A spring rocking horse is a modern alternative to the traditional rocking horse with bow shaped rocker or a swing stand. Spring rocking horses are good for younger children who may trap their fingers under the rockers of bow shaped horses or in the mechanisms of a swing stand rocker. This makes them a safer option for small children. These horses work by using large springs that support the horse and provide a bouncing motion.

Spring rocking horses take up less space than traditional rocking horses and they do not move around when they are being played on. Spring horses will have a maximum weight recommendation so check this before you buy for your child as a larger weight could stretch the spring and break the rocking horse. Most models are suitable for children aged between 2 and 6 years old.

One of the most well known brands of swing rocking horses is the Radio Flyer Rocking Horse. This company produces a range of models, many of which come with additional sound effects like a galloping sound and horse themed songs when the child is using the horse. Radio Flyer rocking horses are popular with children who love the realistic horse sounds and authentic details like a padded saddle and stirrups.

photo by horiavarlan on flickr

For babies and very young children, a plush rocking horse is a great idea and it’s also possible to buy plush spring rocking horses. These designs are low to the ground and have a gentle bouncing motion that babies and toddlers love. Children love stroking the fur and hugging the soft body of a plush rocking horse. Some versions include a safety seat to hold your child in place while he is playing.

When choosing a spring rocking horse for your child, be sure to choose a model that is recommended for the age or weight of your child. Check that the springs have strong safety covers to avoid the potential for accidents. If you’re thinking of buying a plush rocking horse, try to find out with a removable cover that can be washed – handy for babies and toddlers!

There are so many options of spring rocking horses you can easily choose one to fit the personality of your child. Little girls will love a pink rocking horse or maybe your child prefers a different animal like a sheep or a monkey. There are so many possibilities and different brands of rocking horses available on the market – take your time in choosing the right one for your child.

Rocking horses make a great gift for children of all ages. Wooden rocking horses look beautiful in a child’s room, are strong and sturdy and will be a treasured object for many years that can be passed down from sibling to sibling and even between generations. There are many artisan wooden horses available from skilled craftsmen but these beautiful horses can be very expensive. If you have some experience with woodwork it is a simple task to build your own wooden rocking horse that will be even more special to your child.

Woodworking plans are available from several specialist websites online and hardware stores and shops selling timber often send them. Most plans have instructions for building furniture or small structures like garden sheds but there are also plans available for children’s toys, most notably rocking horses.

Building your own rocking horse rather than buying one has several advantages. You can customize the plans to your own preferences, adding your own design features. You can also scale up the plans to make the rocking horse suitable for an older child. You can even make adult sized rocking horses using a rocking horse plan!

picture by designandtechnologydepartment on flickr

If you’re not already a skilled woodworker, look for a basic plan. Plans are usually marked with the level of skill required, whether this is beginner, intermediate or advance. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and plan everything you need before you start. You’ll need to buy the recommended kind of timber in appropriate sizes and have quality tools including saws, a hammer and sanders. You’ll also need some kind of workbench or ideally a wood working area in your garage or shed.

Once you have some experience of following woodworking plans, you can choose a plan in any style you wish. The more challenging rocking horses will take a little longer to build but you can be sure to achieve impressive results. You don’t have to stick to horses – there are plans available for a whole range of other animals along with motorbikes, boat and airplanes!

There are some free rocking horse plans available on the internet so if you don’t have a lot of money to invest into your project this is a good place to start. However you’ll often find that paid for plans have easier to follow instructions and often contain full size patterns so you don’t need to do any scaling up in preparation. Many sites offer reviews of their plans so you can read through to find a recommended plan that is easy to follow with a good end result. A decent plan will usually not set you back more than 20$.

If you’ve found a rocking horse plan that you love but don’t have enough confidence in your abilities to create it, why not commission a local woodworker? This will obviously cost more than building it yourself but you’re sure to achieve a perfect finish and this is a great compromise to buying commercially available rocking horses.

A rocking horse makes a great gift for a child that will be treasured for many years to come. There are now more types of rocking horse than ever before, so it’s easy to buy a horse suitable for any child, whether they are a baby or toddler or an older child.

If you’re looking for rocking horses for sale, one of the best places to start is on the internet. Many large online toy shops such as Amazon and Toys”R”Us have a larger selection available online and this is a very convenient way to shop as you can have the item delivered to you without needing to leave your house. There are also some toy shops online that specialize in children’s rocking horses which have a great selection and can advise you on the best rocking horse to buy for your child.

If you’d rather try out the rocking horse you’re considering buying before you put down the cash, large department stores and larger branches of toy shops will have display models. This lets you be sure that the size of the horse is right for your child. This is particularly important if you’re buying a large rocking horse as you can get a better idea of the space it will take up in your home.

Flea market rocking horse picture by gozalewis on flickr

Sometimes you can get a great bargain on second hand toys including rocking horses by looking in the classifieds in newspapers and websites such as Craigslist or Freecycle. This is a handy way to get expensive toys for next to nothing and often they will be in good condition with very little use. You could also ask around friends and family who have grown up children – sometimes they have large toys taking up space in the garage or attic and they’ll be happy for you to take them off their hands.

