Climbing is a super fun activity that I enjoy doing with my kids. I get to spend that quality time while the kids get plenty of exercise! However, teaching the kids to climb from an early age isn’t an easy task. It can be quite challenging to take your toddler who barely walks up on a hill and ask them to walk there. Hence, I got hold of some of the best climbing toys for toddlers.
Categories of Climbing Toys
When toddlers wake up and are well-fed, they start climbing and jumping on the furniture in the house. The sofa becomes a trampoline, and they use you as a human jungle gym. It doesn’t get better, especially now that we are in the middle of a pandemic.
Active play is an essential aspect in children and helps develop their gross motor skills, strength building, and coordination of body movements.
With that in mind, getting climbing toys for them is a good idea. You might consider having them indoors or outdoors. Well, that depends on your space and the weather too.
- Indoor Climbing Toys
These are toys you place inside a room or play area in the house for the kids to play and have fun.
Children Factory Soft Tunnel Climber
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This tunnel climber comes in bright colors and is suitable for toddlers to crawl around or pull themselves up the shapes. They can also explore the tunnel.
It is a big block recommended for toddlers between the age of 8 months and three years. It is ideal for teaching your child to climb, balance, and even interact socially.
The Soft Tunnel Climber is made of dense foam with no sharp edges that may hurt your child. The pieces are also attached with hook and loop fasteners with a floor mat under the tunnel, keeping the children clean while crawling.
Quadro Climbing Pyramid
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The Quadro Climbing Pyramid is a unique playset. It is a remarkable piece that makes use of your imagination to come up with different styles. You design, build, and play. You can create new designs and work as an expandable modular component, giant construction kit, play structure, or an educational toy.
It is an easy to assemble piece made of non-toxic, recyclable materials.
- Outdoor Climbing Toys
The climbing toys are meant to be used outside the house on a playground. As seen above, you can use most indoor climbing blocks outdoors. We are going to see a couple of pieces meant for outside play.
Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower
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The Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower is a monster monkey climbing tower that kids will enjoy and have endless fun. Here your toddler can climb, swing, hang and even crawl, making sure that they gain motor skills and confidence.
The toy comes with interlocking plastic tubes and connectors, making the piece strong and durable. It is a sure way to keep the kids active in the backyard.
The plastic tubes make the toy lightweight and easy to move. The high-quality plastic is UV protected, making it an all-weather structure that will last a lifetime.
Step 2 Naturally Playful Lookout Treehouse
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Having an outdoor house for your children to play in is an excellent idea. The activities and fresh air are healthy to them. Thus, the Step 2 Naturally Playful Lookout Treehouse works out well since it has a climber and a slide combined with the outdoor treehouse.
The climber has a high platform and large and easy to climb steps. The roof provides shelter to the kids. The playset is complete with an adjustable periscope that completes the fun.
It is important to note that there are no exclusive indoor or outdoor climbing toys for toddlers per se. You can use most of the pieces in either place. However, those made from foam are used indoors because of their design. Even the giant foam climbing blocks like the 6 Piece Block Set and the Primary 5 Piece Climber Set can comfortably fit a small playroom.
List of 10 Types of Climbing Toys For Toddlers
1. FDP SoftScape Playtime and Climb Playset
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This multipurpose playset is going to keep your toddler engaged for the longest time. The set has various shapes and blocks that will help your kid climb, crawl and walk. It comes with a foldable speed bump that they can use as a stool to sit back and enjoy storytime. You can even ask your toddler to rearrange the blocks as they wish! All these pieces have a non-slip bottom, which ensures that it doesn’t move as your kid climbs and crawls.
These six pieces of foam playset are large enough for your toddler to stand on or to crawl upon. However, the most suitable age for this playset is a maximum of 1 year. If your kid is older than that, you might have to go for a set that is a little bigger. An added advantage to this product is that it is made of materials that are phthalate-free and cause minimal emissions, which ensures cleaner air indoors. Also, this product is easy to clean. Thus, if your kid makes a mess of the toys, you need not worry.
2. SoftScape Toddler Playtime Corner Climber
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This set from Softscape has four pieces in it. It is another product that will help your toddler with their functional development. Coordination is the first step to teaching your kid about climbing. This play piece will help your kid with just that. It aids in developing hand-eye coordination and growth skills as they try to go through the blocks themselves.
