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Children can start using balance bikes when they’re as young as 18 months old. They tend to last up to the age of three or four, sometimes even five. Are balance bikes worth it?
Age range: Suitable from 18 months to 5 years old | Weight: 2.95kg | Wheel size: 12 inch | Tyres: Pneumatic What we love You want to make sure your bike doesn’t weigh more than 30 percent of your child’s bodyweight so that they're not forced to work too hard or forced to become frustrated. 3kg tends to be a good marker for most toddlers.
Enjoy your toddler's first bike ride with the Ladybird Balance Bike. Sturdy and stable, this three-wheel bicycle ensures fun and safety at the same time. While it may be a bit heavy for a child who has just turned two, the Frog Tadpole comes into its own from around age three. Like the Islabikes Rothan, it’s purposefully designed to suit a specific age range and performs well on all surfaces. The comfy padding on the handles and seat makes the bike great for longer rides and the brake handle is easy for little hands to reach to slow down and stop with confidence. The Tadpole is on the pricey side but it is the closest you can get to a ‘proper’ bike as a balance bike and the resale value is really good. However, many balance bikes do offer rear brakes, which could be helpful as kids develop into speedy riders much later on. This could also go a long way to aiding their confidence and also protecting their shoes.
Designed with small children in mind, the comfortable saddle will fit any small child and the cushioned handlebars ensure easy grasping. The unique design of the Giraffe Balance Bike can help teach babies and toddlers balance at their own pace. We’re very excited that our Giraffe Baby Bike has been recognised for it’s outstanding quality and unique design winning this prestigious award! Because of the 3 wheel design, the Zebra Balance Bike can help encourage walking, coordination, balance and motor skills The tyres are extra wide for a soft ride, great suspension and the bike also features rear splash guards so is easier on play clothes. They have thought of just about everything!For parents to feel safe allowing their children riding a wooden balance bike, they need to feel that the manufacturers have met certain standards. We asked real parents to put some of the UK's top balance bikes through their paces, letting their young children try out each model and taking detailed notes on a number of points: Brakes or no brakes? The higher-spec balance bikes tend to have brakes, scaled down to child size, either on both wheels or just on the rear wheel. Budget bikes tend not to have them. Opinion is divided on what's best: balance bikes can be stopped perfectly well with feet but some argue that it's good to learn about braking before you venture on to a bike with pedals – and better for your shoe leather. We'd say that, roughly speaking, a child probably doesn't have the hand/eye coordination for using brakes until about 2.5 to 3.5 years. The wide grab rail allows adults to easily hold on if they want to guide a toddler just getting to grips with balance bike life. It’s also a useful feature when you inevitably end up carrying the thing. Speaking of, it’s relatively lightweight so not too difficult to carry round the park but still incredibly sturdy which is reassuring for parents of fearless toddlers. There are no brakes on this balance bike but there is a stopper in the handlebars so the bike can’t be oversteered which is really useful for new riders. Age range: Two to four years old (85 to 110cm tall with an inside leg of 40cm minimum) | Weight: 3.8kg | Wheel size: 12 inch | Tyres: Pneumatic What we love
We have a Hornit balance bike for DS and he absolutely adores it. I do too because it’s super super light for when I inevitably have to end up carrying it sometimes.” (Loved by Mumsnet user Rainallnight) Our verdict Although all manufacturers recommend that you supervise children using the bikes, we can’t watch them every second, so the peace of mind knowing risk has been minimized upfront is invaluable.Weight: Lightweight is key. Even a kilogram of difference between bikes could represent a significant proportion of your child’s body weight, which could make the bike difficult to ride and negatively impact their first impression of cycling. Age range: Suitable from two years old with a minimum inside leg of 30cm and approximate height of 88cm | Weight: 3.2kg | Wheel size: 12 inch | Tyres: Pneumatic What we love With an affordable price combined with great quality, not to mention super lightweight, we think the Vitus Nippy is the best balance bike to buy in 2023. Mumsnetters warn against spending lots on a balance bike as they're used for a relatively short time, and the Nippy hits the sweet spot between performance, quality and price.
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