When we think of snow days, we think about building snowmen in cosy winter coats, snowball fights and the best bit of all, being pulled along a path in a children's sledge.
Whether you went tobogganing as a child or not, a children's sledge is perfect for snowy days, and for helping to tow your child across snowy paths to help prevent them from slipping. You can even dress your child up in a warm snow suit for extra protection when on their sledge.
Best children's sledge at a glance:
• Best toboggan children's sledge: Toy Galaxy Snow Sledge for Kids - buy here on Amazon.
• Best children's sledge for babies: Baby Sledge - Bobee Bob - buy here on Decathlon.
• Best traditional children's sledge: Folding Sledge Davos - buy here on Decathlon.
• Best children's sledge snowboard scooter: Fold-Up Snowboard Kick-Scooter - buy here on Amazon.
While a traditional wooden sledge tends to spring to mind when you think of a 'sledge', there are plenty of alternative choices to pick from including a baby sledge with harness, snowboard scooters and boards.
Best toboggan children's sledge
Available in red as well as blue, the Toy Galaxy Snow Sledge for Kids is ergonomically design to allow for smooth sledging. It has a pull string to allow you to pull the sledge along the ground, or for controlling when going down a hill, and it even has grip handles to help maintain balance.
One review said: "Straight forward sledge, no fancy bits and robust enough for a youngster." Another wrote: "My Daughter loves this. It’s very lightweight but pretty sturdy. Pretty fast too. Very pleased for the money."
Pros
- Pull string
- Ergonomically designed
Cons
- Holds two small children or one adult
| Dimensions: | 12 x 41 x 92cm |
| Suitable for ages: | 3+ years |
Best children's sledge for babies
www.decathlon.co.uk
Suitable for children over the age of 12 months, the Baby Sledge - Bobee Bob is a stable sledge with two parallel runners and has an adjustable harness for your baby. It also has a comfortable seat for them to sit in, with a comfortable footrest too.
One customer said: "Our little 1 year old had the time of her life being pulled around in this great quality, well designed sledge." Another customer wrote: "Sled suitable for a young child thanks to the adjustable safety harness. Suitable for pulling a child during a walk in the snow. (ascent and/or descent). Slides well"
Pros
- Directional control
- Adjustable
- Glide performance
Cons
- Not suitable for children weighing over 20kg
| Dimensions: | 77 x 52 x 36cm |
| Suitable for ages: | 12 to 36 months |
Best children's sledge with brakes
www.decathlon.co.uk
This seriously cool sledge is made for little racers and will stand out from the crowd. The Kids' Sledge with Brake and Steering Wheel is easy to control the speed thanks to the metal hand brake, while the steering wheel controls the direction. And when your child reaches the bottom, it's light enough to pull up the slopes using the attached pull.
One review said: "Had this sled in use for years. Great part. Brakes well, steers well and is fast." Another customer said: "Kids LOVE the steering wheel. They must be old enough to understand that you must not zigzag."
Pros
- Directional control
- Breaks to slow down
Cons
- Some mentioned it might be better suited to older children
| Dimensions: | 95 x 55 x 18cm |
| Suitable for ages: | 3+ years |
Best children's sledge sled board
Available in different bright colours, the 2 Pcs Snow Sled Board has a non slip, concave design that can help keep riders safe with sledging. It also has oversized handles so that it's easier to control, and has an ergonomic design so that it's more comfortable to hold too.
One review said: "
Pros
- Flexible and portable
- Anti-skid design
- Easy to hold handle
Cons
- Might not need two
| Dimensions: | 10 x 10cm |
| Suitable for ages: |
Best heavy duty children's sledge
The JVL Deluxe Heavy Duty Snow Sledge Toboggan with Cord is a great sledge to pull your child along with or to slide down hills with. It can be hard to steer and sometimes needs a bit of guidance, but it glides smoothly over snow.
One customer wrote: "It's a great size, can squeeze an adult and child into it. Collectively we weigh about 120kg and unfortunately we cracked the bottom of it. This was only because we ran out of snow and hit cobble stone though, worked fine over snow. Seems durable so don't be put off, our mistake. Just a bit tricky to steer, leaning doesn't really work, you need to put hands out so wear gloves. Fast and comfy to sit in as nice and wide. Will buy another."
Pros
- Pull cord
- Can fit an adult and small child
Cons
- Not easy to steer
| Dimensions: | 93 x 57 x 17cm |
| Suitable for ages: | 3+ years |
Best traditional children's sledge
www.decathlon.co.uk
With the ability to fold this sledge, it's lightweight and easy to transport. The Folding Sledge Davos is able to fit two children or an adult and child onto the sledge, and gives the grown up the ability to brake with their feet. It also has a rope and handle to pull the sledge.
One customer wrote: "I bought sledge for my son it’s foldable,, great for carrying and storage. It’s good solid sledge and value for the money. I highly recommend to anyone who needs one" Another said: "The sled is great, it folds and unfolds in a second, it skates fast. Two children or one child and one adult can use it."
Pros
- Folds for easy storing
- Pull along handle
Cons
- Some mentioned they thought the runners were too narrow
| Dimensions: | 100 x 27 x 23cm |
| Suitable for ages: | 3+ years |
Best children's sledge for five year olds
With a handy pulling string for you to tow your child on, this STIGA Snow Power Steering Sledge has a steering wheel so your child can control their sledging easier. It also has a reflector strip on the back of the sledge, so if you're out when it's getting dark, it helps keep your little one safer.
One review said: "It's great to drive and is always faster than the others" One customer wrote: "Very nice sledge, great and precise steering. Unfortunately, the plastic at the back was torn very quickly (only used by toddlers). The material should be more stable!"
Pros
- Steering handle
- Reflector on the rear
Cons
- Some mentioned it wasn't that durable
| Dimensions: | 100 x 50 x 20cm |
| Suitable for ages: | 5+ years |
Best children's sledge snowboard scooter
This Fold-Up Snowboard Kick-Scooter comes with an LED light that can change from blue, red and green. It has an easy to hold handle and works as a support to the snowboard base. It's the perfect 'kick and go' sledge for children. It even has strong gripped base for when standing on it.
One customer wrote: "My son loved it. He’s 4. When we opened it, the small light that it comes with, was so loose it almost fell out. He didn’t know it was there so we just took it out. It sounded like there was a piece of plastic loose in the inside but overall worked good. A nice activity for outside in the snow."
Pros
- Super grip deck
- Three LED lights
Cons
- The LED light can come out
| Dimensions: | 91.4 x 24.8 x 78.7cm |
| Suitable for ages: | 6+ years |
Things to think about when buying the best children's sledges
Size: If your child is older, they're most likely to be happy enough sledging on their own, but any younger ones will need an adult rider to sledge with them, so consider how many of you can comfortably fit.
Weight: You're going to want something lightweight that you or your youngster can easily pull back up any hills you fly down.
Robustness: It's important that your chosen sledge is as hard-wearing as possible. After all, sledging is no gentle sport and you'll want it to withstand any lumps and bumps.
Control: While your child might think it sounds fun to let the sledge take them here, there and everywhere, a sledge that can be easily controlled is one of the main safety points you should look for, both for your child and anyone else around.
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Samantha Ball is a Product & Lifestyle Writer for Mother&Baby and freelanced for the website for two years before joining the team full time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits.