Play & Party Hire
Toddler play hire scaled for one and two year olds, not five year olds
A standard soft play set is built for a room of under fives. Toddler play hire is the smaller, lower, gentler version, with equipment sized for children who have only recently started walking.
Toddler play hire sits between a ball pit and a full soft play set. Lower steps, smaller slides, softer edges, tunnels, rockers and often sensory pieces like textured mats or mirrored panels. The scale is the entire point.
It suits the first and second birthday almost perfectly, because it gives children who are still finding their feet something they can succeed at rather than something they have to be lifted onto.
It also fits indoors more easily than most play hire, which matters when a party has ten babies, twenty adults and a forecast that could go either way.
Who it suits
Toddler play, soft play or a ball pit
The three overlap, and suppliers use the names loosely. This is the practical difference.
| Option | Age it is built for | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Ball pit | 1 to 5 | Small space, small guest list, photos matter most |
| Toddler play hire | 1 to 3 | Several babies and new walkers, indoors or a small yard |
| Soft play hire | 1 to 5 | Six or more under fives who need occupying for hours |
| Jumping castle | 3 and up | Older siblings, and only in a separate zone |
What you are booking
What toddler play hire includes
Sets are smaller than standard soft play, so check what is actually in the package rather than assuming.
Usually included
- Low foam shapes, steps and a small slide
- Soft tunnels and crawl through pieces
- Rockers or ride on pieces sized for toddlers
- Matting under the whole area
- Soft fencing on most sets
- Delivery, setup, sanitising and pack down
Worth asking about
- Whether sensory pieces are included or an add on
- Whether a small ball pit comes with the set
- The footprint, which is often smaller than standard soft play
- Whether it can be set up on carpet or timber flooring indoors
- Whether the set can be split across two rooms if space is tight
Planning a toddler party
Two hours, around the nap, is the whole plan
The equipment is the easy part. The timing is what makes a one year old's party work or fall apart.
Before you book
What to check for a toddler set
Scale and surface are the two things that actually differ from a standard soft play booking.
- What are the step and slide heights, and what age is the set built for?
- What is the footprint, and can the set be split across two spaces?
- Can it be installed on carpet, floorboards or tiles?
- Are sensory pieces or a ball pit included, or are they extra?
- What is the cleaning process between hires?
Get quotes
Tell us the ages and the room
For this age group the room matters as much as the equipment, so tell us where it is going.
- Say how many children under three are coming
- Tell us indoors or outdoors, and the flooring
- Mention if there are older siblings who need something else
Questions parents ask
Toddler play hire questions
What is the difference between toddler play hire and soft play hire?
Toddler play hire is the smaller, lower version. Shorter step heights, gentler slides, more crawl through and sensory pieces, and a smaller footprint. Standard soft play is built for a wider under five range and is usually a bigger set. See soft play hire if the group skews older.
Is toddler play hire worth it for a 1st birthday?
For most first birthdays it is the single best booking you can make, because a performer will not hold a one year old's attention at all. It gives the children somewhere safe to be for the whole party and gives the parents somewhere to put them down.
Can it be set up indoors on carpet?
Usually yes, and indoors is often the better choice for this age group. Confirm with the supplier, because matting on carpet or on polished timber needs a little care. Say what your flooring is when you enquire.
How long should I hire it for?
Three to four hours is a common hire window and comfortably covers a two hour toddler party plus setup and pack down either side. You rarely need longer, because a party for one year olds that runs past two hours tends to unravel.
Do older siblings use it?
They will try, and they are usually too big for it. If there are five and six year olds coming, book something separate for them rather than letting them into a toddler set. A jumping castle in a different part of the yard works.
Is supervision included?
No. Play hire is equipment only. An adult needs to be watching the area for the whole hire, which matters more with one and two year olds than with any other group.
Get toddler play hire quotes
Tell us the ages, the space and the date. Suppliers who deliver to your suburb come back with quotes.