As a parent, I remember the days when my little one began to explore the world on wobbly legs. The joy and yet the constant fear for their safety is a shared sentiment amongst many parents. It was during this phase I discovered the magic of a Pikler Triangle. These ingenious contraptions are more than just play equipment; they are stepping stones to a toddler’s physical development, aiding them as they transition from crawling to standing, climbing, and eventually walking with confidence. The best Pikler Triangles are usually crafted from high-quality wood, embodying a blend of simplicity, safety, and versatility. With options to include slides, climbing ropes, and various other playful attachments, they transform into a playground that grows along with your child.
Choosing the right Pikler Triangle, however, can be a tad overwhelming given the variety of choices available. It’s essential to consider where your child is in their developmental journey. The materials, attachments, and safety features are not just add-ons but necessities that could significantly influence your child’s interaction with the triangle. In the quest to find the perfect Pikler Triangle for my child, I spent hours comparing features, reading reviews, and even testing a few. The result is an insightful buyer’s guide and a compilation of Pikler Triangle reviews that follow. Whether you wish to jump to a specific product review via the links or compare them in the table below, this article is designed to ease your decision-making process, ensuring the Pikler Triangle you choose is a worthy investment in your child’s playful learning journey.
Best all round choice & colourful design – Costzon Pikler triangle
Best original fold-able design – Cassaro climbing triangle
Best adjustable triangle for 1-8 year old – Dripex triangle climber
Pikler Triangle Comparison Table
Pikler triangle Buyers Guide
If you are thinking about buying a Pikler triangle you’ll see that there are lots to choose from. How do you know which one to choose?. In this guide we are going to give you some criteria to consider so you can make the best choice for your child to fully grow and have fun learning through the Montessori method using a Pikler triangle.
How to choose the right Pikler triangle
To be able to let your child improve their grasping, gross motor development and balance skills you need to choose the right tool. Not all of these Montessori triangles are the same. When comparing different options we found that some had very few attachments and others had a lot of attachments to expand the basic triangle structure.
Use of triangle for different age groups
How old your child is and what stage of development they are at is an important factor when buying a pikler triangle. The pikler triangle has different benefits for different age groups.
- 6 months old – At 6 months old your baby will be able to sit up with a little bit of support. A 6 month old can rock back and forth and put some of their body weight on their legs when standing up supported by an adult. A 6 month old is at the beginning of their Montessori method journey. For now they would benefit from a triangle that has space in the middle for them to lie down and be supported all around and able to touch, roll around and hold onto the bars. A very simple and small triangle without many attachments is ideal for this age group.
- 9 months old – At 9 months old is when the fun really begins. A 9 month old can use the triangle to pull themselves along as they crawl around.
- 1 year old – At this age, children can also make use of a ramp attachment and a bigger triangle, ready for when they grow and quickly gain strength and coordination skills. A 1 year old is close to being able to walk and will enjoy standing up using the wooden rungs to help them stand up alone.
- 18 months + Between 18 months and 2 years old children begin to run and also begin to climb up onto chairs and other objects. They won’t yet have the skills to climb up the outside of a pikler triangle but they will be close to being able to and soon they’ll be climbing up and down the outer rungs and building their gross motor skills very quickly. Children this age need a climbing triangle with more attachments to hold their interest.
Shape and size
The shape and size of a pikler triangle varies a lot. The Costzon triangle has steep sides and a large space underneath. This is in contrast to the Dripex triangle which isn’t really a triangle shape as the first adjustment is a cube shape. As you adjust it for older children the triangle does get steeper and more space opens up underneath but the shape is very unique and wide. Out of the three different triangles we review below, the Cassaro is the only product that is the typical triangular shape, with space underneath and fairly even length sides and bottom.
Attachments
There are a number of different pikler triangle attachments. Most brands offer a climbing ramp and slide. Sometimes these are both on the same piece of wood. One side has a smooth surface for children to slide down and when you turn it round there are climbing holds for children to grip onto and climb up the ramp.
