One of the most common brands that I am asked about when it comes to inflatable bouncers is Little Tikes. Most parents see them as a toddler-friendly brand geared mostly toward younger kids, and they assume that their bounce house products aren’t as durable or reliable, especially as kids get older.
The great news is that Little Tikes has a very broad range of products in the inflatable category and many of them are capable of handling your kids as they grow for many years to come.
I do want to be clear, the brand is definitely geared toward younger children. However, with good overall build quality and material durability, they’re certainly tough enough to tolerate the older ones.
These are my five favorite Little Tikes bounce houses. I’ve tried to condense the material down to just the crucial information to help you make the easiest decision.
#1. Little Tikes Jump and Double Slide Bouncer
The Jump and Double Slide Bouncer is a slight twist on the classic Jump and Slide Bouncer, but the addition of the extra slide makes all the difference in the world. My kids got so much more use out of this unit than any other, and seemed to have a lot more fun while using it.
With that said, my boys have also gotten more bumps and bruises along the way. Maybe it’s just them (it seems to happen no matter what the surroundings are), but the inside slide definitely adds to the intensity of the experience.
User Ratings
This unit is very highly rated, generally receiving ratings close to five stars (check the current ratings here). And it has maintained those ratings over a long period, and with a high overall number of reviews.
In general, people love how much joy their kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews get out of this unit. The quality of material is highly regarded by many, but honestly most people just love how their kids can use it for hours at a time, ending up exhausted at the end.
The biggest complaints people have about this unit are the size of the jumping area and difficulty getting the bouncer fully back into the storage bag. Also, if you plan to use it indoors, it sounds like the blower will be too loud for casual conversation, but not loud enough to prevent you from using it.
The jumping surface is small compared to others. This is due to the additional slide in this unit, so that is the trade off here. You’ll have to decide if the extra slide is worth a smaller jumping area. My kids seem to enjoy it but like I say, they do wrestle more in this one (probably due to the smaller size).
Pricing
Brand new units are currently priced at $476.42. Compared to other units with these features, the pricing pretty much falls right in line where it should. Prices do vary as well, and this unit is commonly on sale, but you can always find the latest prices here on my site, along with an accurate date of when that price was last updated.
If bouncing surface and price are both issues, you might consider the Shady Jump ‘n Slide Bouncer which offers a larger jumping surface (due to only having one slide) and generally a lower price tag as well.
#2. Little Tikes Rocky Mountain River Race Inflatable Slide Bouncer
I had a hard time ranking this one second because it’s an outdoor unit and designed to be used with water, but it’s a rock solid slide that deserves some attention.
With dual slides and a large climbing wall going up the middle, this thing can easily entertain 3 or 4 kids at once. And even though it’s designed to be used with water, your kids should have no problem using it dry.
The unit itself weighs about 47 pounds and has a maximum recommended weight of 350 pounds. Up to 4 kids can safely use the unit at a time (but you can usually get away with one or two more - use common sense as always).
User Ratings
This unit is very well rated, generally having a rating above 4 stars over time. With a substantial number of reviews, this rating should be very reliable.
People love this unit, as with most inflatables, primarily because of how much fun their kids have with it. It receives good ratings for its quality and durability, but the design is the main thing that stands out. The middle climbing wall, safety netting up top, and ideal pool depth set this unit apart from the others.
The downside with this unit is that the use of water can complicate the process of setting it up and putting it away once you’re done. You’ll have to make sure that water won’t get near the blower or cord, and you’ll have to deal with all the water once you’re done using it.
A good idea is to dump out the water when you’re done, then move the unit to a new area of the yard, re-inflate, and allow it to fully dry while blown up. Some users have reported mold on the unit due to not being properly packed up after using, so this can help prevent what seems to be the biggest problem with this unit.
Pricing
This model is generally priced around $400-500 but does go on sale regularly, especially during fall and winter months. Most other double water slides come in right around that range as well, with this unit being one of the higher-quality units in the category.
If cost is an issue, you should consider the Slam ‘n Curve Slide, which is basically a half-size version of this model. It’s also very highly-rated with a fair number of reviews, and is definitely worth consideration.
