The best climbing toys for 1 year old & 2 year old toddlers . Best Toddler climbing toys to encourage balance, gross motor skills, and controlled risk taking.
Best Choice | Best overall | The Best on a Budget |
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ECR4Kids SoftZone Climb and Crawl Activity Set | ECR4Kids SoftZone Tree Tunnel Foam Climber | Toddler Tunnel With Tent and Ball Pit |
By the time our kiddo was 16 months old, she’d succeeded in climbing onto our sofa by herself. Drunk with freedom, she proceeded to jump up and down and do generally dangerous things that as parents, we weren’t at all prepared for and had yet to childproof.
Now that she’s 22 months old, she hasn’t slowed down. She is what we call “a climber,” a category of a toddler that requires constant vigilance and creativity to ensure she has the challenges she needs, develops gross and fine motor skills, and understands cause and effect, while also minimizing the likelihood of self-inflicted bodily harm.
We’ve since gotten used to her climbing. We set up mini obstacle courses every day, which lets her flex her muscles and hone her climbing skills. We’ve let her try out different play structures, DIY setups, and climbing toys to see what works. And we’ve drawn a clear line in the sand in terms of what she’s actually allowed to climb, and what she isn’t.
Her insistence on climbing pretty much everything has made my husband and I somewhat experts when it comes to climbing toys for 1 year old toddlers.
If you’re just entering the climbing phase yourself, I hope our list of the best toddler climbing toys will help you navigate this new world as safely as possible.
Without further ado, here are our top picks for the best toddler climbing toys for home:
- Best Overall – ECR4Kids SoftZone Climb and Crawl Activity Set
- Best For Active Babies – CR4Kids SoftZone Tree Tunnel
- Best For Crawlers & Jumpers – Toddler Tunnel With Tent and Ball Pit
- Best for Young Toddlers – Eezy Peezy Jungle Gym PlaySet
- Best for Older Kids and Toddlers – Lil Monkey Olympus Jungle Gym
- Best for Small Spaces – ECR4Kids SoftZone Climb and Slide
- Best for Backyard Fun – ECR4 Kids Peek-A-Boo Caterpillar
- Best Outdoor Climber – Step2 Naturally Playful Woodland Climber
- Best for Tiny Sports Fans – Step2 Sports-Tastic Playset
- Best for Improving Balance – Wooden Wobble Balance Board
- Best for Montessori Families – Pikler Climbing Triangle
Best Toddler Climbing Toys for Kids to Play at Home
Best Overall
Acting like a baby gym, this set of shapes is made of durable foam and covered in a smooth surface that is easy to keep clean. The bottom of each piece is slip-resistant far from maximum stability while your little one is crawling, climbing, and playing.
This set is great for gross motor development and is so lightweight it can be moved around and stacked by your kiddo. It is phthalate-free and GREENGUARD GOLD certified.
It measures 24 x 16 x 8 inches and accommodates children from nine months to three years of age.
Best for Active Babies
Who says climbing toys have to be complicated? This set includes both a larger piece that works as a fun little tunnel to crawl through, and a smaller piece for your child to climb on, around, and over.
Made out of polyurethane, these baby and toddler climbing toys will withstand hours and hours of outdoor play and numerous cleanings. Its smooth surface makes cleanup effortless: a quick wipe-down with a kid safe disinfectant or some DIY vinegar should do the trick.
This climbing toy is perfect for promoting gross motor skills such as balance and climbing in young climbers. It gives just the right amount of help for new walkers to gain muscle formation and memory, while also providing entertainment.
Its dimensions are 30 x 20.8 x 20 inches and it’s recommended for kids ages nine months to three years. While younger kids will likely use these as props to start climbing, older kids can incorporate the pieces into toddler climbing circuits and obstacle courses, along with accessories like these adorable tree log cushions. So it is suitable for both younger and older kids.
Best for Crawlers and Jumpers
Your toddler will be full of giggles as they crawl through the mazes of tunnels that interconnect with various tents, which can double as ball pits. It will help develop their mobility as they maneuver around, and the fun and simple games will promote both gross motor skills and cognitive development.
The whole set pops open and folds up with minimal effort for easy set-up and tear-down and can be used both indoors and outdoors. It’s also free from BPA, Phthalates, and latex, and doesn’t have any sharp edges that could result in accidents.
This activity center would be perfect for get-togethers and parties so all the little ones can play and interact together.
