Balance bikes

**Mrs Cheeso** · 24-09-2011, 03:54pm

I'm thinking of getting Oscar a balance bike for Christmas (he'll be 2.6) & wondering if anyone has got one & would you recommend it for this age? He's got Harry's old micro scooter & enjoys having a go in the garden but is too small/unsteady to go any distance or speed. We've also got a little plastic trike which again is OK, but he has to be pushed along & I'd like something he can use independently (school runs etc) before progressing to a proper bike.

Any thoughts? They're not cheap so I don't want this to be something he'll tire of within a few months

MrsCx

**Hazy** · 24-09-2011, 04:02pm

We got one from Toys r Us and it only cost £24.99 and it's been fab. We got it when DS1 was 2 and he loves it. Still has a go on it now and again.

**McMummy** · 24-09-2011, 04:48pm

Two of my friends' little boys have them (They turned 2 in May & June) and absolutely love them x

**RedTiger** · 24-09-2011, 04:55pm

Originally Posted by Hazy

We got one from Toys r Us and it only cost £24.99 and it's been fab. We got it when DS1 was 2 and he loves it. Still has a go on it now and again.

Mum has bought (I presume!) the same one from Toysrus for DS2's christmas - obviously I can't comment on whether it's any good as yet but I have heard good things about balance bikes in general. In fact I should get one for DS1, he's 7 and still can't go a bike without stabilisers.

**Rosa** · 24-09-2011, 05:17pm

DS1 got one for his third birthday and got the hang of it very quickly, he loved it! and he progressed to his pedal bike without stabilisers quickly when he was 5yrs so he used it for a fair amount of time

**moocher** · 24-09-2011, 05:50pm

My son has had one since last Xmas when he was 2 years 7 months, he loves it and whizzes around on it.
2 months ago he got his first pedal bike and was riding well without stabilisers after only a couple of practises and I'm sure it's all down to the balance bike.

They are worth their weight in gold IMO.

**scatterbrain** · 24-09-2011, 06:21pm

Abi (almost 4) has one & she's really got in to it over the past 6 months. She really zooms around! She does have a pedal bike with stabilizers but isn't really interested in it so we've packed it away & will bring it out without the stabilisers in the next 6 months or so.

I would suggest getting a proper bike style balance bike with a brake at that age, not a little wooden one. Abi goes so fast on the school run I'd be having kittens if she didn't have a brake.

S

**Saffy** · 24-09-2011, 06:58pm

We got Ben one for his 3rd birthday which has been a huge hit. It was this one, which isn't the cheapest out there (although we got it for £65), but really nicely built and has a proper brake.

**IncyWincySpider** · 24-09-2011, 07:40pm

How long does it take for toddlers to get used to a balance bike?
We took our youngest (2y8m) out on his wooden one today and basically he doesn't get anywhere on it, doesn't seem to be able to keep his balance on it and if he sits down doesn't seem to be able to push it along. Are the wooden ones harder to get used to or does it take quite a lot of practice anyway? He has had it for probably a year but never seems keen to try it.
He has a Peasy Toys one http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...ef=oss_product

**scatterbrain** · 24-09-2011, 07:48pm

We got Abi her balance bike when she was 18m (she was too short for it) so she didn't really start using it until she was about 2.5. Even then it was little steps etc until this summer (3.5). We took it camping with us so she was on it a lot & she really got the hang of it. I now take it on the school run every day. I guess it's like anything else - they get the idea when they're ready & have the confidence.

ETA: We got ours from Tesco for about £20 2 yrs ago. ETA: it's like this one but she got it in blue - http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.210-9312.aspx