Wheelybug Review

There are some toys that you will always look back on fondly years later, and I think one of those toys in our house will be our wheelybug. It was a first ride-on toy for both of our boys and has since been passed on to a cow-mad friend for her toddler. This is why I think every home should have a wheelybug.

What is a wheelybug?

Wheelybugs are high quality and beautifully crafted ride on toys. They have a wooden base and body, a layer of foam padding and a polyurethane cover. Four multidirectional wheels mean that your toddler can whizz around smoothly on them and there is a handlebar which allows them to hold on tightly or use the wheelybug as a push along toy.

There are currently six adorable designs - ladybird, bee, cow, tiger, mouse and pig. Each one is designed to appeal to both boys and girls. Each is available in 2 sizes. A small wheelybug is suitable from 1 to 3 years and a large wheelybug can be used from approximately 2.5 to 5 years.

Why did we love our wheelybug?

There are three things to love about wheelybugs - the fun factor, the appearance and the good quality finish.

We got our cow wheelybug for Tiny Toy Reviewer #1's first birthday and, being a little short for his age, he couldn't sit on it very easily to start with. However, because of the position of the handle he was still able to enjoy it as a push along toy. The real enjoyment came when he was able to ride it properly though (my memory is a bit fuzzy as it was a few years back, but I think he'd truly got the hang of it by 18 months). Because of the castors it is very easy for a toddler to manoeuvre and the product feels reassuringly sturdy because of its low gravitational point, although I should mention here that your child will probably need a little help from you until they are a confident walker and have developed their balance. Ours was the smaller sized wheelybug and Tiny Toy Reviewer #1 was still able to ride it at age 4 (even I whizzed around on occasionally to be honest!), but we would have bought the larger one too so the children had one each if we hadn't moved onto swing cars.

The appearance of each wheelybug design is cute and eye catching. Children seem to natural gravitate towards the fun characters and it frankly was nice to have a toddler toy in the home that looked attractive when out on display. I also like that the design is unisex, as it increases their potential as a hand-me-down.

The quality of these toys is exceptional. We had ours for over 5 years and it was very well used by both Tiny Toy Reviewers before we gave it away, and it still looked the same as the day we got it. The polyurethane coating is really durable and does not mark easily, and any marks it does get can be wiped off easily with a damp cloth.

Anything not to like?

There are no real criticisms of this product. It is quite expensive for a ride on toy (prices for a small one start at about £40), but I never begrudged the price because the high production quality was evident and - as mentioned - it has so far lasted well despite being used by my two energetic boys and my friend's lively toddler.

Some parents find the small sized wheelybug a bit too small for their toddler, and regret not getting the larger sized one. This was never something I found to be an issue with my two, but if your children are average to tall for their age you might want to consider a large wheelybug even if they are younger than the manufacturer's recommended age.

Verdict

A wheelybug is a gorgeous toy which will last you years and years! Well worth the price, and one of the best toys we've ever had.