” on a rocking horse causing the horse to flip easily. Purchasing a rocking horse with a long bottom like the Little Tikes Rocking Horse can help prevent toppling.
Height
It’s a good idea to measure your child’s height to compare it to the rocking horse height that you’re considering purchasing. This will ensure that the rocking horse you purchase is not only going to fit your child but will hopefully offer a little room to allow your child to grow with it too.
Gender
Some of the rocking horse toys listed above are aimed at specific genders.
Are you buying for someone who is expecting a baby but doesn’t know if they’re having a boy or girl yet? Purchasing a gender-neutral rocking horse, such as the B. Toys Wooden Rocking Zebra is a great choice.
Sounds
Some rocking horses not only offer a great riding time but electronic sounds such as neighing and galloping as well. This is either an added plus or an annoyance. Keep in mind if this is what you’re looking for as your shop.
Batteries may need to be purchased separately for certain rocking horses.
Longevity/Quality
A quality-made sturdy rocking horse is certainly going to last year upon year.
Are you looking for something that you want to pass down or be a family heirloom? Consider purchasing a well-crafted rocking horse such as the labebe – Wooden Rocking Horse.
Assembly
Some rocking horses do require assembly once they’ve arrived. If you’re looking for a no-assembly type rocking horse, keep this in mind when deciding on what to purchase.
A rocking horse such as the Animal Adventure Real Wood Ride-On Plush Rocker arrives in one piece so no assembly is required.
Active Play
An active child may enjoy riding their rocking horse toy all over the place.
Purchasing a rocking horse such as the Little Tikes Rocking Horse will allow your active child to rock and play whether indoor or outdoor alongside their playhouse.
Seating
Is a rocking horse with a comfortable plush seat important to you? If so, keep this in mind when purchasing a rocking horse.
A rocking toy such as the B. Toys Loopsy Rocking Sheep offers a soft place to sit, whereas the Qaba 2-in-1 Rocking Horse and Bike offers a smooth plastic feel.
Another buying consideration with the seating is how easy it may be to clean if it gets dirty. A soft plush seat is comfortable and cozy but is more difficult to clean and may stain.
On the other hand, a plastic or wooden seat will be easier to wipe and clean if it gets dirty.
FAQs about Rocking Horses
What age is good for a rocking horse?
Many rocking horses are designed for children that are at least 1 year of age and can be used up to 4-6 years of age depending on the horse’s weight max. Younger children may need supervision when riding a rocking horse if it does not come with a seatbelt.
Are rocking horses dangerous?
Most modern rocking horses are designed to meet safety standards to keep children safe as they ride. The bodies are typically lightweight so there is no risk of a heavy toy falling onto a child.
Also, many rocking horse toys are created to reduce the chance of them flipping when being rocked.
A rocking horse such as the lebebe Baby Rocking Horse includes a seatbelt and a three-sided seat for extra safety precautions.
Can the rocking horse be used indoor and outdoor?
An all-plastic rocking horse is typically safe to be used indoor or outdoor since it can be rained on without rusting or ruining the fabric.
A good example of this is the Little Tikes Rocking Horse.
Will the rocking horse be hard to assemble?
Rocking horses with springs or more parts may require moderate-to-difficult assembly, such as the Radio Flyer Chestnut Plush Interactive Riding Horse.
Many rocking horses either arrive assembly-free or are quick and easy to put together.
Does the rocking horse make any sounds?
Some rocking horses are designed with buttons to push that produce neighing and/or galloping sounds. Some even play songs or phrases like the Rockin’ Rider Charger 2-in-1 Pony Ride-On.
There are also rocking horses that make sounds naturally, like the B. Toys Wooden Rocking Zebra that has a wooden ball inside it that makes a clip-clop sound when being rocked. These, of course, do not require batteries like the latter.
What age is the rocking horse suited for?
Here is a breakdown of each rocking horse listed above and the recommended age:
- Animal Adventure Real Wood Ride-On Plush Rocker: 3 – 8 years
- B. Toys Loopsy Wooden Rocking Sheep: 18 months – 5 years
- B. Toys Wooden Rocking Zebra: 18 months – 5 years
- Happy Trails Rocking Haley Horse: 2 – 3 years
- labebe Baby Rocking Horse: 1 – 3 years
- labebe Wooden Rocking Horse: 18 months and up
- Little Tikes Rocking Horse: 1 – 3 years
- Radio Flyer Chestnut Plush Interactive Riding Horse: 2 – 6 years
- Rockin’ Rider Charger 2-in-1 Pony Ride-On: 1 – 3 years
- Step2 Patches the Rocking Horse: 12 – 30 months
- Qaba Kids Plush Toy Rocking Horse Pony: 2 – 4 years
Sources
1http://rockinghorses.com/rocking-horses/history-rocking-horses.php
2http://facesofchildabuse.org/blog/wonderful-facts-about-toddler-rocking-horse-toys/
3https://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/wooden-rocking-horses.html
