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Gymnic Rody Hopping Horse: Worth the Investment?

Ranked #3,003 in Hobbies, Games & Toys, #30,727 overall

A Bouncing Good Time for Any Toddler with Rody Hopping Horse!

Got a young child with plenty of energy to spare? Get them hopping, bopping and rocking with Rody! This inflatable horse is tough enough to withstand any toddler and get them jumping for joy.

The original Rody Hopping Horse from Ledraplastic is made in Italy and helps children learn balance and coordination while having fun. (Sneaky, huh?) It's the perfect toy for any toddler for that reason - this is the stage at which they're trying to master those basic motor skills.

Rody is made of super strong and soft vinyl - latex free and no phthalates - and complies with all U.S. and international safety standards. He inflates to a saddle height of 12" (keep that in mind when deciding if your child is tall enough to do more than sit on him) and is safe for indoor and outdoor use. Just make sure if you take him outside that he isn't bouncing on uneven surfaces or in places where he might get punctured by sharp objects.

So - Rody isn't the cheapest hopping toy out there. Is he worth it? He is to me (which is why he's going on the list for birthday gifts for my niece and nephew). The more than 50 reviews I read all touted his sturdy material and joy of the child. Sounds like he's a toy that will get a lot of use and be able to take the abuse toddlers dish out.

Get Free Super Saving Shipping When You Buy Rody!

And like the lime green? It's up to 20% off every day at Amazon.

One Five-Year-Old's Tips for Using Rody

With help from her little brother and her mom, of course!

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Rody Comes in a Rainbow of Colors

Which shade is your favorite for an inflatable hopping horse?

Just a few of the wide range of colors you can get Rody in! Find more like purple, black, white, mocha and peach here.
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Accessories for Rody Hopping Horse

Rocker for double fun and a pump for the most bounce

Now, you can probably blow Rody up yourself. It'll take a little while and if you can handle your toddler's anxious pleas for you to hurry up, go for it. But to get Rody (or the hopping balls) blown up quickly and thoroughly, consider getting the Faster Blaster Double Action Air Hand Pump from Gymnic. It'll make the job go easier and faster and - bonus! - save 40% when you add it to your Rody order! Yes, it's a hand pump, but you'll be surprised how quickly Rody inflates with it.

Rody doubles as a rocking horse as well, great for a really young child or one who doesn't quite have the bouncing coordination yet. (Not something to worry about. Part of the point of buying a hopping toy is to help them develop those muscle skills!) To turn Rody into a rocker, you'll need the Gymnic Rockin Rody base. Slide his legs into the holes and you have a whole new game.

Blowing Up Rody and Putting Him in the Base

It's just this easy to get him ready for bouncing fun!

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More Colors of the Gymnic Rody Hopping Horse

There's a color for everyone!

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How Do Other Hopping Animal Toys Compare?

Taking a look at the Back To Basics Hop-Along Horse

Now, to each his own and maybe I'm a design snob, but the Hop-Along Horse from Back to Basics just isn't as cute as Rody. (And yes, the fact that Gymnic's hopping horse has a name could have something to do with it. :-)

That said, the Hop-Along Horse is two inches shorter and suitable for two-year-olds (Rody is listed for three and up) so if you have a younger or shorter child, that might be something to consider. It's also significantly cheaper than Rody, but only comes in blue and pink. (Me? I'd want orange or lime green!)

I couldn't find anything on the Back to Basics site to tell me what their horse is made of, so be warned it could include latex. Definitely consider spending more for Rody in that case as he isn't made with latex. Also, the Back to Basics horse doesn't have the option of the rocker base, another thing that could be useful with a younger child, but may or may not be important to you. The final kicker for me is customer ratings. While the ones from people who ordered directly from Back to Basics were generally good, Rody customers were generally much more satisfied with their purchase than those buying this hop-along horse.

Want a Different Hopping Animal?

Try a dog, cow, bunny and more options for hopping toys

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More Hopping Toys from Gymnic

Same great quality, just in a bouncy ball shape!

A lot of parents go for the hopping animals with younger children, thinking they can manage the bigger toy more easily than the bouncing ball. But a Gymnic hop ball might be a better choice for a long-term investment because it can handle higher weights and bigger kids (including the adult ones!) than the hopping horse.

As with Rody, the hopping balls are made from super soft and strong vinyl, free of latex and phtalates. You can use it indoors or outdoors (on a smooth safe surface, of course) and work on that body coordination and balance while getting some fun exercise. The smaller ball pictured here is 18" but can handle up to 300 pounds. Try underinflating it if you have a smaller child as that will help them reach the ground better.

More Gymnic Hop Balls for Bouncing Fun

Great for when your child grows too big for Rody

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SusanVillasLewis

Idea hamster. Design lover. Makes things happen. Random crafter. Voracious reader. Liberty lover. Marginal shooter. Singer. Writer. Marketer.

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