3 Best pikler triangles reviewed
Let’s take a more detailed look at our 3 most popular triangles and see which children they are most suitable for, how big they are and which attachments are included.
Costzon Foldable Wooden Pikler Triangle – Best all round choice
Click the image to view the price on Amazon
- Dimensions – 48″ long, 28″ wide and 43.5″ high.
- Age Range – 6 months to 6 years old.
- Attachments – There is a climbing ramp included. it is 47″ long and 14″ wide.
This Costzon Pikler triangle is one of my favourites because the simple pikler design has been expanded with some beautifully coloured rungs. Toddlers can climb up the climbing frame structure. Then you can attach the slide very quickly into place on whichever rung is at the height and angle your children are comfortable sliding down from.
If your children are older and brave you can make the slide steeper and place it higher up the wooden rungs for a faster slide down. Place it lower for younger toddlers to slide gently down.
I feel really happy to recommend this climbing triangle because the design is fun and appealing to toddlers who are excited by the thought of climbing and holding the different coloured rungs. Some toddlers like to say the colours out loud as they touch or climb up each rung. Younger toddlers can crawl underneath the climbing triangle and begin to learn and build the strength to lift themselves up by holding onto the different rungs. You can even cover the wooden triangle with a blanket and make a special secret hideaway.
What makes this Costzon pikler triangle stand out from the competition is the colourful ladder rungs, strong and beautiful natural wood design and the addition of a slide that can be moved onto different height rungs with ease. Youngsters can use this great pikler triangle to start to learn to stand up and eventually when they are older they will be climbing up quickly and sliding down, laughing as they have a lot of fun. Children can make hideaways, climb, slide and spark their imagination to use a pikler triangle for so many different activities.
Choose this Costzon wooden triangle if you want a beautiful looking rainbow colour design with a large play space underneath and a slide / climbing steps that can be attached at different height settings.
Pros
- Space underneath for imaginative play activities.
- Colourful rainbow rungs and visually appealing.
- Slide can be positioned at different heights and angles.
Cons
- The structure is steep and tall. This means it takes longer for younger children to climb all the way up.
Dripex Pikler triangle – Best pikler triangle for young and old children
Click the image above to view the Homi Baby pikler triangle on Amazon
- Dimensions – The Dripex climber can be adjusted to different shapes and sizes. The cube shape is the right height for children younger than 18 months old. The other dimensions are suitable for 1-3 year old, 3-5 year olds and 5-8 year olds depending on which shape you make. The reversible slide / climbing ramp attachment is 47″ long and 19.68″ wide.
- Age Range – 1-8 year olds.
- Attachments – Climbing ramp which can be reversed and turned into a slide.
The dripex climbing triangle has an innovative design that reminds me of a transformer. It is possible to make a triangular shape with this product but it isn’t a regular triangle shape. Let’s compare the different shapes you can change the Drip climber into.
Cube Shape: The first shape is a cube shape. This is great for the youngest age toddlers who are finding the strength to stand up and hold onto a surface. the cube has rungs to make pulling their body weight up much easier and it offers a support to hold onto once they manage to stand up.
Adjustable triangular lowest height setting for 1-3 year olds: The Dripex triangle starts off as a long and low structure. One side has the rungs to climb up on and on the other side the wooden slide can be attached. Children climb up one side and slide down the other. The slant is very shallow making it possible for young children to climb and slide safely. The lowest height setting is suitable for 1-3 year olds.
Medium Height setting for 3-5 year old: At this setting there is space underneath the climber for children to use blankets to make a hideaway. Climbing has become more difficult and more vertical. A 3-5 year old will be able to manage this climb but it will offer a challenge to children a little younger who are developing faster.
Highest triangular climbing frame setting for 5-8 year olds: Now this structure begins to look like a full size climbing frame. With the vertical side walls and rungs and a triangular roof section I think this looks a bit like a house, with a large area underneath for imaginary play, lots of rungs to climb up and a much steeper and faster sliding experience.
