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Just wanted to share how wonderful these things are. We have had one for 10 days and already our ds 4yr can ride his bike without stabilizers. For anyone wanting to get their children up and off on their bikes - don't bother with stabilizers go straight for a balance bike - they are great.

or just take the pedals off a normal bike, much cheaper

Agree iBundle - just don't do stabilizers I think they make the whole process much harder.

What? And miss out running up and down the street, yelling " Yes! I'm still holding on to you". While all the neighbours come out to point and laugh.

We have just bought one for ds2's second birthday a Kiddimoto It looks fantastic. I'll tell you next week how good it is - I know ds will love it

My rather careful DS is now whizzing around at top speed on his rather charmingly-named Puky LR1, and he loves it!

that's a lorra money for something that can't then be transformed into a "real" bike

we got one of these for ds2 when he was 2 and he used it till he was for a year or two until he went straight on a big bike with no stabilisers.

ds3 started using it not long after his first bday and is now three and still using it tho he has a 12inch bike that he goes on occasionally and he has the balance just doesnt always want to go fast enough.

we got ours on ebay for less than £50 and i think it has been worth it, they can use it once they walk (as long as you get one with an adjustable seat height) so you should get about two years of use out of it, or even longer.

lots of independent bike shops are now stocking them and you can get some that turn into a normal bike with pedals

ours doesnt cos its a wooden one, but it has already been used by two kids and ds4 will also use it when old enough (he is only 4mths at the mo)

they are very popular in germany and other european countries.

We already have a hand-me-down second hand proper bike for him

They are FAB! DS1 now 3 and a bit, now reee-allly getting it, zipping along fast enough that I can be on my bike as well with DS2 on the back.... Brill!

Got it when he was two-- too young.

I have just bought one from tescos online for my Ds's 3rd birthday. He loves just skooting (sp) around on things at playgroup so know he will love it!!

we got this for dds 2nd b'day
the shop we got it from also loans them out free to toddler groups in the area
we borrowed them for our group for a month, and they were such a hit we bought one for there too

Boy had an Isla Bikes Rothan balance bike for his 2nd birthday. 4 months on and hes whizzing along looking just like a little mountain biker.he rides a mile or so each way to toddlers and also up in the forest.
One plus of balance bikes over " just removing the pedals" balance bikes tend to be lighter and have lower saddle height, the Rothan goes down to just 30cm from floor so ideal for a short in teh leg 2 yr old. It weighs only 5 kg which is still one third of his body weight... the Kids bikes I seen with pedals that "might" fit him are all heavier than that.
I'm expecting to be able to sell on the Rothan in a year or two when his is big enough to have a bike with brakes, there is so little that can go wrong on it.

We bought dd the Isla Bikes Rothan for her 2nd birthday, but 5 months on she hasn't shown any interest in using it yet.

Islabikes' biggest fan here! When you are done, you can 'part-exchange' your old Islabike Rothan for the next size up (which would have pedals, natch). Second hand Islabikes also seem to go for pretty close to their new price on ebay.

we have a cheap tesco like-a-bike, it is great, has a break and a side stand, looks very cute too.

Has anyone tried the cheapo Halfords one? My mum always says 'you get what you pay for' but many of the others are sooo expensive.

Errrmmm

how do they ride them?!?

My ds (3) loves his and can go really fast. Dd has a big clumsy normal bike with stabilisers and it is cumbersome for her, she is far faster on her scooter.

wish I could afford one - DD has very poor balance and I think it would help

I got a sesame street one on ebay for £30 incl postage (from Germany) and it is really sturdy and good value.

litterbug- a balance bike is a two wheeled bike styled "sit and ride". a child propels them self with feet on the floor, sitting on a bike saddle and steering with bike handle bars. Many have limited steering so the front wheel can only be turned "so far". Some for older kids have brakes, many do not.

CSWS- does your kid see you or dh using bikes regulary? our boy sees one of us cycling off to work every day and is regulary in his trailer behind one of our bikes so his interest in bikes is VERY strong.

There is nothing new in the world. See this from 1816

I think they're fab too. DD1 (3.5) loves hers.