Our Top Scooter Picks For Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers
3 wheel scooters seem to be all the rage for young kids 2 to 5 years old. With two wheels up front, versus one on traditional scooters, they are so easy to balance even toddlers can just hop on and go! And with “lean-to-steer” steering, little ones find these scooters more natural to manage.
But just like everything you buy for kids, not all 3 wheel scooters are created equal. Which one is best for your toddler or pre-schooler? We’ve personally tested out Amazon’s best-selling 3 wheel scooters to help you understand how they’re different and which features really matter.
7 Best 3 Wheel Scooters: 2020
Scooter | Why We Love It | MSRP |
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | $90 | |
Best Overall - Young Toddlers | $120 | |
Best for Going Fast! | $70 | |
Best for Sharing Siblings | $70 | |
Most Customizable | $70 | |
Best for Fashion + Function | $90 | |
| Best on a Budget | $60 |
Micro Mini Deluxe
Best Overall
MSRP: $90
FITS KIDS: 2 – 5 years old, 75 lbs. max (For older kids, try the Maxi Deluxe)
MIN/MAX HANDLEBAR HEIGHT: 17″ – 25″ from deck
FEATURES: Exceptional quality, smooth ride, adjustable-height handlebars, large variety of color options
Gorgeous colors, Swiss-quality design, and a smooth and quiet ride make the Micro Kickboard Mini Deluxe the hands-down winner in our book. While more expensive than other scooters on our list, it’s simply because Micro is a brand that never compromises on quality and durability. If you want the best 3-wheel scooter you can buy, this is it.
The foot deck is constructed of reinforced flexible fiberglass, which absorbs impact from the ground and makes for a smooth and quiet ride. The adjustable-height handlebar is easy to use, and has 8″ of adjustability – more than any other scooter on this list! It also boasts the lowest handlebar height on this list – another reason it’s the best choice for young toddlers.
Additionally, while all the other scooters have 3 or 4 height settings, the Micro Mini’s handlebars are continuously adjustable. This means that you can set them at the exact height that’s most comfortable for your little one.
And to top in off, the Micro Mini Deluxe comes in SO. MANY. COLORS. Whatever your child’s favorite color is, we’re pretty sure you can find a Micro Mini to match.
FULL REVIEW: Micro Kickboard Mini Deluxe
- High-quality, Swiss precision design
- Sturdy and durable
- Smooth and quiet ride
- Handlebar has 8″ of adjustability
- Tons of color options
- Price
Micro Mini 3-in-1 Deluxe
Best Overall – Young Toddlers
MSRP: $120
FITS KIDS: 12 months – 5 years, 75 lbs. max
MIN/MAX HANDLEBAR HEIGHT: 14″ from deck (O-ring), 17″ – 25″ from deck (T-bar)
FEATURES: Sitting and standing mode, adjustable-height handlebars, extra smooth and stable ride, available in lots of colors
The Micro Mini 3-in-1 Deluxe is genius. It’s essentially the Micro Mini Deluxe scooter, with two additional features that allow toddlers as young as 1 year old to ride! The first, or beginner setting, has a seat for young toddlers to sit on and scoot forward. The second setting removes the seat and has a short, “O” handlebar for little ones to easily grab as they learn to stand and scoot.
Once a toddler has gained confidence, the “O” handlebar is removed and replaced with the standard “T” bar. The Micro Mini 3-in-1 Deluxe is now a standard scooter!
We’ve used this ride-on toy/scooter with our own toddler for about 6 months now. It glides smoothly and easily (but not too fast!) over the wood floors of the house. This Micro Mini 3-in-1 Deluxe quickly became her ride-on toy of choice!
- “Sit and scoot” and “stand and scoot” modes
- 2 seat heights to better accommodate toddlers as they grow
- High-quality, Swiss precision design
- Sturdy and durable
- Smooth and quiet ride
- Handlebar has 11″ of adjustability
- Tons of color options
- Initially difficult to maneuver for very young toddlers
GOMO 3 Wheel
Best for Going Fast!
MSRP: $70
FITS KIDS: 3 – 5 years old, 110 lbs. max
MIN/MAX HANDLEBAR HEIGHT: 23.5″ – 28″ from deck
FEATURES: Adjustable height handlebars, light-up wheels, soft, grippy handlebars
Bright and cheery color combinations along with light-up wheels make the GOMO a winner for young riders. Ideal for more confident kids who can handle more speed, the GOMO goes fast with little effort. Our little speed demons were particularly happy that the GOMO could keep up with them. 🙂
Our testers told us that they love that the fender brake is closer to the wheel, making it a little easier to engage. They also mentioned how soft and comfortable the hand grips were.
While not technically designed for riders over 5-years-old, with a 110 lb. maximum weight, it’s certainly possible. And with a slightly longer foot deck than the other scooters on this list, the GOMO allows for more foot space for larger feet.
- Super fun color combinations
- Light up wheels!
