Best Toddler Climbing Toys and Jungle Gyms
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These best toddler climbing toys and jungle gyms, especially ones that can be used indoors and outdoors, are the perfect toys for an energetic toddler. Instead of climbing on furniture, your toddler can enjoy climbing up and down these fun structures.
Introducing any one of the best toddler climbing toys and jungle gyms into their play space can be a great way to help your little ones build up their motor skills and enjoy a more active playtime.
Still, with so many options to choose from, deciding which one is worth spending your money on isn’t always an easy task.
To help you out, we’ve put dozens of this year’s best-selling toddler-friendly climbing toys and jungle gyms through their paces until we determined the 19 toys we think are the best of the best.
You’ll find our thoughts on each one below.
Top 19 Best Toddler Climbing Toys
1. SoftScape Toddler Playtime Corner Climber
The Softscape Toddler Playtime Corner Climber tops our list because it offers excellent value for money.
One of the more affordable climbing sets out there, the Playtime Corner Climber comprises four different shaped pieces that can be rearranged to create any number of custom climbing, crawling, and sliding options.
Each soft piece comes with a non-slip base to keep them safe and protected and is covered in soft, leather-like polyurethane material, which makes it both exceptionally durable and very easy to clean.
2. Constructive Playthings 5 Piece Soft Play Set
Like our last pick, the Constructive Playthings 5 Piece Soft Play Set is made up of individual soft foam pieces, including blocks, a ramp/slide, and cylindrical shapes, meaning you can rearrange them for an endless array of designs.
Each block is finished in an assortment of bright colors, presenting a fun opportunity to teach them about colors at the same time as developing their motor skills through crawling and climbing around.
3. Little Baby Bum Wheels on the Bus Climber and Slide
The Little Baby Bum Wheels on the Bus Climber may not offer as many different climbing challenges for your little ones, but there are lots of other reasons why we love it just the same.
An official tie-in with the Little Baby Bum preschool learning videos, the brand’s Wheels on the Bus lets them step up into the bus driver’s seat where they can take hold of the interactive steering wheel which not only has a working horn but also plays “wheels on the bus.”
When they’re done, your little bus driver can simply slide down the 18″ gently-sloping slide for even more fun. Since the climber is water-resistant, you can use it indoors as well as outdoors.
The assembly may be a little difficult, so you may want to recruit some friends to help put the pieces together.
4. Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower
If you’re looking for a climbing toy that they’ll still be able to enjoy even when they get older, the Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower may be worth a look.
Suitable for ages 3-9, the climbing tower and monkey bars can work for tots as they can for bigger kids, meaning it’s also a good choice for your growing family.
Lightweight, portable, and made from premium quality plastic with UV protection to protect them against the elements, the Eezy Peezy set can offer just as much fun when used outdoors as it can inside.
5. FDP SoftScape Playtime and Climb Multipurpose Soft Foam Playset
If you like the idea of the soft-foam playsets, we looked at earlier but weren’t so fond of the price, the FDP SoftScape Playtime and Climb Multipurpose Soft Foam Playset might prove to be an affordable alternative.
All told, you get six different soft-foam pieces of various shapes that can be mixed and matched to create endless play adventures.
We’re also big fans of the different color choices, making it a great pick if you want to coordinate the look of their playroom or simply buy them a climbing set in their favorite color.
6. Children’s Factory 6-Piece Set for Toddlers
At first glance, the Children’s Factory 6-Piece Set for Toddlers looks like just another soft-foam playset.
Look a little closer, however, and you’ll find that the smaller pieces, the simple shapes, and the addition of hook-and-loop fasteners to keep everything in place make it the best climbing toy for babies and younger toddlers.
The Children’s Factory set is also one of the few options in this guide to be made from vegan leather, making it the best choice for ethically-minded parents.
7. UTEX 3 in 1 Pop Up Play Tent with Tunnel
If soft blocks aren’t your young one’s thing, this UTEX 3 in 1 Pop Up Play Tent with Tunnel may be more to their liking.
Made from incredibly resistant polyester taffeta, the adventure play tent features two tents linked by a long, 4’11” tunnel that they can happily climb through from one to the other.