The Dripex pikler triangle makes full use of the Montessori method, letting children use it all the way from 1 year old up to 8 years old. The main downside is that the structure is big and toddlers won’t be able to make full use of all the features until they grow however. We did however find a solution to this, which is to raise it up to the higher settings to create a hideaway that young children can crawl into, underneath the wooden triangle.
Choose this option if you want a pikler triangle that will last and have a use for many years.
Pros
- Suitable for children aged 1 to 8 years old.
- Lots of possibilities to adjust the shape and size.
- Easy to assemble because most pieces are already fastened together.
Cons
- Large structure with lots of features young toddlers might not make full use of.
- Takes a little time and patience to fold it up.
Cassaro large folding climbing triangle -Best folding design
Click the image above to view on Amazon
- Dimensions – 31″ length of base, 35″ width, 30″ high.
- Age Range – Cassaro claim 1-8 years but its more suited to younger children between 1 and 5 years old.
- Attachments – No attachments included but Cassaro sell a ramp attachment that you can view further down this page.
This Cassaro large pikler triangle is a thick, solid and stable design with slip resistant grips on the bottom. The spacing of the rungs is very close together so even the youngest toddlers can move easily to the next rung. I like the quality of the thick wooden frame and the dowel rods that form the rungs are solid and don’t twist and turn. Because the rungs are spaced so closely together crawling underneath feels like you are entering a hideaway even before you cover it with a blanket.
After doing some research and comparing different products what we like most about the Cassaro pikler products is that they have created a whole set of products that can be connected together to form a mini obstacle course or larger play structure. Cassaro have manufactured a pikler cube design which is a cube shaped climbing box that children can climb up onto and then move across to one of the other Cassaro pikler products. My favourite add-on for this pikler triangle is the reversible pikler ramp.
One side of the ramp is a slide and the other is a climbing ramp. You can turn it round depending on which side your children would like to use and then attach it to the triangle so they can climb up and slide down or use the ramp to climb onto the triangle. Each of these Cassaro products is designer for toddlers aged 6 months up to around 5 years old. Cassaro have also created a fun Montessori balance board.
Choose this option if it will mostly be used be younger toddlers but you want the option to expand it as they grow older.
Pros
- Simple design that is small and ideal for younger toddlers.
- Space underneath is good for children to create a hideaway.
Cons
- Assembly directions are difficult to follow.
Click the image to view the Cassaro triangle on Amazon
What is a Pikler Triangle ?
A pikler triangle is a triangular shaped children’s climbing toy. The first Pikler was created around 100 years ago in Hungary by Doctor Emi Pikler. This wooden toy can help toddlers learn to crawl by pulling themselves along underneath and then by using the rungs to gradually lift themselves up into a standing position and once they can walk they can learn to climb up and over the top of the triangular ladder design.
The Montessori method of developing , learning and educating toddlers mentions the use of a Pikler triangle because it can be used from toddler age up to 6 or 7 years old and can help develop coordination, physical strength and refine toddlers motor skills. A pikler triangle can help young toddlers to pull themselves up and to stand up before they even learn to walk and gradually they can learn to climb.
Benefits of Pikler triangle
We think it’s important to think about what your child is going to be able to use a pikler triangle for. The idea behind the pikler triangle is that it is a tool that children use to grow and learn how their body works while having fun and playing. Grasping, gross motor development, balance and increasing a toddlers confidence are 4 ways a Pikler triangle helps a toddler develop.
Grasping
Grasping is one of the earliest skills a baby begins to learn. When a baby is between 4 and 8 months old they’ll be able to use the grasp to pick up objects. At around 9 months old babies can begin to learn to crawl. A pikler triangle has lots of rungs on it for your child to practice grasping onto. If the triangle has space underneath it’s possible for them to begin to pull them self along.
