The 10 Best Teeter Totters
Updated by · How we research
Ten backyard and playroom seesaws compared on age fit, ride type, riders and upkeep. The Simplay3 Rock and Roll leads for toddlers and preschoolers. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Federal playground guidance says hinged seesaws, the kind that pivot in the middle, aren't recommended for toddlers or preschoolers, because two riders must time their pushes and one can drop hard when the other hops off. Low rockers suit the youngest; classic and spinning boards suit older kids. Teeter totter is simply the American name for a seesaw.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
A low plastic rocker, the Simplay3 Rock and Roll, now leads this list. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's playground handbook says hinged seesaws aren't recommended for toddlers or preschoolers, so for the youngest riders a rocker is the safer start. The Lifetime Ace Flyer, Gym Dandy TT-210, Gym Dandy TT-360, Grow'n Up Heracles and Nova 4-Seat Swivel all stay. The SlideWhizzer Rocking and the Eastern Jungle Gym Swing are gone because of availability concerns.
New picks fill gaps: the Gym Dandy Pendulum TT-320 for a smoother swing, the Hey Play Teeter Totter for small playrooms, the Stargo CC-1006 for a seesaw that adjusts as kids grow, and the Costzon 2-in-1 Rocker for three riders. We weighed the CPSC's seesaw and surfacing rules, makers' age and weight ratings, and owner reports of chipped paint, rust and tipping, and found no seesaw recalls for any brand here.
Earlier notes
April 20, 2021, by Sheila O'Neill:
We removed a number of selections in this update due to availability issues. In replacing them, we considered several factors including durability, safety, and variety. Note that several of these toys are only meant for toddler-age kids, so pay close attention to the size and weight capacity of each before you buy.
New to the list, the Simplay3 Rock and Roll is a versatile choice that can turn into a bridge with three textured steps when flipped over. The bridge side can encourage fitness for little ones and would fit in nicely with a home obstacle course. The seesaw side resembles a little boat, so it's a good choice for toddlers who are going through a pirate phase.
We added the Nova Playground because it's a full-size model that can accommodate four kids at once. However, it works just as well with two kids, so you don't need to fill it every time. It features bump absorbers that reduce the impact of hitting the ground and prevent the seats from slamming into your children's feet.
If you have a kid who has balance issues and you worry that they might fall off a traditional model, they can probably handle the SlideWhizzer Rocking. It has wide seats and stays low to the ground. Plus its rocking motion is gentler and impact-free.
The Eastern Jungle Gym Swing is not, strictly speaking, a teeter totter, but we thought that the up & down, back & forth motion it provides made it fair game for the list. And if you already have a jungle gym taking up space in your backyard, it might be a better choice than a new piece of standalone equipment.
We also added the Grow'n Up Heracles, which has a fairly simple design with a few notable features like molded seats and soft foam handles. One thing it lacks, however, is a bump absorber. This means that it's possible for the seat to hit the ground directly, and that feet can get smashed or caught underneath. However if you think your children can learn to simply keep their feet out of the way and be careful while playing, this sturdy and affordable model might be a good choice for you.
March 19, 2020, by Karen Bennett:
Like tree swings and play slides, teeter totters have provided little ones with loads of fun for many generations. The colorful, modern designs on our list are safe and sturdy, and many conveniently require little to no assembly. The newly added TP Toys Spiro Spin lets kids rotate as they go up and down, for double the fun. It features foam pads that help protect your floors, and its hollow base allows you to fill it with sand for added stability. It’s got inflatable rubber wheels and an adjustable balance point to accommodate riders of different heights.
We also added in the Pure Fun 360 Swivel, and what makes this model stand out is an attachable phonetic counter that recites numbers and letters as kids go up and down, which adds a learning element to the fun. It’s also made with safety in mind, featuring soft padded grips and heavy-duty steel tubing. The manufacturer provides a helpful step-by-step assembly video online.
Today we added in the Little Tikes Alligator, a cool green rocker with bright eyes that can accommodate up to three kids at a time. It runs five feet in length and features sturdy red handles. Like the Little Tikes Whale, this one requires absolutely no assembly, cleans easily with soap and water, and is made in the USA.
Leaving the list today are the Skywalker Sports Swivel, which many find difficult to assemble, as well as the Step2 Play Up, which is unavailable at this time. Practice seesaw safety by teaching kids to keep their hands wrapped around the handlebars during use (and feet planted on the footrests, if provided), and always supervise them during use.
Special Honors
Landscape Structures We-Saw Landscape Structures, a commercial playground maker, builds the We-Saw for schools, parks and other public play areas. It rocks gently rather than dropping, and it's designed for children of different ages and abilities. Riders walk in instead of climbing over a bar, and the deck is wheelchair accessible, with four seats and a center platform for more riders. It's sold through the maker's dealers, not as a backyard toy, so it suits schools, churches and towns planning an inclusive playground. playlsi.com
Teeter Totter Or Seesaw, And Which Kind To Get
A pendulum seesaw hangs the seat arms from a hoop, which makes a swinging arc instead of a drop.
