The best toddler scooters

This cleverly designed scooter is easy to convert from a ride-on toy to a first scooter that adapts to your child’s needs as they grow. There’s a seat for extra support until your child finds their feet (at around 18 months) – brilliant for growing legs that tire quickly – and an O-bar handle to help her scoot with greater control. Replace it with the T-bar once she’s whizzing away confidently (around three years).

Suzanne: Harry got the hang of this scooter straight away. I wasn’t sure what he’d think of the ‘O’ style handlebar, but he’s finding it really easy to steer. It doesn’t fold, but it’s really light and easy enough to carry. This has been our favourite. Brilliant value for money, the range of play positions ensures you’ll get years of use out of it, and it’s really sturdy so has plenty of hand-me-down potential.

Setareh: It’s super smooth on all types of ground and the steering is very efficient, which made it easy for Parisa to find her balance and scoot along happily. She was improving after each go and quickly gained confidence – and speed! I love that it’s so compact – it fits easily in the car and under the pushchair. I think this is a quality product that will stand the test of time and grow with my child.

Chelsea: I was really excited to test this out as I’d heard lots of good things about it from friends. It’s so easy to put together; we literally had it built and in use within seconds. Adjusting it between modes was a bit trickier. My son absolutely loves this scooter. It’s so easy to use and very sturdy. You can see it’s a quality product as it has wheel suspension and gives a really smooth ride.

Cleverly designed to help two-to four-year-olds learn and develop their sense of balance, this three-wheel scooter has a patented steering system that allows you to turn the front wheels whilst simultaneously tilting the deck in the direction you want to go. We like the adjustable, removable handlebars. And we love the different coloured designs, which are super funky and cool.

Suzanne: This looks better suited to older children. Harry managed just fine, but it didn’t seem to appeal to him as much as the brighter, more tactile scooters. It’s easy to build and adjust, folds quickly, and it’s fairly light, but unfortunately, Harry didn’t seem to find the seat as comfortable and he didn’t want to play with it for all that long.
I think I’ll end up carrying it more than he’ll actually ride it.

Setareh: A lovely bright scooter. The colours are bold and really appealing to kids. It feels very sturdy. The steering is quite different to other scooters as you need to turn it rather than lean into it. I think it’s easier for an older child to manoeuvre and gain confidence scooting about. My daughter wasn’t as fast on this one. It’s easy to dismantle and handy to transport in the car or to pop under the buggy.

Chelsea: Really easy to assemble in minutes. The fact that it’s customisable is amazing for a child like mine who has a new favourite colour every day. The handlebars are so easy to remove. It’s very sturdy and feels very safe and secure, so it’s ideal for a child who’s a bit nervous about using a scooter. My son is very tall for three but he still has plenty of room to grow with this scooter.

This versatile three-wheel scooter converts from a ride-on toy and walking bike to a scooter, suitable all the way up to age nine, so it’s excellent value for money. It’s super-adjustable so you can fiddle around with it to suit your child’s exact stage of development. The adjustable T-bar handle means it’ll grow with your child. In scooter mode, we love that there’s a footrest to help prevent scuffed shoes - genius.

Suzanne: A big hit! It took a while to build. It’s heavy and doesn’t fold, so I wouldn’t want to carry it far. It also takes up quite a bit of space but as it’s heavier and sturdier than others, I feel Harry is really safe using it.
The light-up bell is a fun extra and comes with a USB charger, rather than batteries. Great value for money – it’ll last well past Harry’s toddler years.

Setareh: We love this scooter! It’s fab on rough terrain; the rubber wheels glide effortlessly and the seat acts as suspension, bouncing up and down over the bumpy ground. It’s a good alternative to taking the buggy out – no chance I’ll end up carrying a tired toddler and a scooter! There’s a knack to steering it but after a couple of times, it’s really easy. It’s a versatile and well-made product that’ll grow with your child.

Chelsea: This looks seriously impressive. I was very pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to build. My little boy was zooming up and down the living room within 15 minutes of opening the box. There are three modes and he really enjoyed the walking bike mode. The scooter mode is really easy for him to use. The lockable wheels came in really handy on long country lanes, ensuring he didn’t end up in any bushes!

If your little one is scooting around during dusk, they'll be easily seen riding this scooter. It's got multicoloured lights in the wheels and deck, which will not only keep them visible but will also add some razzle-dazzle to their ride.

Your child will be completely buzzing to ride this scooter. It's designed to look like a bumblebee, with bright yellow handlebars and a black and yellow striped deck. When playtime is over, the Scootiebag has a fold-down handlebar for easy transportation and storage.

Pros: Has chunky wheels for stability
Cons: Some parents thought that it was hard to sheet

Review: "This is a really well built little scooter, perfect for very young kids starting to learn to use scooters. The build quality seems excellent and it folds in seconds. Having 2 wheels at the front is great as it’s easier for young ones to balance, and the fact the front wheels steer just by leaning to one side or the other is great! Would happily recommend this."

We wish this vintage-style scooter came in adult sizes! The pastel pink colour and wicker basket give it a timeless, Scandinavian feel. Of course, there's more to it than just a pleasing aesthetic, it has Banwood's patented Easy Ride Steering System, a wide deck and rubber bar grips for a smooth yet safe ride.

For a scooter with serious curb appeal, consider this one from Scoot & Ride. It's sleek and modern looking in its sharp blue steel tone. It easily converts from a three-wheeled kickboard to a two-wheel scooter without tools, with a built-in safety pad for added stability and an ergonomic handlebar for the comfort of tiny hands.

The stunning Xtend Scooter is made to follow your child throughout their childhood. This must-have 3-stage extendable footboard makes it the perfect scooter for any child who loves adventure. With its 3-stage footboard and its sturdy and durable design, this allows your child to feel comfortable and confident while taking a ride. It also features a portable experience, all you have to do is fold the Xtend Scooter with the press of a button, giving you a stress-free time, and with its extra-large 142mm light up LED wheels, your little one will definitely have a fun day out always.

Adejumoke Ilori review: "My daughter loves this scooter already! She feels super confident. The scooter was so easy to assemble, and extremely lightweight. the handle bars are extremely sturdy and the back breaks are perfect and not hard to use. My daughter is in awe with the LED wheels that light up, she now calls herself a super hero flying on wheels! I would recommend this to any toddler - it can also be used right up to the age of 12 years old, so you won't have to worry about purchasing a new one - especially not anytime soon. The colour is amazing too - hot pink and black!"