At what age can a child use a slide?
Every child develops at a different rate and while one may be coordinated enough to be up and sliding by 18 months, another might not have enough body control until later.
To use a slide safely, kids need to be capable of climbing, sitting and staying upright, which may be between 18 months and two years. Parents should be confident that their child has the appropriate amount of balance and must use their judgment for each individual, ensuring they are supervised by an adult while they descend. Always note the manufacturer’s guidance on a slide’s age suitability, as some slides have weight limits too.
How to choose the best kids’ slide
There are several factors to take into account when buying a children’s slide:
Where will you put it? Consider whether you’ll be putting it indoors or outdoors and also how much room it will take up – the size of kids’ slides varies considerably, so get out the tape measure before you buy.
How old is your child? Choose a slide suited to your child’s development and take heed of the age guidance on the box.
Number of children: How many kids will be using the slide and will all of them be able to use it?
How much can you spend? With slides costing from tens of pounds to hundreds, choose one to match your budget.
Material: Many kids’ slides are made from plastic, which can be durable and last for years, but there are more eco-friendly alternatives out there too.
Safety features: A toddler slide should be stable and have non-slip steps, with easy-grip handles. High sides are advisable for the smallest of kids.
Extra features: Are you looking for a slide that offers something different from a conventional one, like the option to turn it into a water slide? Or a slide that comes with its own swing set?
What is the best kids’ slide?
The best kids’ slide is the Smoby KS Slide. A robust and sturdy slide with an attractive design, it’s simple to put together, can be used in or outdoors, transforms into a water slide and comes with lots of ergonomic safety features. But best of all, it won’t be outgrown as quickly as some, making it a savvy and long-term buy for most families.
How we chose our recommendations
Our children’s slide suggestions have come from recommendations on the Mumsnet forums and from consumer reviews on the web, taking into account what customers said about the products featured.
We also consulted independent review sites and having collated all that information, we picked the kids’ slides for toddlers and beyond that we thought were worthy of taking the titles in an array of interest categories.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help people make confident purchases.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.