Best trikes for toddlers and preschoolers, as recommended by real parents

Learning to ride a bike has been a rite of passage for children for generations but until recently they had to wait until they were around five to have the skills to make a start. These days, the best trikes make it possible for little ones to learn at an earlier age, helping them gain the skills needed to pedal and balance before they're old enough to consider a bike. As a result, tricycles are a helpful introduction to the world of cycling and a good alternative to traditional kids' bikes, ride-ons and trusty balance bikes.

Whether you've splashed out on a great paddling pool, invested in the best trampoline for your garden, or have a new hammock you're keen to try out, anything that helps get your kids outdoors and into the fresh air is worth its weight in gold. As well as allowing children to burn excess energy and have fun outdoors, trikes also help to develop gross motor skills, as they learn to steer, turn, grip the handle bars, and also pedal their feet alternately. And of course, learning to ride a trike builds confidence and resilience, too.

With summer just around the corner we’ll all be looking for ways to make the most of warm, dry days and spend as much time as possible outdoors, and heading out for a ride on a trike is a great option for active little ones. Most toddlers are very keen to do things on their own, so choosing the right trike for them - one which allows them to feel in control and safe - can help them to enjoy freedom and gain more independence. But, like children, trikes come in all shapes and sizes and what fits one may not fit another. So you'll want to choose a tricycle that's suitable for your child's age while also thinking about safety and development.

To help you choose the right one for your toddler, we've gathered a detailed guide of the best trikes for toddlers in the UK for you.

Which kind of trike is best for different ages?

Trikes span a huge age range with some suitable from as young as 10 months, but most trikes start at the one year mark.

From 12 months to around 2 years, look for a model that has a parent control bar and good straps and safety belt so your child can’t fall out of the trike if you go over a bump. Side bars should also enclose them a bit so that they feel secure. They don’t ‘need’ pedals at this stage but will soon be wanting to learn to use them - look out for footrests instead.

At two years plus, you’ll still want a bit of parental control but might be looking at a model where you can remove the handle bar to help them start to propel themselves under their own steam.

By three years old, you’re looking at more of a traditional type of trike, with handlebars and pedals, or possibly a balance bike style where they push themselves along with their feet on the ground.

Read next: The best school bags to buy, as recommended by Mumsnetters

Balance bikes vs trikes

Many Mumsnet users say they favour balance bikes over tricycles, citing the transition to pedalling as being much easier (and often shorter) thanks to the absence of training wheels right from the get-go.

However, while balance bikes teach kids how to balance, trikes help them to master pedalling without ever having to worry about balance, and are a great option for use indoors as well as out.

How to choose the best trike

When choosing the right trike for you and your child, be sure to think about the following:

Assembly – consider opting for a trike that requires little to no assembly so your child can get riding straight away. And for trikes that can be adapted as your child grows look at whether you need specific tools to make adjustments or if they’re easy to do on-the-go.

Frame – the heavier the frame, the harder the trike will be for your child to lift and, of course, for you to carry. Lightweight is key!

Tyres – a grippy set of wheels and puncture-proof tyres are best suited to rough terrain, so if you plan to use the trike on the grass in your local park, then opt for a trike with large wheels.

Size – find a trike perfectly suited to your child's age and development.

Seat – an adjustable and comfy seat will mean that the trike grows with your child.

Usage – consider a folding tricycle if you don't have much storage space or need to transport it regularly. A trike with a parent push handle will allow you to control the trike if you need to. A wooden trike is the best type of trike to use indoors or on a smooth surface.

Material – look for a trike made of sturdy materials (metal may be more serviceable for you than plastic).

Safety – keep an eye out for additional safety features, including a safety harness, sun hood and steering lock, and make sure that your chosen trike meets European safety standards.

What’s the best trike to buy?

If you spend a fair bit of time outdoors as a family either going for walks or visiting the park then the smarTrike STR7 is the best trike to buy. You can use it instead of the buggy from 6 months and it will then grow and adapt with your child up to the age of 3 years, by which point they may well be ready for a balance bike instead. With great safety features, good looks and a sturdy parent handle, you really can’t go wrong with the smarTrike.

How we chose our recommendations

Recommendations from real parents

Before recommending the best trikes and bicycles for toddlers and kids, we asked our trusted Mumsnet users, of which there are more than 10 million each month... That's a lot of honest, impartial advice. We've spent time researching the trikes that come most highly recommended, consulting parents on the Mumsnet forums.

Expert guidance

We always ensure our information represents the latest recommendations from experts so you can rely on it, and we research each product thoroughly to ensure it follows the latest expert advice and stands up to scrutiny. Here we consulted reputable sources such as consumer watchdogs Which?, and took note of what they looked for children's trikes and tricycles, and which ones they were recommending to their readers.

Consumer feedback

We also scour the internet, leaving no stone unturned to check out real reviews from customers who have bought the products themselves and given both positive and negative feedback.

Celebrated best products

Finally, we cross-referenced all of the above information to find the best trikes for toddlers that had won the most accolades and recommendations across the board to bring you a selection of the best ones at various price points. We think there’s something here for everyone.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing baby and child products for 2 years, with a particular focus on baby essentials, toys and books for toddlers and outdoor play equipment. From potties to paddling pools and bunk beds to bedtime stories, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the best products out there.

Poppy is also the best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy, The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy and Mother Power. She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won the Kate Betts Memorial Prize in 2019, her books have been translated into eight languages and her writing has featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun.

After earning a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Leeds and a PGCert in Fashion and Lifestyle Journalism from University of the Arts London, she worked in fashion for most of her 20s. When her children were young, she undertook an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester and re-trained as an author and freelance writer. When she's not working, Poppy enjoys Pilates, hunting for sea glass on the Sussex coast and playing with tarot cards.

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