The Pop Up Play Tent is also incredibly light and folds away into its own carry bag. The tear-resistant design makes it easy to carry out into the garden, to parties, or to a weekend at the grandparents.
8. MAGIFIRE 5 Pieces Inflatable Climbing Blocks
Another great choice for toddlers and infants, the cute pieces of the MAGIFIRE 5 Pieces Inflatable Climbing Blocks are made to look like candies, cake, cheese, and even an egg roll.
Combined with the fact that each piece is inflatable rather than foam-filled, and what you’ve got here is one of the best toys for one-year-olds that earns rave reviews from parents thanks to how easy it is to set up, inflate, and store away again at the end of playtime.
9. Wedanta Kids Jungle Gym Playset
A substantial climbing toy for toddlers and their older siblings, the large Wedanta Kids Jungle Gym Playset is ideal for a special birthday or Christmas gift.
Along with a taller climbing frame and monkey bars for children aged 5-6, there’s also a short, gently-sloping slide that their younger brother and sister can enjoy too. There are lots of fun features for your child to enjoy without taking up too much space in your house.
10. Amy & Delle Kids Pop Up Playhouse
One of the best toddler climbing toys for parents on a budget, the Amy & Delle Kids Popup Playhouse‘s wallet-friendly price is surprising considering its substantial size and quality.
Suitable for children aged 1-9 years old, the tunnel and two tents can be arranged into a number of different shapes to keep play exciting and then simply packed away when playtime ends.
Meanwhile, the thin-yet-tough lightweight polyester and breathable mesh ensure it’s safe, strong, and built to last.
11. Children’s Factor 3-Piece Over & Under Tunnel Climber
Suitable for babies and toddlers aged 8 months to 3 years, the Children’s Factory 3-Piece Over & Under Tunnel Climber is made up of an easy-climb step, a tunnel they can crawl under or climb over, and a small slide block.
As with the other Children’s Factor piece on this list, it’s made from vegan-friendly materials and comes with hook-and-loop fasteners to provide added safety and peace of mind.
12. Costzon Foldable Wooden Climbing Triangle Ladder
One of the things we look for when picking our top toddler climbing toys is versatility, and the Costzon Foldable Wooden Climbing Triangle Ladder certainly has that.
At its core, it’s a solid, wooden climbing triangle that older toddlers can have a lot of fun learning to conquer.
What really makes it stand out is the detachable ladder which can help them build motor skills by learning to climb it before being flipped over into a fun slide that they can use to make their way back down.
13. Costzon Kids Climbing Pikler Triangle Ladder
If you liked the last Costzon piece, but it was a bit too big for your little ones, the Costzon Kids Climbing Pikler Triangle Ladder may be more their size.
Though nowhere near as colorful and creative as the last one, it is smaller and equally as sturdy.
The fully wooden construction is also completely smooth, free from burs, and coated with non-toxic BPA-free varnish to ensure it’s as safe as safe can be.
14. 12 Ninja Tree Climbing Holds for Kids
Another climbing toy that’s better suited for older toddlers and their siblings, the 12 Ninja Tree Climbing Holds for Kids are a great way to introduce your little ones to the joy of exploring nature in a safe manner.
Suitable for ages 3+, the premium quality plastic resin “rocks” are capable of supporting up to 230 lbs in weight and can be strapped around trees with the sturdy 6 x 10ft ratchet tie-down straps, turning any outdoor environment into an adventure playground.
15. Amazon Basics Kids Soft Play Single Tunnel
The step-tunnel-slide setup of the AmazonBasics Kids Soft Play Single Tunnel looks very similar to the Over & Under toy we looked at earlier, but it’s also much more colorful, making it a much better choice for adding to bright and vibrant playrooms.
We also like that the super-soft-yet-supportive CertiPUR-US certified PU foam is finished with PU leather, guaranteeing it’s both built to last and a breeze to keep clean.
16. Foamnasium Adventure Playset
The Foamnasium Adventure Playset is made up of seven pieces, including a small tunnel, a large block-wedge slide, a small slide, two corner pieces, and a toddler step, all of which can be moved around to encourage creative and active play.
On the downside, it is one of the more expensive foam sets, but if you have the budget to pay for it, it’s certainly worth every penny.
