Best Toy Vacuums
- Gary B.
- UPDATED June 20, 2019
- in Pretend Play Toys
Best Overall
Casdon
Dyson Ball Vacuum
Imitating household tasks is one important developmental step in pretend play that facilitates a feeling of learning and belonging. Toy vacuums are a popular pick for giving kids a realistic way to pretend that’s size-appropriate, but some have a lot of features while others are pretty one-note. We took a look at 9 great toy vacuum picks to show you what they offer and help you make a choice your child will love.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Casdon Dyson Ball Vacuum
Upgrade Choice
Casdon Little Helper Cord Free Cleaner
Best Budget Buy
Melissa&Doug Lets House Sweep
How to Pick the Best Toy Vacuums
1. Recommended Age
It’s never a bad idea to look at age recommendations for products – in fact, when it comes to kids items, it often means you’re making sure their toy will be safe and simple for them to use. You wouldn’t want to bore an older child with an overly simplistic toy nor confuse a younger child with one that’s complex, so take a peek at the recommended age range before you choose a toy vacuum.
2. batteries Needed
Any time a toy needs batteries, knowing about it ahead of time ensures a frustration free unboxing – kids want their toys to be ready to go, and when they’re not, it can lead to avoidable disappointment. For toy vacuums, batteries are generally the source of any lights, sounds or real suction action, so be aware of the potential need for them.
3. Colors
Favorite colors are a major part of identity establishment in children. While the color of the toy might not matter to some kids, others may have very strong feelings or request a specific shade. If color is a feature you’re keeping your eye out for, be aware that some toys do come with color variations of a single model – this might give you extra options on a model with other great features.
4. Real Vacuum Action
It’s not available on all or even most models, but when it is, it’s a very cool feature that really makes their imitative task feel realistic. The suction isn’t enough to harm a child or perform real heavy duty vacuuming, but it’s immersive, teaches cause and effect and lets them see how real vacuums work, making toys with real vacuum action slightly more teachable than the alternative.
5. Lights and Sounds
Real vacuum cleaners have lights and sounds, and without them, a toy vacuum wouldn’t be as immersive. Most models have light and sound features, but the degree of interactivity and presence of both features varies from model to model. If your kids go wild for light and sound features, make sure to check out what a toy can do before you purchase.
6. Includes
Some toy vacuums are standalone toys, while others are part of a set or come with additional accessories to facilitate imaginative play with their toy. If your child already has a lot of other cleaning toys, you might consider sticking with the standalone, but if this is their first set, accessories can help to encourage them to play with a new toy.
The Winners
#1
Casdon Dyson Ball Vacuum
Best Overall / Best Toy Vacuum That Really Works
This ultra realistic Dyson model actually picks up small debris, so the immersive play experience can’t be topped. It’s easy to clean out the trap, which can empty into a garbage can quickly and be reattached for continued use. The Casdon Dyson Ball Vacuum features real vacuuming sounds and looks just like the latest model – colorful beads inside give an even more active appearance when vacuuming. It’s a great way to encourage kids to independently clean up appropriate messes.
- You'll love: It looks just like the real thing, plus there's actual vacuuming action they'll love
- Watch for: There's choking hazards, so it's not suitable for kids under 3
Recommended Age: 3 – 9 years
Batteries Needed: 4 C batteries not included
Colors: Grey, yellow, red
Real Vacuum Action: Yes
Lights and Sounds: Sounds
Includes: Vacuum
#2
Casdon Little Helper Cord Free Cleaner
Upgrade Choice
It’s uncanny how much this model looks like a real Dyson, so if you haven’t sprung for the adult sized version of the pricey powerhouse yet, you might be a little jealous – you could always borrow this toy, though, which features real suction action that helps kids learn cause and effect and engage in an important life skill. Just like a real vacuum, the Casdon Little Helper Cord Free Cleaner features attachments, and kids must use critical thinking and spatial reasoning to figure out which would be best to clean certain areas (corners, windowsills, stairways, etc).
- You'll love: The accessories encourage kids to use critical thinking and spatial reasoning
- Watch for: There's choking hazards, so it's not suitable for kids under 3
Recommended Age: 3 – 8 years
Batteries Needed: 3 AA batteries not included
Colors: Orange, grey, blue
Real Vacuum Action: Yes
Lights and Sounds: Sounds
Includes: Vacuum
#3
Melissa&Doug Lets House Sweep
Best Budget Buy
Melissa and Doug products are known for driving kids to use their imagination in creative play by eschewing the use of batteries, lights and sounds to encourage them to pretend in their own way. This set, Melissa&Doug Lets House Sweep isn’t a vacuum, but it’s a great pretend cleaning set that really works, featuring child sized versions of a mop, broom, dustpan, duster and brush as well as a convenient storage rack. It’s a cute and sturdy set that looks great in play kitchens and is perfect for teaching basic life skills.
- You'll love: It features child sized working versions of real cleaning tools that are perfect for teaching
- Watch for: There's not actually a vacuum included in this set
Recommended Age: 3 – 6 years
Batteries Needed: No
Colors: Red, blue, green, orange, wood tone
Real Vacuum Action: No
Lights and Sounds: No
Includes: Rack, duster, mop, broom, dustpan, brush
#4
Fisher Price Laugh Learn Stages Vacuum
Best vacuum toy for toddlers
Fischer-Price makes great developmental toys, and this vacuum, Fisher Price Laugh Learn Stages Vacuum offers kids three stages of language development and musical play. Play stages include 6, 12 and 18 months, and parents can easily manually switch the toy between these stages so it can be shared between siblings if desired. It features 30+ songs, tunes and phrases to encourage kids to use their pretend vacuum and their imagination.