All of the blocks together ensure that the kid has to climb, crawl, and even slide down independently, preparing them for climbing small hills in the future. All the blocks of this playset have a non-slip bottom, which means that the blocks stay where they are, eliminating any chances of accidents.
This set is suitable for toddlers from the age of 6 months to 2 years. However, the actual size of the blocks seems to be a little smaller than what is in the pictures. Hence, if you are going to get a climbing toy set for your kid who has crossed one year, you might want to consider going for a little bigger set.
Also, you can arrange this set in only one way, which might be boring to your kid. There is no option to rearrange it according to one’s wishes. However, it is made of materials that are easier to clean and cause low indoor air emissions.
3. Magifire 5 Pieces Inflatable Climbing Blocks
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This playset from Magifire is sure to attract your kids’ attention. The whole look and feel of the playset are impressive and specifically designed to train your kid to climb. The toddlers can climb, crawl and slide with this set, which helps them improve their gross motor skills. Your toddler can easily climb up the blocks and can even move them about with their strength.
Also, these blocks are inflatables, which you can deflate and put away when not in use which saves space in your house. There is an anti-slip bottom for each block to prevent any accidents. Another impressive feature is that the blocks have a durable air mattress structure, which means they can endure a lot of pressure.
However, the pump that comes with it is not made of suitable quality materials. It takes a lot of effort to inflate the blocks. Hence, it is recommended that you get a better pump from somewhere else. Also, if not appropriately inflated, the blocks seem to deflate quickly. However, the attractive design and the air mattress structure make it all worth it.
4. Ecr4Kids SoftZone Tree Tunnel
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This climber is comfortable enough to keep your toddler busy for a long time. This tunnel is in the shape of a tree trunk, making it an exciting addition to the kids’ playroom and an adventurous feel. This tunnel also helps to develop and improve gross motor skills.
This playset is made with sturdy foam, which means that your toddler will achieve proper balance to climb and crawl up the whole tunnel. For your toddler’s safety, there is a non-slip bottom that helps to keep the tunnel in place. However, it is only a single piece to play with, which puts it at a disadvantage with the other products.
The dimensions of the tunnel are pretty small and are suitable only for toddlers. Hence, it might not suit kids that are a little older. This playset also looks after the health of your small one as it ensures low emissions, which means that the indoor air will be well protected. Additionally, it is also relatively easy to clean.
5. Eezy Peezy Active Play 3 in 1 Jungle Gym PlaySet
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This Jungle Gym Playset is one of the best indoor climbing toys for toddlers. In this playset, you will find a slid, a ball pit, and a toss target. All of these together ensure that your toddler gets the whole experience. It helps them develop gross motor skills as they climb and slide while also making sure they have fun.
You are bringing a playground to the comfort of your room. With this playset, your toddler will hardly ever be bored while their bodies get the exercise essential for their growth.
However, the construction of the playset seems a little weak, which means that there is a slight danger that your kid might fall down the ball pit. The balls are also the size of a tennis ball and are not very soft. If thrown with force, your toddler might get hurt. However, this playset can accommodate two children at once.
Hence, if you have two kids at home to take care of, you can leave them with the playset, and you won’t have to worry about them for a while.
6. Surpcos Climb and Crawl Activity Play Set
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Made with a dense foam structure, this playset from Surpcos is designed for your toddler to enjoy exercise time. They would be fascinated by the different blocks and shapes of the playset. You will find a square, a rectangle, two wedges, a cylinder, and half a moon that comes in various colors.
One of the best things about this playset is that you can arrange the blocks in any order you like. The child can even easily carry these blocks around and set them using their imagination. The one thing that you need to keep in mind is that the size of the blocks might be smaller than is shown. Hence, it is suitable for toddlers under eight months.
Also, the blocks might seem a bit narrower than the images. Therefore, you must be a little careful before your order the product. However, the soft pearl cotton padding and the PU cover of the blocks ensure that the child gets enough support and protection. This play set will also help your toddler develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Hence, you can be assured that your toddler develops while having fun.
7. Go Beyond Softscape Crawl and Climb Foam Play Set
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This playset from “Go Beyond” is the most child-friendly climber available in the market. The environmentally-friendly pearl cotton and PU leather cover ensure that your child is protected. It also looks after the environment by ensuring minimum emissions and no adverse effects on the indoor air.
It is also non-slip, which means that your child won’t easily fall off the climber. Hence, you need not always keep on checking on them. The blocks both soft and sturdy at the same time, which means that they will provide adequate support to your child as they climb or crawl.