17. Simplay3 Young Explorers Discovery Playhouse
If your energetic toddler likes pretend play, the Simplay3 Young Explorers Discovery Playhouse has exactly what you are looking for in a toddler climbing toy.
The two-level playhouse does not only have a pretend kitchen, but it also includes a climbing ramp and ladders as well as a ground-level crawling space. Your toddler can enjoy social interactions with his or her friends as they use their imagination to run a restaurant.
The playhouse is weather and UV resistant, so you can move it outdoors whether it’s rain or shine. Although the assembly may be a little difficult, after you set it up, your kids will love climbing up and down the sturdy playhouse that is designed with safety in mind.
18. Eezy Peezy TM300- Playset with 50 Balls
A combination of a ball pit with steps to climb, this Eezy Peezy Playset comes with 50 colorful balls for your toddlers to toss around. The bright red slide is a nice little addition and if your kids are anything like mine, expect lots of balls to go down the slide!
The structure is incredibly sturdy and even the balls are high quality. Since the ball pit is fairly large, you may need to get more balls to fill up the entire pit. Overall the Eezy Peezy Playset provides hours of fun for toddlers and makes a great present for the holidays.
19. Costzon 4 in 1 Toddler Climber and Swing Set
Last but not least, the Costzon 4 in 1 Toddler Climber and Swing Set‘s multifunctional design is perfect for multiple kids. With a slide, swing, basketball hoop, and climbing ladder, your toddlers can practice their hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills on this playset for hours.
The playset is a breeze to assemble with easy-to-follow instructions. It’s made from environmentally friendly and non-toxic material, and if you are concerned about stability, you can always weigh the butterfly base down with sand or water.
The set also includes a small basketball for your kids to practice shooting. Just be careful when using the baby swing as it has no belt, though it does hav a T-shaped forward leaning protection to keep the baby from sliding out.
Choosing the Best Climbing Toys for Toddlers: A Buyer’s Guide
We picked the above top 19 best climbing toys and jungle gyms to ensure that no matter what your little one’s age, ability, or play preferences, you’d be able to find the perfect option.
Still, if you’ve read this far and aren’t sure which one of those 19 toys is suitable for your child, the following tips might help you out.
Consider Long-Term Age Appropriateness
Whether you’re buying STEM toys, climbing sets, or even LEGO gifts, age appropriateness is always essential, but it isn’t just their current age that you’ll want to keep in mind.
If you currently have a one-year-old and the toy you’re looking at is only suitable for 1-2 year-olds, then they’ve likely only got a year of use out of it at best.
If it’s for, say, 1-3 year-olds or more, they’ll be able to enjoy that climbing toy for much longer.
Soft Play vs. Wooden Climbing Frames vs. Tunnels
On the whole, there are three main types of climbing toys.
Tunnels are generally the least expensive but also the least durable, whereas wooden climbing frames tend to be among the most expensive but aren’t always the safest.
Soft playsets tend to offer a happy medium. Sure, they can still be quite pricey, but they’re also durable, versatile, and safe, even for the youngest of toddlers.
Think About How Much Space You Have
Does your toddler have a large, dedicated playroom that one of the bigger soft playsets can stay in permanently?
Or is this the kind of toy you’re going to need to fold up and pack away after use, in which case a portable play tunnel like the Amy & Delle Kids Popup Playhouse may be better suited?
What about the outdoors? If you’re looking for the best toddler toy for the garden where size is less of an issue, then one of the larger, weather-resistant outdoor playsets may be the ideal choice.
What is the Best Climbing Toy to Buy For Your Toddler?
So, having looked at the climbing toys and jungle gyms we consider to be the best of the best, only one question remains:
Which one is worth actually spending money on?
If you ask us, the answer to that question all depends on which type of climbing toy you want.
If you want the lightweight, space-saving design of a tunnel, then the UTEX 3 in 1 Pop Up Play Tent is undoubtedly one of our favorites.
If you’re looking for a larger option that’s suitable for outdoor use and that your toddler (as well as their older siblings) will be able to keep enjoying as they grow, then the Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower ticks all of those boxes and then some.
However, if you want the combination of superior safety, exceptional quality, and value for money that comes from a soft play set, then the Softscape Toddler Playtime Corner Climber really is tough to beat.
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