When do you introduce a bike with training wheels?

julieb00lie

I'm trying to think of a big christmas gift.  Is 3 too young for a bike w/ training wheels?  What's the norm?

CBNJ2012

Just depends on your kid. My daughter is not overly interested in riding a bike, but she has one she can ride with training wheels at my parents's house. With encouragement she can ride it, but she's just not all that into it. She turned 3 in August. On the other hand, my brother's son could rid a 2 wheeler before his 3rd birthday! He has older sisters and wanted to keep up. 

LoveEeyore

I think it's fine if you get a 12".  I didn't go that route because I cringe at getting sucked into the 5 different sizes, but my kids love their friend's 12".  DD#1 is getting her first real 2 wheeler on her 5th birthday. They like the balance bikes, scooters...my 3yo dd is pining for a doll house and a pink monster truck to drive her dolls in.

ldcoffel

We got one for her 3rd birthday. She "liked" it, but she barely rode it. Still at almost 4, she rarely does. She prefers the cozy coupe. 

But I can guarantee when DS is big enough, he will be on it! He already pushes it around the driveway. 

jlw2505

It really depends on your kids.  My girls were both 4- they were just too short for a bike like that any sooner.  DD #2 had tried to ride her sisters the summer she was 3 as she wanted to be like her and even with the smallest bike size, she couldn't reach.

lite-bright

We're doing a balance bike (no pedals) instead of a bike with training wheels.

 We got one for my four-YO last spring and she loves it. We're planning to go straight from balance bike to a regular bike, then pass down the balance bike to DD2 when she's big enough. 

KathrynMD

DD got a bike w/ training wheels this summer at 3.5, she'll ride it, but she needs a lot of help and gets tired of it quickly.  She loves her scooter and old school tricycle and can use those independently.

Makena

It definitely depends on the kid.  DS had a balance bike at 18 months.  & was riding a 2 wheeler without training wheels at 2.5.  

I saw 12" bikes with training wheels at Walmart in the $45 range, so if your child ends up not being interested, then it wasn't a huge waste.  At the same time it's still pretty impressive under the tree

Angela814

DD1 got one at 3 years. She got a 16" bike, but she was also almost 42" at 3 years. She was never really big on biking or really anything athletic until she was older. I'd say she was 5 before she really showed an interest in riding. She's 6 now and currently has an 18" bike with training wheels.

DD2 is 2 years and learning to ride a tricycle.

Worcbride

at 3 we started with a tricycle cuz DD didnt get the pedaling concept so at least w/a tric if they pedal backwards they go backwards;  she got a training wheel bike at 4yo

Worcbride

lite-bright:

We're doing a balance bike (no pedals) instead of a bike with training wheels.

 We got one for my four-YO last spring and she loves it. We're planning to go straight from balance bike to a regular bike, then pass down the balance bike to DD2 when she's big enough. 

suggestion to save $$--buy a training wheel bike and dont put on the pedals....then its a balance bike. 

Momma2Michelle

DD never used training wheels. She went right from the tricycles to a 2 wheeler when she was 3 1/2. It totally freaked me out at first (she did it at preschool), but she wore a helmet and her teachers were right there. She got her own 2 wheeler for her 4th birthday and this kid rides like the wind! She did not get that from her mother, I was 7 years old when my parents finally made me take the training wheels off!

 

 

weddedwife

litebright:

We're doing a balance bike no pedals instead of a bike with training wheels. nbsp;We got one for my fourYO last spring and she loves it. We're planning to go straight from balance bike to a regular bike, then pass down the balance bike to DD2 when she's big enough.nbsp;

We're doing this too. Got one for DD for her 3rd bday.

Monsieur_et_Madame_Ha

I don't know what the norm is, but I think 3 sounds about right.

Our neighbors gave us an old bicycle with training wheels, and while DD was super excited, she still prefers riding her tricycle. Buuut she is still just a few ays shy of 3, and I definitely think that she'll really be into it when the warmer weather comes back.

mama2g

My daughter was just a little older than 2 and she got on it & took off she LOVES to ride her bike she is now 4 and we are about to be without wheels.