The best drum set for toddlers does not have to be pricey. However, it must be highly interactive. Children, especially at a young age need physical and mental stimulation. By playing with toys children can learn a lot of things that stimulate their brains. Toy drums are a great example of toys that target the development of a young child in a few key areas. Not only are their motor skills and hand-eye coordination developed by playing toy drums, but also their aural and musical sense as well.
A child will learn a lot of skills through playing with toy drum sets. A few of these are their motor skills, creativity, and imagination. Starting a child along the path to becoming a drummer will give them a few benefits later in life. Even if they eventually drop playing the drums, they will retain a few values and skills while still learning and practising the drums such as the discipline of practice and creativity.
Still, would it not be proper to provide them with a legitimate drum set to encourage them to actually stick to playing? That would be a parent’s main goal along the way; to give them a hobby that they will love and appreciate. However, an actual drum set has a ton of parts. Heavy parts, potentially sharp parts, pointy parts, and so forth. An older child can play the drums properly. They will be old enough to exhibit discipline and responsibility when playing the drums. For a younger toddler around the ages of 1 to 4 however, a drum set could pose as a possible health and injury hazard. Therefore, it may be wiser to give them the best small drum set for toddlers that are safe yet enjoyable.
What is a small drum set for toddlers?
A small drum set for toddlers is a toy that resembles the way a drum set looks, sounds, and feels without necessarily being an actual drum set. It is a safe-for-children toy that allows them to practice playing rhythms on.

Eventually, as a child ages, they will move on to a proper kid’s drum set or a junior-sized drum set. However, at very young ages such as 2 to 4 years old, a toddler cannot play a proper drum set properly because the parts, especially the sticks, might be dangerous and because they may be too small for one. This is where the best small drum set for toddlers come in. It bridges a gap during a child’s early years for them to transition properly into a proper drum set.
Qualities to look out for when getting a toddler a small drum set:
There are a few considerations a parent must mind to give their young drummers a safe and enjoyable small drum set.
Safe:
The best small drum set for toddlers must be safe. The sticks must be blunted with padding to prevent injuries especially to the eyes and there must be no choking hazards.
Interactive:
An educational toy such as a small drum set for toddlers should be interactive. It should be stimulating to a child’s senses and curiosity.
Top 10 Best Small Drum Set For Toddlers:
HOMILY Drum Set for Kids with 2 Drum Sticks and Microphone

Material: ABS Plastic
Features:
- 5 Drum Pads
- Multiple Music Modes
- Soft LED Lights
- Built-in Microphone
- 10 Built-in Songs
- Padded Drum Sticks
The HOMILY Drum Set for Kids with 2 Drum Sticks and Microphone is a small drum set for toddlers. It has two padded drum sticks that are safe for toddlers. The padded drum sticks prevent them from poking themselves in the eyes when playing with this toy. It features 5 pieces that could be played with the provided sticks. Three of these pieces produce sound when struck with the sticks. This helps a toddler develop their sense of cause and effect which is a great skill to build upon at early ages.
The HOMILY Drum Set for Kids with 2 Drum Sticks and Microphone also features 5 buttons that play different music when pressed. A toddler can develop their aural sense and creativity when listening to these songs.
The HOMILY Drum Set for Kids with 2 Drum Sticks and Microphone is safe and interactive which makes it one of the best small drum set for toddlers.
TOONIT Jamz Girls & Boys Keyboard & Drum Set with Children’s Musical Instruments

Material: ABS Plastic
Features:
- 3 Drum Pads
- Multiple Music Modes
- Soft LED Lights
- Built-in Microphone
- Built-in Keyboard
- 4 Built-in Rhythms
- 8 Built-in Songs
- Padded Drum Sticks
- Record and Play Function
The TOONIT Jamz Girls & Boys Keyboard & Drum Set with Children’s Musical Instruments is one of the best small drum set for toddlers because it features not only a drum set but also a microphone and a keyboard. It is also quite large and can accommodate a small child. When a child is playing with the TOONIT Jamz Girls & Boys Keyboard & Drum Set with Children’s Musical Instruments they sit on the provided stool resembling a drummer playing a drum set. It also comes with a bass drum pedal. This toy truly simulates the feeling of playing on an actual drum set.
It has a record and play function that allows your young drummer to play and record their own songs. This function allows the TOONIT Jamz Girls & Boys Keyboard & Drum Set with Children’s Musical Instruments to be a great tool for building a child’s creativity.
VTech KidiBeats Drum Set