Toddlers around 1 year old will be able to grasp onto the smooth wooden rungs. They can learn to pull themselves up into a standing position. At between 18 and 24 months old they can use a Pikler triangle to grasp onto the bars and begin to learn to climb up the rungs. Learning to do this helps build coordination, strength and it is a lot of fun and rewarding for children to climb to the top of a play structure.
Confidence
Choose a Pikler triangle that gives your toddlers as many chances to explore by themselves. Some triangles have different attachments and give toddlers chance to climb, slide and explore different coloured objects. Having the support of the triangular frame beside or around a toddler helps them to grab onto the rungs and support them self instead of having to always hold your hand.
This is a big stepping stone and help in building their confidence to be able to move around and overcome challenges independently.
Gross motor development
Gross motor skills are the movement of your whole body or large muscles groups such as your torso, legs or arms. The pikler triangle helps children develop the ability to use their arms to pull up and move their whole body. After they grow stronger they can use their arms to pull up onto the rungs and then use their feet to push up higher. This is a great toy for helping encourage and support whole body movement.
Balance
Toddlers have a lot to learn in the few few years of their life and balance is an important skill. A pikler triangle can help them out by offering a lot of different rungs in different positions for them to hold. Whether your child is standing up straight of crouched down there will be a wooden rung there to support them while they learn to balance alone.
Where to buy a Pikler triangle
It’s possible to buy a pikler triangle from a number of different retailers. We chose to display links on this page to amazon because we believe it is the quickest and easiest way to buy these products. They have a wide selection available and prices are often discounted. We often see pikler triangles and other wooden climbing toys in specialist toy stores but you will often pay a higher price for them.
Is the pikler triangle safe ?
Pikler triangles are safe for toddlers to climb and play on as long as they are supervised at all times by a responsible adult. Be sure to assemble your triangle carefully and follow instructions. Usually assembly is simple and some triangles come pre-assembled or can be folded into place easily.
Some people like to build their own pikler triangle. If you have the skills it is possible but we wouldn’t recommend it. The companies producing these wooden climbing toys spend a lot of time testing to make sure the products are safe and pass the strict safety regulations, something that isn’t usually possible with a self built pikler toy.
What age children is the pikler triangle suitable for
What makes a Pikler triangle so great for children is that the pikler triangle age range is so wide. The Pikler triangle is versatile because it offers a frame for toddler age children who are crawling to hold onto as they crawl underneath or pull themselves up using the wooden bars.
Children from as young as 6 months can use the triangle to play on all the way up until they are 7 or 8 years old, when they begin to get too heavy for these wooden frames and don’t have a use for them anymore.
Pikler triangle review summary
Choosing any kids toy involves a careful consideration of the products size, weight, age limits and safety features. The best pikler triangles allow for even the youngest toddlers to crawl underneath. Toddlers can learn to grasp, balance and pull themselves along.
As they grow older and begin to walk they can learn to climb and build up their strength and mobility skills as their coordination improves and they can navigate their way up and over the top of the rungs.
Children love to climb from a young age and these climbing triangles give them the perfect tool to help them on their way. Some products have slides and ramps and other fun attachments that can enhance the experience for children who are a little older and can climb over the triangle with ease.
If you aren’t sure which triangle to choose, I’m going to summarise the review to help you out.
The Cassaro triangle is the lowest price and most simple design. When compared with the other triangles it takes up less space and it’s light wood finish looks great. If you really need more activity options you can buy a slide to attach onto the rungs. The Costzon foldable triangle is a similar shape but bigger and much more colourful than the Cassaro triangle and it also comes with a slide attachment.
We recommend the Cassaro triangle as our favourite because the colours, shape with space underneath and the slide attachment means it has everything a young child will need to grow and learn about their body. However, the highest price Dripex pikler triangle offers a different and more advanced climbing experience. They have taken the idea of a climbing triangle and made it suitable and adaptable as your child grows up to the age of 7 or 8. It has a lot of different possibilities and if you are looking for a big structure your children will use for many years, or if you have children in different age groups, it’s a good choice for you. We also wrote about some Pikler triangle alternatives you might like