- Matching grippy handlebars are comfortable for little hands
- Foot brake is easy to engage
- Faster speeds great for confident kids
- A little heavier than the other scooters
- Noisy (adjustable-height handlebar rattles)
- Lower ground clearance will scrape bottom of deck when going down driveways
LaScoota 2-in-1
Best for Sharing Siblings
MSRP: $70
FITS KIDS: 3 – 8 years old, 110 lbs. max
MIN/MAX HANDLEBAR HEIGHT: Almost 9″ of adjustability
FEATURES: Sitting and standing modes, light-up wheels, adjustable-height handlebars with 4 height settings!
While not the highest-quality scooter on the list, we appreciate the LaScoota’s ability to grow with your child from the time they’re a toddler all the way to a big kid. With 8.5″ of handlebar height adjustments at 4 different settings, it will take your kid a long time to outgrow a LaScoota.
It’s also awesome if you have two or more kids that want to use the scooter, because the handlebar height can be set to accommodate a very wide range of ages. (As a 5’10 adult, I can even ride it comfortably!)
The LaScoota’s smallest handlebar height setting is a bit taller than other scooters on our list, so it’s a better starter scooter for older toddlers (3+). When in sitting mode, the seat heights are best for 2 or 3 year olds, but the handlebars are very high. Realistically, the sitting mode isn’t practical, but the scooter is still a good bang for your buck.
- Almost 9″ of handlebar height adjustment – grows with your child
- Light up wheels
- 6 color options
- Turns smoothly
- Regularly on sale for $20 off!
- In sitting mode, the handlebars are very high, is awkward for most toddlers
- Plastic deck offers minimal traction – wear rubber-soled shoes
Y Glider XL
Most Customizable
MSRP: $70
FITS KIDS: 3+ years old, 110 lbs. max
MIN/MAX HANDLEBAR HEIGHT: 23.5″ – 27.5″ from deck
FEATURES: Adjustable lean-to-steer, adjustable-height handlebars, customizable wheel colors, two deck color options
While all the 3-wheel scooters on our list allow you to adjust the handlebar height as kids grow, the Y Glider XL offers even more options for customization. From an aesthetic standpoint, the foot deck comes in two different colors which can easily be swapped out based on your child’s preference. (For example, the red scooter as seen above also comes with a yellow deck piece.) Small, colored plastic pieces come with the scooter and can be placed in the wheel spokes to personalize the color design of the wheels. These details are small, but are super fun for little ones.
Functionally, the Y Glider XL’s steering has three different levels that can be adjusted as kids’ confidence and ability grows. In the most advanced setting, the handlebars can be leaned significantly to allow kids to take sharp turns like a true lean-to-steer scooter. This setting has a more aggressive lean than any other scooter on this list, so if your child is a newbie, it’s probably best not to start them off here!
In the most basic setting, the handlebars don’t lean at all, allowing only forward or backward movement for beginning riders. The “in-between” setting introduces kids to the idea of “lean-to-steer” without giving them too much too handle – kind of like the idea of training wheels.
- 3 settings on lean-to-steer handlebars are perfect for beginning or confident riders
- 2 different color foot decks can easily be swapped out
- Colored wheel spoke pieces add a pop of fun color and personalization
- While textured, foot deck is hard plastic which can be slippery on non-rubber soled shoes
- Adjustable-height handlebars are difficult to adjust (not a big deal if you won’t adjust them often)
- Most aggressive lean-to-steer setting can be too aggressive for some kids
Svolta Mega
Best for Fashion + Function
MSRP: $90
FITS KIDS: 3+ years old, 110 lbs. max
MIN/MAX HANDLEBAR HEIGHT: 22″ – 27.5″ from deck
FEATURES: High-quality build, wide foot brake, adjustable height handlebar, adorable color combos
Svolta Scooters is bursting onto the scene with the most fashion forward kids’ scooters we’ve seen. With a slogan of “Riding the Runway”, these scooters certainly live up to this mantra. With gender-neutral colors and designs in a mod-color palette, the Svolta Mega is easily the cutest scooter on the market. We wish they made big ones for moms!
But beyond the pretty face, the quality of the Svolta Mega is fantastic. While not quite to the level of Micro Scooters, it’s a close second, and far more sturdy than any of the other scooters on the list. So if you want a scooter that’s fashionable and functional, the Svolta Mega is your perfect match.
- Solid quality, impressive build that will last quite some time
- Smooth ride
- Tight, precision construction = no rattling
- Kid-friendly color combinations that parents will also love
- Moving the handlebars up and down can slightly scratch the paint on the T-bar
- Not as much traction on the foot deck as we would like
Radio Flyer Lean N’ Glide
Best on a Budget
MSRP: $60
FITS KIDS: 3 – 5 years old, 60 lbs. max
MIN/MAX HANDLEBAR HEIGHT: 22″ – 30″ from deck
FEATURES: Adjustable height handlebars, light-up wheels, soft foam handlebars
Radio Flyer’s budget-friendly scooter is a perfect starter scooter for toddlers. With a lower minimum handlebar height than most other scooters, it’s a more natural fit for young ones. But with 8″ of height adjustment, it also leaves plenty of room for growth.
- Most affordable
- Light up wheels!