Material: ABS Plastic
Features:
- 3 Drum Pads
- Multiple Music Modes
- Letters and Numbers Learning Mode
- Light-up Drum Pads
- 4 Built-in Rhythms
- 9 Built-in Songs
- Child-safe Drum Sticks
The VTech KidiBeats Drum Set is one of the best small drum set for toddlers because it not only has a drumming function but a learning function as well. With this mode activated, your toddler could hit the drum pads and letters or numbers would be recited by the VTech KidiBeats Drum Set. This is such a great function that helps your child learn important early skills like knowing the alphabet and numbers.
It features 3 drum pads that play scrum sounds or the aforementioned letters and numbers when played with the included child-safe sticks.
CUTE STONE 5 in 1 Musical Instruments Toys, Kids Electronic Piano Keyboard Xylophone Drum Toys Set

Material: ABS Plastic
Features:
- 3 Drum Pads
- 3 Sound Presets for Drum Pads
- 4 Sound Presets for Keyboard
- 4 Modes for Electronic Xylophone
- Interactive Whack-a-Mole Game
- Light-up Drum Pads
- 2 Built-in Microphones
- Padded Drum Sticks
The CUTE STONE 5 in 1 Musical Instruments Toys, Kids Electronic Piano Keyboard Xylophone Drum Toys Set is a feature-packed drum set toy that sports not only a drum pad but also a keyboard and a xylophone. These features make it one of the best drum set for toddlers out there.
The 3 instruments on the CUTE STONE 5 in 1 Musical Instruments Toys, Kids Electronic Piano Keyboard Xylophone Drum Toys Set can be played in different modes. The drums can either play drum sounds, music, or a whack-a-mole game which are sure to give your child hours of entertaining play while developing their sense of music and motor skills. The keyboard on the other hand can play piano sounds, guitar sounds, trumpet sounds, or vocals which familiarizes your child with the major scale of music. The xylophone plays xylophone and glockenspiel sounds or animal sounds and number pronunciations.
The CUTE STONE 5 in 1 Musical Instruments Toys, Kids Electronic Piano Keyboard Xylophone Drum Toys Set is truly a great toy that helps your child learn.
CubicFun 5 in 1 Kids Piano Drum Set Baby Toys

Material: ABS Plastic
Features:
- 4 Drum Pads
- 5 Sound Presets for Keyboard
- 4 Modes for Electronic Xylophone
- Interactive Whack-a-Mole Game
- Light-up Drum Pads
- Child-safe Drum Sticks
The CubicFun 5 in 1 Kids Piano Drum Set Baby Toys is one of the best small drum set for toddlers because like the Padded Drum Sticks The CUTE STONE 5 in 1 Musical Instruments Toys, Kids Electronic Piano Keyboard Xylophone Drum Toys Set it has 3 instruments all in one package.
It features 4 drum pads that not only play drum sounds but also double as a whack-a-mole game that helps your young toddler develop their hand-eye coordination. The other instruments on the CubicFun 5 in 1 Kids Piano Drum Set Baby Toys; the keyboard and the xylophone can play music but also functions as a learning tool. Aside from the music modes, the keyboard and drums can play animal sounds and number pronunciations.
VTech Zoo Jamz Stompin’ Fun Drums

Material: ABS Plastic
Features:
- 5 Drum Pads
- Bass Drum Pedal
- 4 Sound Presets for Drum Pads
- 4 Game Modes
- Light-up Drum Pads
- Child-safe Drum Sticks
Another product from VTech, the VTech Zoo Jamz Stompin’ Fun Drums is a large-sized toddler’s drum set. It features 5 drum pads and a bass drum pedal. Because the VTech Zoo Jamz Stompin’ Fun Drums resembles an actual drum set, even in the way a child plays it, this toy is a great way for your young one to learn to play the drums. It also features a bass drum pedal, making it one of the best small drum set for toddlers for leaning the drums.
The drum pads have 4 sound presets which are rock, orchestral, and 2 animal and silly sounds. It also has 4 game modes that help build your child’s sense of cause and effect and problem-solving skills.
See it in action here.
oathx Baby Musical Toys for Toddlers 1-3 Kids’Drum Percussion Instruments Set

Material: ABS Plastic
Features:
- 1 Tambourine
- 1 Mini Xylophone
- 3 Hand Shakers
- 2 Maraccas
- 1 Pair of Egg Shakers
- 2 Castanets
- 1 Triangle
Here at Basic Drummer, we do not limit ourselves to the drums alone. Other percussion instruments hold a spot for us. Your child should too! With the oathx Baby Musical Toys for Toddlers 1-3 Kids’Drum Percussion Instruments Set, you can provide your child with a set of percussion instruments that help them build their music sense and creativity.
The oathx Baby Musical Toys for Toddlers 1-3 Kids’Drum Percussion Instruments Set features a tambourine, xylophone, hand shakers, egg shakers, castanets, maracas, and a triangle. This plethora of percussion instruments will surely be enjoyed by your child. This is one of the best small drum set for toddlers because they can also learn the value of sharing. After all, the set contains enough instruments to form a small percussion band. Let them play with their friends with the oathx Baby Musical Toys for Toddlers 1-3 Kids’Drum Percussion Instruments Set!
What Kids Want Paw Patrol Drum Kit Set

