droolicious : ride on toys

Fire Engine Beauty

elizabeth leach — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:00:00 GMT

What a stunner! In bright bold colors with many realistic details, your little fire fighter will love playing pretend games with this ride-on toy. There's even a compartment at the back to hold toys. And it's so attractive you won't mind when it's parked in the living room.

This fire engine ride on is made from eco-friendly rubber wood and nontoxic paint. Find the Fire Engine Ride On by Wonder World at Oompa for $234.99.

This Bike Weighs Under Four Pounds

Heather Kuldell — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:22:00 GMT

The Droolicious Crew loves a good balance bike, but this one might be my favorite.

The Micro G-Bike may not look like much, but there’s a lot of smart design in this tiny package that helps justify the $150 price tag. Like any balance bike, kids perch on the saddle and run to propel themselves. To coast, they simply lift their feet.

The G-Bike’s aluminum frame weighs less than four pounds, which is easy for kids to handle and for parents to carry just about anywhere or fit in a car. The seat post and steering adjust for riders from 2 to 4 years old. The manufacturers also note that it features a limited turning radius to prevent sharp turns and that the polyurethane wheels are safe for indoor surfaces. Hmm, riding bikes indoors ... that dog doesn’t hunt in my house, but your floors, your rules.

U-Roll in Colorful Stripes

elizabeth leach — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:00:00 GMT

This is the prettiest U-Roll I've seen. I love the bright, fun stripes! Made from molded plywood, this ride-on is strong enough for even grownups! One side is light colored birch veneer and the other is fabulous, gender neutral stripes. Doesn't it remind you of Fruit Striped Gum?

Find this U-Roll exclusively at Giggle for $175.

Easy Riding on the Angeles Silver Rider Supercycle

Heather Kuldell — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:31:00 GMT

In kid world, a tricycle is to a motorcycle as the Angeles Silver Rider Supercycle is to a chopper. With a profile a Big Wheels, the low-riding Supercycle combines the safety with a cool, minimalist design. The chrome-finished steel frame sturdily bears the weight for 4 to 6 year olds, while the steering limiter helps keep kids from careening across sidewalks. Solid rubber wheels probably will rob riders of the delightful whooshing sound old-school plastic Big Wheels would make before they gained traction (remember that?), but they are the more durable, safer option. Like other Angeles trikes, the design avoids pinch points, as well as exposed rough edges or hardware. At $169.95, the Supercycle is a bigger investment than its plastic counterpart, but it comes with self-lubricating bearings and a 5-year unconditional guarantee.

Kick Off Spring With the Kettler Sprint Frog Training Bicycle

Heather Kuldell — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:35:00 GMT

OK, it’s not even close to spring, but we have some unseasonably warm weather this week. Faux-spring or not, I’m already sizing up who needs bigger bikes and whatnot. If it’s about time to start training, check out the Kettler Sprint Frog Training Bicycle.

Regular Droolicious readers will be familiar with this sort of riding toy: It allows tots to practice balancing, steering and stopping without worrying about pedaling. This 12-inch version has some nice features that make it more bike-like than others. Kids from ages 2 to 6 can ride the same bike, thanks to a low, step-through frame and a height-adjustable saddle. A limited turning radius feature helps keeps kids upright by prohibiting sharp turns that might make them lose their balance. It also features a handlebar brake, a thoughtful touch that many other push-bikes don’t have. In other words, the kids don’t have to shred their shoes to stop. (They still might, but they don't HAVE to.)

Available at ComfortFirst for $119.95 (and free shipping).

Kettler Kid Tractor + Snowplow Arm = Cure for Lazy Snow Days

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:00:00 GMT

If you're looking for a novel way to keep the tykes active on their next snow day, here's an idea: The Kettler CAT Kid Tractor (right) becomes a kid-powered snowplow when you attach a CAT Snow Plow Attachment (left; sold separately) to its digger arm. Yeah, it's a little pricey, but we're assuming the toys will pay for themselves after a few shoveled driveways.

The Kettler CAT Kid Tractor is $129.88 (regualrly $190), and the Snow Plow Attachment is $64.19 (regularly $80), both from Amazon. (Hat tip to Amazon Toy Time's Blog for the idea, too.)

Cool Ride-On Toy from Apple Pie

Erin Behan — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:28:00 GMT

I'd never heard of these ride-along toys from Apple Pie until a far-away Santa stowed one under our Christmas tree. Having Ellie the Elephant in hand, I can tell you she's sturdy and quite attractive looking. Details include rubberized wheels which protect both your floor and little hands, a fun bendy nose and a cute waggable rubber tail. The paint is nontoxic and the fun is recommended for 18-plus months. Buy it for $74.95 at Fat Brain Toys.

For the Serious (Or Just Rich) Train Enthusiast

Lisa Mulcahy — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Thomas has nothing on this train set. Modeled after 1940s carnival locomotives, these use kiddie hand crank power instead of steam to chug along the tracks. Certainly heirloom quality, the two included locomotives are made from cast aluminum with stainless steel side rails and nylon crank handles. As for the track, it’s made of steal and you better have a lot of room to roam because it’s 30-feet in diameter.

And now the part your waiting for …it will set you back $4,100. But I guess the price hasn’t been a deterrent because according to retailer Hammacher Schlemmer “due to the popularity of this item” they are unexpectedly sold out. Sometimes I look around and say, “What economic downturn?”

ATV for the Little Dino-Lover

Lisa Mulcahy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:28:00 GMT

When my son received an ATV for his first birthday I thought there was no way he would be interested in it or able to ride it. I was wrong on both accounts. Despite the nature/nurture argument for gender specific toys, I’m convinced that boys innately love thrill-seeking toys. I’m guessing this T-Rex ATV would be a big hit for boys of the three to five-year-old set.

Like an old school transformer, Fisher-Price’s A.T. Rex, $289.99, is a Power Wheel vehicle turned T. Rex. With light-up eyes and ferocious roar it drives in two speeds (2.5 and 5 mph) but has a high-speed lock-out for beginners. Equipped with a Power Wheels Monster Traction drive system, this dino can claw its way through any backyard terrain.