- Lowest handlebar height setting better for young kids than most other scooters
- 8″ of handlebar height adjustment
- Plastic construction is lower quality than others on this list
How to Choose the Best 3 Wheel Scooter for Your Toddler or Pre-Schooler
3 wheel scooters are generally pretty simple, but they do have slightly different features and their quality level varies. 3 wheel scooters are the best toddler scooters, although there are a few 3 wheels scooters for older kids.
Here’s a short summary of the most important things to look for to find the best 3 wheel scooter for your toddler or pre-schooler.
Age
Toddlers – 2 Years Old and 3 Years Old
3 wheels scooters are ideal for toddlers because they are stable and incredibly easy to use. With three wheels, the scooter stays upright without any help from the child.
The foot platform is also wider than traditional kick scooters, which makes staying upright for toddlers that much easier. Additionally, the steering function requires a child to lean rather than turn the front wheels, which prevents sudden jerks which often cause little ones to fall over.
We do not recommend 2 wheel scooters for toddlers. Two wheels are much more difficult to keep upright for those young ones who are still developing their motor skills.
Preschool and Older – 4 Years Old, 5 Years Old +
While many preschoolers can handle a 2 wheel scooter, 3 wheels are still much easier for kids this age. As a child grows to 5 or 6, they will probably outgrow their 3 wheel scooter. If you have an older child that prefers the ease-of-use of three wheels, check out the Micro Maxi or LaScoota 2-in-1, which are both larger 3 wheel scooters.
Steering
Most 3 wheel scooters are “lean-to-steer”. Traditional kick scooters require a child to turn the handlebars to turn the front wheel, just like a bike. With “lean-to-steer” scooters, movement more closely mimics a skateboard.
The handlebars don’t turn, but lean to the left or right as the child shifts their weight in that direction. This motion then turns the wheels in that direction as well. It’s kind of like a skateboard with a handlebar for kids to hold on! Children are still able to execute fairly sharp turns, they just use the weight of their body to move the scooter in a different direction.
This style of steering is much easier for young toddlers to manage because the handlebars don’t rotate. With traditional scooters, toddlers excitedly grab the handlebars to get on, but then loose control immediately when the handlebars jerk to the left or right.
Lean-to-steer scooters also generally prevent exaggerated turns that can cause a child to crash. It also creates a feeling of surfing the sidewalk that kids really enjoy!
Quality and Price
Like everything in life, you get what you pay for. If you want a high-quality, smooth-rolling, quiet scooter, Micro is the way to go. If you can deal with a good scooter that doesn’t have quite the same quality or durability, any other scooter on this list is a respectable option.
Beware of those scooters on Amazon that are $20 or $30. Just remember that you get what you pay for! While we haven’t tested those models, users on Amazon report complaints like the brake fender breaking off, or the plastic deck cracking.
Handlebar Height
Every 3-wheel scooter on this list has adjustable height handlebars. This allows you to raise the handlebar as your child grows from a toddler to a big kid. As a result, riding will be more comfortable, and kids won’t grow out of the scooter so quickly.
Most scooters have about 4 – 5″ of adjustability with 3 or 4 pre-set height settings. The Micro Mini, on the other hand, has 8″ of continual adjustability.
Foot Platform
Wide foot decks help toddlers and young kids feel stable and give them confidence. This also increases their ability to balance. 3 wheel scooters generally have foot decks that are about 5″ wide. Just enough extra space for little feet without getting bulky. As a comparison, the small traditional 2 wheel Razor scooter’s foot deck is only 3.5″ wide.
Colors and Fun Extras
Realistically, the most important feature of a scooter is probably the color. 😉 If it’s the wrong color, we all know what can happen! Fortunately, all the 3 wheel scooters on this list come in multiple colors. The Micro scooters come in the widest array of colors, while the GOMO scooters are all dual-colored to add an extra pop of charisma.
Light-up wheels are always a fun surprise for little (and big!) kids. The only scooter on this list with light-up wheels is the GOMO, while the Micro Mini Deluxe does have an LED wheel version – it’s just a little more expensive.
While the Y Glider XL’s wheels don’t light up, the spokes do have fun colored pieces that you can use to customize your own look.
3 Wheel Scooters Comparison Chart
Take a look at this handy chart to compare the prices and features of the most popular toddler scooters on the market.
3-Wheel Toddler Scooter Comparison
Scooter | MSRP | Handlebar Height from Deck | Weight | Weight Capacity | Deck Width | Deck Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $90 | 17" - 25" | 4.2 lbs. | 75 lbs. | 4.5" | 11.5" | |
| $120 | 14" - 25" | 4.2 lbs. | 75 lbs. | 4.5" | 11.5" | |
| $70 | 23.5" - 28" | 5.8 lbs. | 110 lbs. | 5" | 12" | |
| $70 | 22.5" - 31.5" | 6 lbs. | 5" | 12.5" | ||
| $70 | 23.5" - 27.5" | 5.2 lbs. | 110 lbs. | 5" | 11.5" | |
| $60 | 22" - 30" | 60 lbs. | ||||
| $90 | 22" - 27.5" | 6.2 lbs. | 110 lbs. | 5" | 12.5" |