Material: ABS Plastic | Metal
Features:
- 3 Kid’s Drums
- 1 Kid’s Cymbals
- Child-safe Drum Sticks
Out of all the toys featured in this review, the What Kids Want Paw Patrol Drum Kit Set is the one that most closely resembles a drum set for older children. It essentially is an acoustic drum set with close-to-realistic drum skins and a set of child-safe drum sticks.
With the What Kids Want Paw Patrol Drum Kit Set, your child can learn the feel of playing actual drums which prepare them for a real drum set.
Because the What Kids Want Paw Patrol Drum Kit Set closely resembles an actual acoustic drum set it is one of the best small drum set for toddlers out there.
Reditmo Toddlers Toy Drum Set for Kids

Material: ABS Plastic
Features:
- 3 Drum Pads
- 1 Bass Drum Pad
- Built-in Keyboard
- Built-in Microphone
- Record and Play Function
- MP3 Connectivity
- Child-safe Drum Sticks
Like the other small drum sets in this list, the Reditmo Toddlers Toy Drum Set for Kids has 3 drum pads, 1 bass drum pad, a built-keyboard and a built-in microphone. Truly, with all these features, the Reditmo Toddlers Toy Drum Set for Kids is a great all-in-one package that a young musician in the making will thoroughly enjoy. This makes it one of the best small drum set for toddlers on this list.
What sets it apart from the others however it the record and play function and the MP3 connectivity. A toddler will have the option to records and play their own songs or jam along to their favourite song and nursery rhymes. This will help build your child’s creativity and motor skills.
The built-in keyboard also offers a ton of sound presets making this a great small drum set for toddlers.
Floor Tom Drum for Kids 8 inch Percussion Instrument Music Drum with 2 Mallets

Material: ABS Plastic
Features:
- 1 Floor Tom Style Drum
- 2 Child-safe Mallets
As we said, here at Basic Drummer we do not only cater to drummers of popular genres. Drummers and percussionists come from all musical backgrounds. Maybe your young toddler finds marching bands more interesting. If so, the Floor Tom Drum for Kids 8 inch Percussion Instrument Music Drum with 2 Mallets might be the best small drum set for toddlers for them.
The Floor Tom Drum for Kids 8 inch Percussion Instrument Music Drum with 2 Mallets is simply a floor tom and mallet set combo that allows your child to practice their rudiments early. It features a realistic drum head and mallets which help your child build their coordination and motor skills.
FAQs
Are drums good for toddlers?
Playing the drums is good for toddlers. Drums can provide several benefits for a young child. First, it helps them develop their coordination and motor skills. Second, it helps them build their musical sense and creativity. Third, it also lets them get some needed physical exercise since playing the drums, even on a small drum set for toddlers, are physical activity.
When should kids start drums?
With the products listed here in this review, a toddler can start playing with these toys as young as 1 year old. Letting them play with drum-like toys help them prepare for the actual thing while imparting useful skills that not only help them when transitioning into an actual drum set but also for later in life.
What drums should a beginner buy?
It depends on their age. At ages 1 to 4, a small toy drum set for toddlers will suffice. Because a small and young toddler will be unable to play even a small-sized proper drum set properly and safely, it would be best to give them toy drums. As they grow older, however, if they still show interest and promise in playing the drums, it could be a good time to give them a proper small or junior-sized drum set.
“Interested in buying a drum set for your child, check out our reviews of the best drum sets for kids and beginners here.”
Why buy a toy drum set instead of a real drum set?
A young toddler may be too young to play a real drum set, even the small ones. This is because they may be too small to play them properly. It also takes a certain level of maturity to be able to handle the sticks and the drums properly. A proper drum set also contains a lot of small, sharp, heavy, and pointy parts that may pose a risk to young toddlers.
What are the benefits of a toy drum set for toddlers?
A toddler can learn a lot from playing with toy drum sets. These are mostly both physical and creative skills that can help prepare for situations later in life. physical exercise, motor skills, hand-eye and body coordination, are the physical skill they can learn. On the other hand, they can learn to be creative and imaginative when trying to think up beats and music.
Conclusion:
Just because a child is too young to play the drums, it does not mean they will miss out on the joy that is playing the drums. These small drum sets for toddlers let them emulate playing the drums and learn important skills along the way. Who knows? Maybe one day they will be the next John Bonham? Start them young!