Balls are not included.
Best for Younger Toddlers
This set comes with 50 colorful balls and is made of high-quality durable plastic with interlocking tubes and connectors for stability. Your little one will be able to climb, hang, slide, and play safely, giving you extra peace of mind.
This jungle gym climbing toy will help develop their coordination, muscle growth, and even encourage social play and learning. It can easily be set up indoors so you don’t have to sacrifice physical activity just because the weather isn’t ideal.
The whole set measures 56 x 62 x 29 inches and accommodates kids from ages one to three.
Best for Older Toddlers
If a typical playground set is too big or overwhelming for your little one, this climbing toy set is the perfect stand-between. It promotes safe and healthy physical activity to build muscle, coordination, and balance.
Made with durable yet lightweight materials that are weatherproof, the set is easy to fold up and transport and can be used both as outdoor climbing toys and indoor climbing toys.
It is appropriate for ages 18 months to five years.
Best for Small Spaces
Promoting your child’s newfound mobility, this simple set includes a wedge and a small two-stair piece that is perfect for muscle memory to get your toddler ready for real stairs.
Both pieces are lightweight and easy to manipulate. They’re made out of soft and forgiving foam for all those inevitable tumbles and covered with a smooth cleanable material.
This set is phthalate-free and GREENGUARD GOLD certified to protect both the environment and your child’s health.
It measures 40 x 20 x 10 inches and is for ages six months and up.
Best for Backyard Fun
Kids will love climbing, balancing, and crawling through this friendly caterpillar. It helps to develop coordination and gross motor skills and is GREENGUARD [GOLD] certified and safe, with rounded plastic edges.
Looking for the best indoor climbing toys? This versatile climbing toy can be kept indoors or outdoors and is made out of sturdy weather-resistant material. It measures 22 x 14.5 x 19 inches and accommodates children ages two to four.
Best Outdoor Climber
The perfect size for your kiddo’s first playground (and to accompany an outdoor swing), this system includes a small ladder, a slide, a climbing wall, and an area for a clubhouse for top-secret meetings with friends. It promotes social play, imagination, and physical activity.
Little details like the steering wheel add to the adventure, and handrails ensure safety for little ones that are still figuring out balance and steps.
This set is durable and can hold up to 240 pounds of weight.
Best for TinySports Fans
The perfect size for any room, this climbing toy and play center features a couple of easy steps with an arched-handle top that is the perfect size for little hands to hold while they balance. Once on top they can scoot down the slide in victory.
Adding to gross motor development along with balance and coordination, your kiddo can also enjoy the basketball hoop with a small ball made for little hands, and the tethered baseball to hone their skills.
The set is durable, easy to clean, and only measures 27 x 29 x 15.5 inches. It is perfect for kids ages one to three years and has a maximum weight limit of 45 pounds.
Best for Improving Balance
This unassuming balance board is made out of eco-friendly natural beech and birch wood and can be used in as many ways as your little one can think of: Balance on it, turn it over and use it as a bridge, play with cars and trucks on it, or sit and rock.
It is sustainable and non-toxic and is super easy to transport and move around due to its simplistic design. Its dimensions are 32 x 11.8 inches and it is ideal for kids ages 19 months and up.
Best for Montessori Families
This modern and genius climbing toy is hand made for that special high-quality feel. Its triangle shape allows kids to climb, hang, and hide out for hours of dynamic play.
Crafted from flexible yet durable aspen wood and coated in baby-proof eco wax, this triangle is great for creative and exploratory active play which encourages both muscle development and cognitive development.
Your little ones can scale the bars, or even drape a blanket over it to make an instant fort. It comes with a ramp that can be situated in a number of different places and ways for an additional balance element.
The triangle comes disassembled but is easy to put together and lightweight. It folds up for easy storage and measures 47.2 x 47.2 x 34.6 inches. It’s ideal for kids ages six months to seven years.
Final Thoughts
Climbing toys for toddlers let your little ones develop their strength, coordination, and balance, as well as tune more fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination. They also give your little one a chance to burn off energy while exercising, and develop confidence as they master different skills and challenges.
Of course, these toys may include some risk, and it’s up to you as a parent to supervise play and control that risk to ensure your little one is safe.
I hope this list of the best climbing toys for toddlers has helped you choose climbing toys, and you found the perfect climbing toy for your kid.
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