- You'll love: There are three developmental play stages which can be switched between easily via a manual switch
- Watch for: Though it's great for toddlers, it will seem too childish to kids over 4
Recommended Age: 6 months to 3 years
Batteries Needed: Included
Colors: White, green, red, yellow, blue, purple
Real Vacuum Action: No
Lights and Sounds: Yes
Includes: Vacuum
#5
Minnie Happy Helpers 2-in-1 Play Vacuum
Featuring an adorable Minnie theme that girls will love, the Minnie Happy Helpers 2-in-1 Play Vacuum toy has real rolling motion with lights and sounds that are just like the real thing. The removable dustbuster in the vacuum’s base pulls out just like typical home models for even more realism. When the vacuum operates, the clear chamber in the device shows swirling bow pieces while also playing lights and sounds – notably, the light and sound features are within the dustbuster, so kids will get the effect when playing with both toys.
- You'll love: The pull-out dustbuster, lights and sounds are all great for creative play
- Watch for: There's choking hazards, so it's not suitable for kids under 3
Recommended Age: 3+
Batteries Needed: Included
Colors: Pink
Real Vacuum Action: No
Lights and Sounds: Yes
Includes: Vacuum, dustbuster
#6
Casdon Little Henry Vacuum
This chunky model features an adorable red and black design with a cheerful face and friendly eyes that make kids want to play. The Casdon Little Henry Vacuum has real suction action, allowing kids to practice small and gross motor skills by having the real vacuuming experience for extra immersive creative play. The vacuum’s canister empties easily, and the cord and plug are on convenient reels, just as they are on real vacuum cleaners. Henry’s accessories fit neatly inside his body for compact storage when not in use.
- You'll love: The design is very cute and the real suction is great for skill development and creative play
- Watch for: There's choking hazards, so it's not suitable for kids under 3
Recommended Age: 3 – 8 years
Batteries Needed: 4 C batteries not included
Colors: Red and black
Real Vacuum Action: Yes
Lights and Sounds: Sounds
Includes: Vacuum with cord, hose
#7
Melissa&Doug Wooden Vacuum Cleaner
As we mentioned previously, Melissa and Doug products are known for encouraging kids to use their own imaginations rather than prompting them through excessive lights, sounds or action features. The Melissa&Doug Wooden Vacuum Cleaner does a surprisingly good job of picking up the 8 included pretend debris pieces for a toy with no motorization, and the checklist helps kids develop matching and identification skills. The pretend debris empties easily from the canister, so kids can vacuum it up again and again.
- You'll love: Kids will marvel at how the toy really sucks up the pieces with no batteries
Recommended Age: 3+
Batteries Needed: No
Colors: Red, blue, yellow, wood tone
Real Vacuum Action: Yes
Lights and Sounds: No
Includes: Vacuum, 8 pieces, checklist
#8
PlayGo 2-in-1 Vacuum Cleaner
Cute and bright, the PlayGo2-in-1 Vacuum Cleaner is a stick vacuum model in neon shades features a removable dustbuster that makes the device look just like the real thing. Vacuum sounds add to the realism as kids push their wheeled toy around, and the sound unit is featured in the dustbuster portion so the realism extends to both toys. It’s a very sturdy build, holding up easily to the inevitable accidental bumps into furniture and walls – but it’s rounded, so those stay safe as well.
- You'll love: There's a pull-out dustbuster that's just like a real 2 in 1 model, plus realistic sound
Recommended Age: 2 – 10 years
Batteries Needed: Included
Colors: Red, blue, green
Real Vacuum Action: No
Lights and Sounds: Sounds
Includes: Vacuum, dustbuster
#9
Hello Kitty Vacuum Cleaner
Hello Kitty is beloved by girls all around the world, and she shines here in this fun vacuum cleaner toy that’s perfect for younger users. Hello Kitty Vacuum Cleaner is small, safe and durable, and it features a removable dustbuster that makes it look just like a grown up vacuum cleaner. Lights and sounds add more immersive elements to the rolling vacuum, and the cheerful heart shaped button adds the extra touch of cute that Sanrio products are known for.
- You'll love: The Hello Kitty theme is great for fans, and lights, sounds and removable dustbuster all encourage creative play
Recommended Age: 3+
Batteries Needed: Included
Colors: Pink, white, blue
Real Vacuum Action: No
Lights and Sounds: Yes
Includes: Vacuum, dustbuster
Quick Decision
Casdon Dyson Ball Vacuum – Best Overall
It features real suction an a lifelike appearance that enhances pretend play
Casdon Little Helper Cord Free Cleaner – Upgrade Choice
Awesome attachments that encourage kids to think critically and use spatial reasoning
Melissa&Doug Lets House Sweep – Best Budget Buy
It’s not a vacuum, but it has child sized working versions of real basic cleaning implements
The best play kitchen for toddler
For your budding chef in the making, you might consider buying a kitchen of their own.! Check out our guide to the best play kitchens for toddlers.
Hannah H.
Hannah is both a parent and a freelance journalist and author. You go, girl! She is an impeccable wordsmith and her warm and witty outlook on life makes her pieces a joy to read.
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