#3. Little Tikes Slam 'n Curve Slide
If the Rocky Mountain River Race Slide is too big for you, or if you only have one kid, you should consider the Slam ‘n Curve Slide. It’s basically the half-size equivalent of the River Race unit for a (slightly) lower price.
This unit is designed to be used by up to 3 kids, with a total weight limit of 350 pounds. With a larger unit I would say you could have 4 to 5 kids in it at once, but due to the smaller size of this unit keeping it to 3 kids or less really is for the best.
The product itself weighs about 44 pounds. You’ll probably notice that most of its stats are comparable to the Rocky Mountain River Race unit. If space is not an issue for you, I would highly recommend pursuing that slide over this one, as you really are getting much more bang for the buck.
User Ratings
This is another highly-rated unit from Little Tikes. Generally right in between four and five stars, this unit also has a very high total number of reviews, so you know the data is reliable. You can check the current ratings on Amazon if you want to know specific numbers.
The positive feedback for this unit is the ease and speed of the setup process and, big surprise, the amount of fun everybody’s kids have on this thing. As long as you know what you’re getting into and understand the size of the unit ahead of time, you’ll generally be happy with your purchase.
Pricing
Price is definitely an area where this unit struggles, relative to its competition. Generally coming in between $300-400, the price of this unit is surprisingly similar to other much larger units. If you can afford to spend $50-100 more, you can get a larger unit that will handle more kids at once.
If space is a consideration, or if you really believe that you’ll only ever have a small number of kids using this slide, it would probably be wise to consider a larger inflatable slide, such as the River Race slide, reviewed above.
#4. Little Tikes Shady Jump n Slide Bouncer
The Shady Jump ‘n Slide Bouncer is another twist on the classic Jump ‘n Slide Bouncer, this time featuring a permanent top. The main goal of the top is to allow your family to use the unit outdoors, and when it comes down to it, the top is actually very helpful.
Most parents love using their inflatables outside, and most kids love jumping for hours at a time. When you put the two together, you have to worry about things like sunburn and heat exhaustion. The top on the Shady Jump ‘n Slide puts your mind at ease, providing cooling shade and relief from the sun’s UV rays.
User Ratings
Typically coming in well above four stars, and with hundreds of user reviews, this is a thoroughly reviewed unit that gets overwhelmingly positive feedback. The issues are, as usual with Little Tikes, the short duration of the warranty. Also, the fact that the material is less than commercial grade has left some owners feeling, well, let’s just say disappointed.
Pricing
Usually coming in the range of $200-300, this bouncer is a great deal compared to most others out there. And when you compare it to the original Jump ‘n Slide, it’s usually only around $50 more. As always, these things go on sale all the time, so you should check Amazon for the latest pricing information.
#5. Little Tikes Dunk N Toss Bouncer
The Dunk ‘n Toss Bouncer is another twist on the classic Jump ‘n Slide, this time including a basketball hoop and target outside of the bouncer. These extras won’t knock your socks off by any means, but they will add to the possibilities as your kids jump and play on the unit.
The hoop is awkwardly positioned, so you’ll be fetching the ball a lot when your kids throw it out. On the plus side, having the target outside means that you’ll have something fun and engaging to do for the kids who are waiting their turn to jump.
User Ratings
This gets a solid rating, usually around four out of five stars, but compared to other Little Tikes bounce houses it has a low number of reviews.
One interesting thing about the reviews for this particular model is that very few even mention the basketball hoop and target. Everybody always loves the bouncing, but in this case the other features seem to get lost in the shuffle.
As usual, some units come with defects - holes or problems with stitching in some areas. A few users have reported their bouncers being unstable due to large holes in one or more places in the material.
Price
One of the great things about this model is the price. This unit usually comes in right around $200. While it is priced a little bit higher than the plain Jump ‘n Slide bouncer, the difference is negligible. And while the hoop and target might not stand out as game-changing features, they’re worth the few extra dollars that they’ll cose.
Conclusion
There you have it - five solid Little Tikes bounce houses (and inflatable slides) that’ll keep you and your kids busy for years to come. Honestly, when it comes down to it, there isn’t really a wrong way to go if you’re looking to buy a Little Tikes bounce house, but hopefully this list of some of my favorites will help you and your family with your decision.