I got dd a bike when she was 3 but she's still (at nearly 4) very unsteady on it and usually uses her trike. So it mainly lives in the garage. But at least she's getting used to it bit by bit and it will be there for her as soon as she is really ready.

I think it was a mistake to get her the slightly bigger size though. She's big for her age and I didn't want her to grow out of it too fast. I think if we had got the smaller one though, she would be using it a lot more so I think it was a false economy.

If I want to buy my toddler something I simply do so. There are so many great developmental items to buy, and they are young only once. I like to maximise the enjoyment of the current stage, and if a bike etc is relevant, then I would not apportion out the gift.

If you do get a "free" passed on bike, PLEASE get someone who knows a bit about bikes to check it over BEFORE your child rides it. Brakes stop working well if they are not looked after, easy to fix normally, either need cable adjusting or replacing or pads replaced, cost only a few pounds. Sending a child out with non working brakes is not recommended if you live somewhere hilly. UNLESS Its a balance bike with no brakes by design.

I would get her a second-hand one, because she won't notice that it is not new, and you will have to buy her a bigger bike at some point so save the money until she will notice whether it has been pre-ridden or not!

I always notice lots of kids' bikes on Freecycle if you really don't want to spend much money.

I agree with UniS too

Go for it

Bikes are not toys, after all, so it's not spoiling her to get her one.

Subsequent birthday presents don't have to match this year's, and she's still young enough to not compare anyway.

You don't have to get her a big present next year just because you did this year. Dd got her dolls house aged 4- she's never had a biggie like that since but I still catch her playing with it and she's in secondary school.

I would give her the bike when you feel she is ready for it, not when it fits into some general present scheme.

Agree that a bike is not a luxury but a learning thing, just like swimming lessons or learning to cook or playing a musical instrument- you wouldn't deny her those just for fear of spoiling her, would you? And, as UniS says, transport. If we were all confident on bikes, we might just about save the planet.

Children under 5 don't have that much concept of money. If she wants and needs a bike now get it and don't worry about next year.

We went to a toy shop a few months ago because both children had been given 20 euros each to spend by an old friend.

DD (4) fixated on a little pony worth about 7 euros and was quite happy to give the rest of her money to DS (6) who was eyeing up boxes of lego worth 30ish euros.

go for it this year, next year there will be something else, maybe not a big thing either.

If she got half an idea about bike riding already encourage it , as she gets older she will find it slower to learn and may have picked up some bad habits - like relying on stabilsers. *

Or if your still not sure- how about a little B/D pressie and a bike at christmas.

* either start with a balance bike OR a regular bike with pedals and cranks removed so she "gets" balance on two wheels. Trainer wheels are just a pain ( unless you have a child with balance problems at which point they become sensible,) most kids don't need them and get lazy about their balance using them.

I am biased of course, we are a family that cycle. boy had a balance bike at 2 and is now on a proper bike at 3.3, we didn't wait for a birthday, just for his legs to get long enough. His bike is not a toy, its transport.

You can always get a second-hand one now. Then next year (or the year after) you might trade it in for a better/bigger one.

She'll probably want something bigger than the wooden scooter sometime too.

Then theres skates...

Kids need a succession of wheels!