The only drawback of the playset is that you might find it slightly smaller than what is shown. Otherwise, there aren’t cons. This playset is extremely easy to clean, so if your toddler does end up making a mess on the playset, all you need is to take a damp cloth and clean it up.
8. Joymor Indoor Soft Foam Climber Play Sets
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This playset from Joymor is sure to give your toddler the time of their lives. It will not only keep your baby occupied but will also develop their muscle strength. This playset is covered with a PU leather cover, soft and strong enough to endure your kid’s weight. However, if they do fall on the block, it won’t hurt them much. It is made of non-toxic, waterproof, and crack-resistant materials, which means that you can be assured of the durability of the playset and that it is suitable to be placed indoors.
There are hardly any disadvantages of this product. The dimensions of the blocks are pretty appropriate, and a lot of customers are satisfied. You can easily consider this one of the best climbing toys for toddlers. All these colorful blocks can be attached with velcro and even rearranged later. The various colors that the blocks come in will keep them occupied endlessly. The blocks have a non-slip bottom, which means they won’t move from their place. It is a safety measure to protect your child from hurting themselves in case of an accident.
9. Costzon Crawl And Climb Foam Play Set
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This playset from Costzon is impressive, and your kid will have the best playtime with it. It is made of soft enough materials to protect your kid in the event of an accident yet durable enough to handle their weight. The blocks are also made with environmentally friendly materials and help keep the indoor air clean.
This play set will help your kid develop their motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Many customers seem to have noticed that the edges aren’t sewn together properly, and they tend to fray easily. Hence, this might not be the best choice as you might need to make a few changes independently.
However, the fact that you or your toddler can rearrange the whole thing and move the blocks around makes it quite attractive. This allows them to use their imagination along with their physical strength. The blocks of varied colors are also intriguing for the kids.
10. Amazon Basics Kids Soft Play Corner Climber
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This playset from Amazon consists of 4 blocks and can be easily considered one of the best climbing toys for toddlers. Also, you can get this one for kids that are older than a year, too! Though you will find that products from other brands have more blocks, this one is worth the shot. This climber is sure in the development of your kid’s motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
The interlocking hooks and strips help to keep the pieces together; it means that once locked correctly, you need not be worried about your kid falling off the blocks. There aren’t many disadvantages of this product. I have to admit that this product delivered well. I hardly faced any issues, and the quality is commendable.
It is made with PU foam and a PU leather cover, making it soft enough to ensure your kid won’t get hurt if they fall on the blocks. It is also strong enough to endure the weight of the kids when they climb or crawl on them. This material also emanates low emissions, saving the indoor air from pollution.
Factors To Look For While Buying Best Climbing Toy For Toddlers
I have listed some of the best climbing toys for toddlers and one-year-olds. However, you still might be in a great dilemma regarding the final decision. I understand this because I, too, was once in the same situation. However, what I realized was that what my kid wants may not necessarily be the best choice for him. However, we can list certain factors that you might want to keep in mind while choosing.
1. Multi-Purpose
I wouldn’t like to invest in one of the toys for each purpose. If I am getting a toy set that serves more than one purpose, I will go for it. Hence, hold off the desire to purchase a single climber or crawler and look for the playsets instead. Your kid finds it even more intriguing.
2. Timeless
At first, I was surprised at how kids fast kids can grow! I didn’t even realize when my toddler turned two years old! Certain products are designed only for toddlers, which might initially seem like an attractive deal. However, I would advise you to pause and consider products suitable for kids that are a little older. However, this doesn’t mean you go for products intended for kids that are five years old. Make sure that the dimensions are appropriate, even for a two-year-old. It will save you the hassle of getting a new climber every year.
3. Helps To Learn
I would honestly recommend keeping this factor in mind. As unimportant as this might seem, it will not only help your kid in the long run but will also build up their brainpower faster. You can look out for products with various shapes and sizes or those that come in different numbers and alphabets. This would enhance their learning as they play. In my opinion, there is no better way to teach your kid!
FAQs
1. Why Is Climbing Beneficial For Toddlers?
Toddlers need to have adequate physical exercise to build up their muscle strength. The stronger the baby gets in this age, the more they can endure later. Climbing is considered one of the best physical exercises to develop the motor skills of toddlers.
2. Are Dome Climbers Safe?
Owing to their shape, dome climbers are pretty safe. The broad base helps the toddler climb easily and is suitable for their agility too.