They're the same thing. A teeter totter is a board or pole with a seat at each end, balanced on a pivot in the middle, and the riders take turns pushing off the ground. "Teeter totter" is the common American word, and "seesaw" is used nearly everywhere else (Wikipedia). The CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook uses both names for the same design.
Home models come in four main types. A classic single-pivot seesaw, like the Gym Dandy TT-210, goes straight up and down. A spinning seesaw adds a swivel at the center post, so riders can turn in a circle while they bob; the Gym Dandy TT-360 rolls on wheels under the seats, while lighter stands like the Grow'n Up Heracles simply pivot. A pendulum seesaw hangs the seat arms from a hoop, which makes a swinging arc instead of a drop. Rockers, such as the Simplay3 Rock and Roll and the Costzon 2-in-1 Rocker, sit on curved bases and have no pivot at all.
Group units are the fourth type. The Lifetime Ace Flyer links two boards under an airplane-shaped frame for up to seven riders.
Match The Ride To The Child's Age And Weight
The CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook (section 5.3.5) says fulcrum seesaws, the kind with a pivot in the middle, are not recommended for toddlers or preschool-age children, because two riders have to cooperate to ride safely. Spring-centered seesaws are fine for preschoolers, because the centering spring keeps one end from slamming down when a child hops off. The handbook also calls for partial car tires or other shock-absorbing material under the seats, so legs can't get pinched and landings stay soft.
In practice, that means a low rocker for children under about four, and a pivoting or spinning seesaw once kids can take turns and hold on. Low plastic planks like the Hey Play Teeter Totter sit close to the floor, but one end still drops when a rider gets off, so an adult should stay nearby.
Check whether a weight rating is per seat or for the whole seesaw. The Nova 4-Seat Swivel is rated for 450 pounds in all but 110 pounds per child, while the Hey Play plank allows 55 pounds per child. These are kids' toys: an adult who sits on one can bend the frame or tip it, even if the total rating looks high.
Space, Ground Cover And Upkeep
The CPSC's Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook asks for at least 6 feet of clear space around play equipment and shock-absorbing surfacing that extends 6 feet beyond it. Grass and dirt don't count as protective surfacing, because they wear thin and pack hard. Never set a seesaw on concrete or asphalt. The public-playground handbook recommends at least 9 inches of loose fill, such as wood chips, engineered wood fiber, sand or pea gravel, or 6 inches of shredded rubber. Indoors, a rocker or low plank belongs on a rug or a thick play mat.
Big units need more room than their size suggests. Lifetime recommends a safety zone of about 21 by 21 feet for the Ace Flyer. Measure the yard before you buy.
Powder-coated steel seesaws are sturdy, but the coating chips where seats and handles rub, and bare spots rust. Wipe the frame dry after rain, touch up chips with outdoor metal paint, and retighten the bolts each season, since seats and handles can work loose. Follow the maker's anchoring instructions so a spinning model can't walk across the lawn. Plastic rockers only need a rinse, though long sun exposure can fade them.
How we researched this
We compared 16 teeter totters and seesaws, read the makers' and sellers' specs for age range, weight limits and materials, studied owner feedback for patterns like paint wear, rust and tipping, and checked every brand against Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls. Safety guidance comes from the CPSC's public and home playground handbooks. We found no independent lab tests of home seesaws.
Frequently asked questions
Is a teeter totter the same as a seesaw?
Yes. Teeter totter is the usual American name, and seesaw is used almost everywhere else. Both mean a board with a seat at each end that pivots in the middle.
What age is right for a teeter totter?
For toddlers and preschoolers, choose a low rocker or a spring-centered seesaw. The CPSC doesn't recommend pivoting seesaws until kids are old enough to coordinate with a partner, which usually means school age. Always check the maker's age range.
Can adults ride a kids' teeter totter?
No. Home seesaws are rated for children, often 55 to 135 pounds per seat, and an adult can bend the frame or tip it. Look at the per-seat limit, not only the total.
Can you use a teeter totter indoors?
Yes, if it's made for it. Low plastic planks, plastic rockers and light swivel models work on a rug or play mat. Large steel seesaws belong outside on soft ground.
What goes under a backyard seesaw?
Use shock-absorbing material such as wood chips, engineered wood fiber, sand, pea gravel or shredded rubber, extending at least 6 feet around it. Grass and dirt wear thin, and concrete or asphalt is never safe.
What is a spinning seesaw?
It's a seesaw on a swivel, so riders can turn in a circle while they go up and down. Some people call it a teeter swing. Spinning models are more thrilling, and riders can slide off, so they suit older kids.
