More on Christmas Presents...

My oldest DS, Drew, started with an old-fashioned metal tricycle. He just recently learned to pedal pretty well, and he's about 3.5. The twins are really interested in the tricycle, but can't reach the pedals. Are there trikes out there that work for smaller kids? Is it easier to learn to pedal on a Big Wheel, or something lower to the ground?

At their 18-mo check-up, they were 35 inches, so I don't know if they make Big Wheels that would fit them...

What did your young toddlers have the most success with? Should we get trikes and put blocks on them or something so they can pedal?

 

My girls never had a trike. We bought them the smallest bike with training wheels (they were two) and it didn't take them long before they were pedaling like champs.

 

Same. They did play with a trike at a friend's house though and they were able to ride that too. When we went shopping for bikes, we thought we'd get them big wheels, but when they sat on them their feet didn't touch the peddles (at almost 3 years old- and they aren't short kids).

 

Thanks for the replies - which bikes did you get? A quick online search brought up this Radio Flyer Grow N Go but the reviews said that it was too small for the average 2-yr-old. My kids are in 3T, and >90% height and weight. I want something that isn't too big, but that they don't outgrow quickly. Can I buy one without having them try them on at the store?

 

I think Big Wheels are actually harder to pedal than trikes. Based on what I saw with my kids, the more upright they were, the better they could pedal. Pushing down is easier to coordinate than pushing forwards. (ETA: The tricky thing is that the more upright they are, also the more likely they are to fall over.)

But if I had it to do over again, I would skip the trike and the training wheels and get balance bikes instead. They're tiny and very lightweight, so even young toddlers can use them. (The manufacturers say around 18 months -- that may be an exaggeration, but definitely 24-30 months.) And I think the younger they start, the quicker they get the hang of balancing.

We had regular trikes from about age 2 to 3, and then toddler bikes with training wheels. One of my DDs liked to go really fast on her toddler bike, but was leaning on the training wheels almost the whole time. When we borrowed a balance bike and had her ride it for a few weeks, suddenly she started balancing. Then we were able to take her training wheels off (just a few weeks ago) and now she's riding a regular bike like a champ.

My other DD got too dependent on the training wheels and now flatly refuses to use the balance bike, because it makes her feel unstable. So it's going to take her a lot longer to learn. OTOH, that may have been true anyway -- she's just not as physically adept.

Anyway, my point is that balance bikes are awesome.

 

We had the radio flyer grow and go bikes (my brother got them for the girls for their 2nd b-day), but they weren't really able to peddle until 2 1/2. Then by 3 they outgrew them and we got them 12" two wheelers with training wheels. If I hadn't gotten those bikes as gifts we would have gone straight to the 12" bikes.

 

This is what I get on the web. Is it really the case??

$100 seems like alot for a "training" tool. It seems like they would only use these for like a year or so and then we'd have to spend another $100 on a real bike.

Is this really the right way to go? I can't tell if what I'm reading online is "hype" or "real". Is the training wheel method "tried & true" or "out of date"? I know we all learned on training wheels, they will work, but maybe this balance bike thing would be quicker and better. I can definitely see that they would enjoy them, I just don't know how long, before they'd want a "real" bike.

If I get them for the twins, should I get one for Drew (the 3.5 yr old), too? And then get them all "real" bikes later?

 

L&L love their balance bikes! We have had them almost a year, they were Christmas presents, and they are still riding them most every day. They can balance on them completely & I know that if we went out & bought them a normal bike today, they would be able to ride it within a couple of days. So much easier to learn on than bikes with training wheels!

We have these which have been great because they also have hand breaks (a lot of them don't) so they have also learned to use those already.

 

My girls LOVE LOVE LOVE their balance bikes. They are a training tool, but a great one that can be used for multiple years. My girls have friends who can ride bikes with wheels and still prefer their balance bikes. Also, when you're done with the bikes, you can sell them for at least half their value.

We have the Kettler Sprint in princess pink; they were $99 at Amazon and seem to be good quality.

 

I've been looking for balance bikes for a while, and got two on Totsy.com last week... (Kettler and retails for $110 got it for $68)... but its gonna take 3-5 wks to deliver, so I'm really hoping I get it in the end...) the sale for that is already over, so I don't think you can still get it... I've heard so many great things about them I can't wait! as for the big price, I'm pretty sure you can get 1/2 of retail for selling them later... so maybe think of it as a $50 bike?

I got used 12" bikes and tried to take the pedals off and make our own balance bikes... but its not quite the same, and the seats don't go down far enough so it wasn't really working.

maybe look on Craigslist or other used forum for bikes.

 

Thanks! I think I'm sold - now I just have to sell to DH - and shop like crazy to find the best bargain!!

 

too funny several of us posted at the same time! I'm so excited to get our balance bikes and see if the kids love them as much as I think they will!

 

Ugh. My boys turned three in October. So-they either get a bike for Christmas or next October, when it will end up in the garage for the winter. What's a momma to do? Should I mention a bike as a gift to family members? I wanted to get an art desk for them. There is no way I can get them an art desk and bikes. My dh will hate me. Hmmm... Or get them bikes and have someone else get the art desk possibly?

And these balance bikes-you can't buy them in the store, right?

 

We bought ours in a store, Meaghan. And they were a gift from my inlaws for Christmas, so there were not a lot of days they could ride them until the Spring, but we tried to take advantage of every day that we could when it wasn't pouring rain or snowing!

 

haha... the beauty of living in different parts of the country... I'm thinking in Florida we will be USING ours in the winter when its not so blistery hot! anyway, yes, if someone else can buy one of the gifts that'd be great, hints are always welcome in our family. I hadn't even looked in the stores around here... hopefully you find what you want!

 

OK. So your kids birthdays are about the same time as my boys, in relation to Christmas. I looked online for stores selling balance bikes, and only Walmart shows up(at almost half the price of Kettler/Strider). I'm wondering if a local bike store might sell them? Or would Walmart ones be just as fine?

 

I haven't seen any at Walmart, but I imagine they would be fine. I bought ours at a local toy/sporting goods store.

 

I too, keeping an eye on a balance bike but how long do they really last? My twins are 4 yrs old and they are on a tall (41/42 inches) side too. Do you think I should still get them that or is that too late? They have been riding on their trike bike but it is getting too tall for it.

 

I think Walmart would be fine too. There are hardly any moving parts, so it probably doesn't matter all that much what kind you get.

I wouldn't buy a balance bike for a 4-year-old. Amy did recently ride one at age 4 (and learned to balance almost instantly), but she is nearly too tall for it, and my twins are on the short side. You can raise the seats, but I'm not sure about the handlebars. Also, her gangly legs just kind of got in the way. :ibiggrin: So, for a 4-year-old I'd just go with a regular bike with training wheels, unless you can borrow a balance bike.

The price is definitely the sticking point. That's why I didn't buy them in the first place -- even when they showed up at consignment stores (once in a blue moon), the price was upwards of $50. However, it also means that the resale value is great if you do buy them.

 

Thank you!! You addressed many of my additional concerns. I'm afraid Drew will feel left out, or be behind the twins if I only get him a bike with training wheels, instead of the balance bikes. I know I found online that you could buy taller balance bikes, that would fit the taller kids (even grade schoolers).

I'm still torn between buying 3 balance bikes or 2 balance bikes and a training wheel bike for Drew.