Some woodworks and crafts people also specialize in making beautiful wooden rocking horses that can often be customized to your requirements. Buying a wooden rocking horse is likely to be more expensive than a mass produced one but they are truly beautiful objects that will look gorgeous in your child’s room and be a treasured plaything that can be passed down from child to child. To find a crafter of wooden rocking horses you can try searching online or looking in your local business directory. If you’re taking a holiday to a country known for its woodcraft, it may well be worth commissioning a wood rocking horse while you’re there. This will usually be much cheaper than buying it in your own country, even factoring in the cost of shipping.

For antique rocking horses you can also try looking on the internet. Try auction sites such as EBay, or there are several websites that specialize in the restoration and reselling of antique wooden rocking horses. Make sure there are lots of photographs of the horse you’re considering buying and that any damage is described. Try to buy from a reputable seller with good feedback from previous customers.

You can also pick up antique rocking horses at auction houses and estate sales. Sometimes you may even be lucky enough to pick up a bargain at a yard sale or a junk shop. Be careful to do your research before you buy and inspect the horse thoroughly. For auctions have a set price in mind and try not to get carried away with the atmosphere and bid too high!

Rocking horses are a toy that was traditionally meant for older children, however in these modern times there is a wide selection of rocking toys designed specifically for use by babies and toddlers. A large rocking horse is obviously unsuitable for a baby but these new versions are close to the ground and designed to be safe, cuddly and friendly for small children.

The most popular style for babies and toddlers is the plush rocking horse. These cute toys are basically large sturdy cuddly toys with rockers attached and are suitable for children up to the age of two or three. They look great in a nursery and come in a dazzling array of different creatures. You can choose from elephant, butterfly, cow, dinosaur, dog, giraffe, frog, sheep, butterfly and more!

Little girls will love to own a pink rocking horse and there is a great selection available from different manufacturers in a whole range of designs. A pink pony plush rocking horse looks great in a little girl’s bedroom.  You can even buy a My Little Pony rocker for fans of the popular characters.

baby rocking horse picture by jessicafm on flickr

If you want to go down a more traditional route, there are also some lovely wooden rocking horses designed specifically for babies and toddlers. These horses are basically a rocking seat in a horse shape that will support your child comfortably like a high chair. Babies love the smooth rocking motion of a rocking chair and they make a good alternative to a bouncer seat.

Baby rocking horses make a great gift for baby showers for any prospective parent. For a really special gift you can buy a baby rocking horse gift set which comes with coordinating booties, rattle, photo album and blanket in pink or blue depending on whether the baby is a boy or a girl. Few people are likely to think of this idea as a gift so it’s a great idea for the mother who has everything.

Safety is paramount when choosing a children’s rocking horse and rockers designed specifically for toddlers should have extra support for added safety. Do not let your child play on their rocking horse unsupervised, as little fingers are easily trapped under the base of the rocker. Small babies should be held in place on the rocker until they are old enough to support themselves. Make sure that the rocker you choose is not too high for your child as this can also be intimidating for a toddler.

The first version of what we know today as rocking horses were designed to train soldiers in swordsmanship and skills for battle. These wheeled horses were used by adults but eventually smaller child size versions were produced to prepare young boys for following their fathers into battle.

As the rocking horse became more of a children’s plaything than a training tool, rich families began to buy wooden rocking horses for their children. These first horses were hand carved by skilled craftsmen and considered an expensive toy for the privileged. Queen Victoria herself purchased a rocking horse, further increased their popularity and reputation as a ‘must-have’ toy for children of the rich.

These original Victorian rocking horses are now highly sought after collector’s items. An antique rocking horse is truly a work of art, carved with fine craftsmanship that is not often seen in children’s toys today.

antique rocking horse picture by joeflintham on flickr

London was the center of wooden rocking horse creation during the 19^th century, with high respected manufacturers such as FH Ayres and G&J Lines producing horses to be sold in large department stores such as Selfridges, Harrods and Hamleys.

The original wood rocking horse was based on a bow rocker design, but when their popularity spread to America, a new version was created with a swinger base. This new design had advantages over the rocker style as it required less space to use and did not move across the floor as it was rocked.

The production of antique rocking horses slowed during World War I due to a lack of materials, workers and the economic decline, however rocking horses are now making a comeback as today’s skilled wood workers recreate the charming designs that were so popular in their heyday.

The development of modern technology has made it much quicker and easier to produce beautifully carved wooden horses and skilled artisans now produce these for parents today so that their children can enjoy a beautiful and traditional rocking horse toy made from a natural material.

Modern rocking horses are not only the domain of hand crafters. Large toy companies have also recognized the increasing interest in rocking toys and now mass-produce cheaper versions for families of all budgets to enjoy. One of the significant developments in modern rocking horse development is the baby rocking horse. Traditional rocking horses were designed for older children but now it is possible to buy a plush rocking horse for your baby or toddler which is safe and friendly to use.