Science has proven that musical expression in toddlers is great for development and coordination and should be encouraged at a young age.1 Drum sets are a fun and active way for children to learn musical skills.
The best drum set I found for toddlers is the IQ Toys My First Drum Set.
I gathered information and compared highly reviewed toddler drum sets, ranking them by quality, practicality, and fun. The list includes electronic and non-electronic drum sets. All sets were created for toddler-aged children, although some sets seem to be made for older toddlers.
Best Electronic Drum Sets for Toddlers
The VTech KidiBeats Drum Set has lights and sounds, measuring at only 11.5″ high and does not include a stool making it more portable, however, the IQ Toys Toddler Drum Set has adjustable volume and sits at 24″ with an included 8″ stool.
IQ Toys My First Drum Set
The My First Drum Set by IQ Toys makes our #1 spot in this list for providing a “full package” drum set that encourages sensory development in a fun way, without the obnoxious sound some drum sets can come with.
Each drum pad and cymbal has its own sound, helping toddlers with sensory development as they connect the sounds with their respective drum parts. Being an electronic drum set, toddlers will enjoy the various modes of play that teach numbers, colors, and rhythm.
Conveniently this 24″ tall set comes with a stool which sits at 8″ providing a nice average height for most toddlers. The option for your child to stand and play or sit and play is nice.
The best part of this drum set is that customers rave over the fact that this set is not annoying! The volume can be adjusted and the sounds are not obnoxious, which is a huge plus for parents.
The only downfall of this set is that it is lightweight (5.6 lbs – which is great for portability) but some customers have complained that the set easily falls down if pushed.
Benefits
- Recommended for 3 years or older
- Sensory development
- Adjustable volume
- Not loud or obnoxious
- Good height for toddlers (drum 24″, stool 8″)
- Chair included
- 4 modes of play (numbers and colors, drum and cymbals, pedal and microphone)
- 5 songs, 10 snippets of songs and 3 different beats
Drawbacks
- Lightweight set could fall easily
Main Point
The IQ Toys My First Drum Set is the best option if you’re looking for a “full” set with stool, without the real (and loud) sound of an actual drum set. The adjustable volume makes listening to your toddler learn and play along that much better!
VTech KidiBeats Drum Set
The KidiBeats Drum Set by VTech comes in second for it’s electronic light and sounds feature and for its portable size.
Toddlers will enjoy hearing specific sounds (drums, animal sounds, silly sounds, DJ voice) and watching the LED lights light up and as they drum on each pad. Nine melodies are included ranging from rock to dance styles.
Since the drum set is only 1.98 lbs, it can easily be taken along on road trips and moved around by your toddler. It does have a short height of 11.5″ which is convenient for kids to sit and play, but some customers complain that they were expecting a taller drum set.
This drum set is not only fun, but educational as well, with play modes including learning letters and numbers. A downfall of this set is that the “talking voice” seems to annoy parents, constantly speaking throughout play.
Benefits
- Recommended for 2-5 years
- Sensory development
- 9 melodies
- 4 modes of play (free, letters, number, follow-along)
- Inexpensive price
Drawbacks
- Small size/height
- Talking background noise
Main Point
For an educational drum set that sits low to the ground, the VTech KidiBeats Drum Set is a great choice at an inexpensive price. If you can tune out the voice that speaks throughout game play, you and your toddler will enjoy this set.
VTech Zoo Jamz Stompin’ Fun Drums
The Zoo Jamz Stompin’ Fun Drums by VTech offers a playful electronic drum set with bass pedal and stool.
Lights and sounds are all over this set in addition to a moving elephant trunk any time the bass pedal is stepped on. A plastic stool is included with this set creating a real-life drumming experience for your little one.
There are various modes of play and buttons to push on the Zoo Jamz Set, providing a variety of play and lots of play time. Unfortunately a huge complaint of this set is that the talking voice just talks way too often, creating annoyance for listeners. In addition, many have complained about the set “glitching,” and repeating itself.
Benefits
- Recommended for 18mo – 4 years
- Cute elephant look
- 4 modes of play (counting, catch the lights, follow the leader, free style)
- 16 melodies, 6 sing-along songs, 4 drum styles
- Includes small stool and bass pedal
Drawbacks
- Annoying talking voice
- Glitchy/repeating same comments too frequently
Main Point
Visually, the Zoo Jamz Drums is easy to want. It’s cute and provides a lot of drumming fun. Unless some manufacturing changes are made, the risk is too high of going crazy from glitches and never-ending talking (unless you don’t mind wearing noise-cancelling headphones).
See more toy ideas for 2 year old boys and toys for 2 year old girls.
Best Realistic Drum Sets for Toddlers
The Mendini By Cecilio Kids Drum Set looks like the real deal with a bass drum and pedal, tom-tom, snare drum, and cymbal. The PlanToys Musical Band – PlanWood is a simple, wooden set that has 2 drum pads, cymbal, and guiro.
