Questions about first bike

Vanessa Doofenshmirtz · March 2012

We want to buy a bike for DS's 4th birthday later this month. He's average to smaller than average (has his check-up soon, usually about 50% on height and 3% on weight).

It seems the choice is between a 16" bike and a 12" bike at this age. Which did you go for? Brand recs? Did you get a pedal bike with training wheels, or a true balance bike, or a regular bike and take off pedals to make it a balance bike temporarily?

We are looking at the Electra 16" at REI. Pricey, but looks so damn cool. If I was a 4 year old boy, I'd so want a shiny red bike with flames on it.

MirandaHobbes · March 2012

Myself and all my neighbors have talked about this extensively. One neighbor (with three kids) advised not to buy the cheap 12" from Target; his broke within a week. Another's kid has been using a balance bike since he was 2 and his son loves it. He did caution that on a balance bike a child is able to go really really fast- sometimes it's hard for Dad to keep up with him! We have a trike that DS just learned how to ride and I said we'd do one more year on the trike instead of buying the 12". He's 4 next month and the 16" just seemed too big. That said- my parents surprised him (us) with a 12" bike for Christmas. It's a fine little bike that DS loves. It has training wheels. DS is in heaven when he's riding it, although I don't have any dillusions of keeping it more than a year or two before he outgrows it. My parents admitted they got it for free from another family whose son outgrew it quickly. If I were you I'd think about a used bike until he's big enough for an expensive one. I just went to a thrift shop over my lunch hour and saw three different 12" bikes hanging on the rack!

jacksmom119 · March 2012

We have all of the above. My son is 3 and usually in the 90% for

Height. The balance bike is a lot of fun. He calls it his motorcycle since it goes so fast. My mom just got him a 12" bike from Walmart -$40 and it's perfect (training wheels) he will out grow it by the summer. Im glad we didn't spend a lot. I'm also glad we didn't get the bigger one - I was afraid it would make him nervous to ride such a big bike.

I say get whichever one he wants and not worry about it too much. And don't spend too much - boys are rough!!

jellyjellybean · March 2012

I got a 16" bike with training wheels at Walmart on black Friday that I think DS is getting for Easter. I went in with the 12" in mind but then I looked at the height/weight info it didn't give much room for growth so while it may be a bit big for him in the beginning, hopefully it'll last a bit longer!