let's talk bikes/trikes

emmyloustu

what does your toddler have? balance bike? regular trike? a growth with me? reviews? advice?

meechrobi

Liam has both a grow with me trike by Alex (which i just took the push bar off of) and a balance bike by Kettler. With the trike-- he doesnt really peddle. He basically just pushes himself along with his feet. Right now he is a bit too short for the balance bike. I am thinking he will grow into that this summer. Since Liza and Liam are the same age-- I'd probably recommend you start her with a trike and then maybe this summer do the balance bike (JMO!). We totally could have waited on the balance bike. I only bought it because it was on Zulily and I had a $40 credit. 

dana316

We actually started with a Radio Flyer Big Wheel.  I wanted her to learn how to peddle before she was up off the ground.  She LOVES her "bicycle". 

She has just now learned how to peddle, and does it well...she can steer, but she still needs just a little bit of work on that skill. 

I am going to let her stick with that until brother is big enough to use it, I think...then we'll probably get her a small regular bike with training wheels.

 

GypsyEsq

We have a trike that someone let us borrow, one of those Kettlers with a handle.  She doesn't get it.  I'm thinking balance bike for her third birthday. 

dundasgirl

Penny is 2.5 and she has a bike with training wheels and a Kettler trike.  The trike is perfect for her age, size, and abilities but she wants nothing to do with it because she wants to be like Reed and ride her bike.  So she rides her bike.  She peddles and I help her steer.

I think balance bikes are cool but in my limited experience it is really hit or miss if the child will take an interest in it.

 

Ali212

C has both a Kettl.er tricycle (one with a push handle bar as well as the pedals) and a balance bike (she also has a scooter and now a "real" bike with training wheels but she's older, 4 years old).  I would definitely get a tricycle based on our experience....C loved it and it was great b/c she could sit in it and be pushed or be more active and pedal.  It took her awhile to really get the hang of the balance bike so I don't think she could've handled it at the age she really started playing/using her tricycle -- she got the tricycle for her 1st birthday but didn't use it until she was 18 months or so.  The balance bike was more when she was late 2 years old/early 3 (and on).

RoxBride

Balance bike was a huge bust. I wonder if it has to do with the layout of our neighborhood, because there isn't a single kid in our neighborhood who likes them.

We had a trike with a push handle that she liked, and a big wheel. At 3 she graduated to a traditional 2 wheeler with training wheels and LOVES it.

SeaSoul

Cal has this Radio Flyer tricycle and it's awesome!

epphd

Sam has a balance bike - a Strider - and he loves it.  He rides it around the house and to the playground (about 2 blocks away).  I've already raised the seat twice and he's getting close to being able to glide a little bit.  I think they're really intuitive but also challenging; I'm hoping that as a result he'll skip the whole trike/training wheels thing.

 

Edited to fix tense

emmyloustu

Thanks, all! Still not sure which route to go, but we will figure it out.