Mendini by Cecilio 13 inch 3-Piece Kids/Junior Drum Set
The Mendini by Cecilio 13 inch 3-Piece Kids/Junior Drum Set lands in our #4 spot for providing a true drumming experience for beginners.
Mendini has put together a toddler drum set including the real things: a bass drum (with pedal), tom-tom, and snare drum, plus cymbal. Each drum can be tuned, creating an in-depth learning experience for your future drummer.
Available in several different colors, this set can be tailored more towards your toddler’s likes. It does carry a heavier weight than its competition but is not unreasonable for a smaller version of an actual drum set.
Benefits
- Recommended for 3+ years
- Multiple color options available
- Real tunable drums
- Great for beginner drummer-to-be’s
Drawbacks
- The set is heavy
- High price
Main Point
If you and your toddler are serious about drumming, this is a good starter set. If you’re just looking for a drum set that your toddler may like to play for fun, I’d go with a different, less technical, drum set at a cheaper price.
PlanToys Musical Band – PlanWood
At #3, the Musical Band by PlanToys is a wooden eco-friendly drum set with a more modern aesthetic.
Using leftover sawdust and wood chips from production, PlanToys has created a drum set that is environmentally safe and free from formaldehyde and chemicals. This company seems to have high eco-friendly production standards.
The drum set itself is more of a basic set – no electronics or “real drum” sound. Some customers have complained that for the price, the drum set does not deliver much other than looking cute. A main complaint has been about the cymbal: it tends to fall off easily during play.
Another complaint is about the height of the set. Sitting at 12″, this drum set is shorter than expected and may not be a good fit for older or taller toddlers.
Benefits
- Recommended for 3-6 years
- Eco-friendly
- Promotes intellectual development
- Safe from chemicals
- Noise not overwhelming
Drawbacks
- High price
- Questionable quality (cymbal falls off easily)
- Smaller than expected
Main Point
The Musical Band is more tailored for a younger toddler and overall is a safe and eco-friendly choice. While this wooden drum set boasts a modern look, it does not perform well for the price.
Comparing Drum Sets for Toddlers
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.
| Mendini by Cecilio 13 inch 3-Piece Kids/Junior Drum Set | 9.9 | 9.2 | 133.99 |
| PlanToys Musical Band - PlanWood | 7.3 | 8.8 | 69.97 |
| VTech Zoo Jamz Stompin' Fun Drums | 8.5 | 9.4 | 41.65 |
| VTech KidiBeats Drum Set | 9.9 | 9.2 | 21.99 |
| IQ Toys My First Drum Set | 3.9 | 9.6 | - |
Buying Considerations – Toddler Drums
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of toddler drums is the noise! That’s why you don’t want a real drum set at this age: it’s just too big and too loud. When shopping for the best toddler drum sets, be sure to think about the following features:
- Noise. Think about both the type and intensity of the sound. For example, the Mendini drum set has real drum sound, but it doesn’t have the gimmicky toddler music of the VTEch Zoo Jamz Drums. Also, see if the volume is adjustable!
- Size. Most of these are miniature sized and will fit in a small corner or on a shelf. A few do require some room to operate, so make sure you’ve got the space for your toddler to jam.
- Batteries. I can attest to the fact that a couple of these toys are real power hogs. Invest in some rechargeable batteries now!
- Skills. Can your toddler just go bang around and make some noise, or do they need to have some idea of how drums work? Do they need musical knowledge, or just pent up energy? Keep that in mind when buying. And don’t forget that kids grow fast, so a set that gets played with now and later is a great choice.
FAQ’s for Toddler Drums
Do these drum sets come with a stool?
The IQ Toys My First Drum Set, Mendini 3-Piece Drum Set, and VTech Zoo Jamz Drums come with a stool.
Do I have to assemble toddler drum sets?
The Mendini 3-Piece Drum Set comes with mounting hardware so keep that in mind if purchasing because it will involve some time getting everything put together.
Otherwise, most of these drum sets are more like toys, so they come put together and ready to rock!
What is the age range for toddler drums?
A toddler drum set works well from about ages 2 to 4. Some might be better at a younger age, while some will get use up until the early elementary school age.
Here’s the specifics:
IQ Toys My First Drum Set: 3 years +
VTech KidiBeats: 2-5 years
PlanToys Musical Band: 3-6 years
Mendini 3-Piece Drum Set: 3-6 years
VTech Zoo Jamz Drums: 18 mo-4 years
Do toddler drum sets come with a foot pedal?
The IQ Toys My First Drum Set, Mendini 3-Piece Drum Set, and VTech Zoo Jamz Drums include a foot (bass) pedal. If your toddler truly wants to play drums in the future, this is a good feature to help them get used to the real deal.
Sources
1 https://jooki.rocks/blogs/news/children-and-music-how-songs-help-toddlers-learn-and-grow
