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Original poster

2 year old - balance bike , trike or scooter?

46 replies

bebeboeuf · 04/05/2019 11:33

Son is 2 and very interested in all things on wheels so we have decided to get him something for using in the garden.

Only thing is I can’t decide between balance bike, trike or scooter?!

He can’t have all 3, but they all seem to do a different job.

What did your two year olds get the most out of and can anyone recommend a brand?

OP posts:

WindsweptEgret · 04/05/2019 20:20

Balance bike. DS had a cheap lightweight wooden one.

HogMother · 04/05/2019 20:20

Balance bike or scooter. My 2yr old loves both. He has a nice expensive 3 wheel scooter, but has started to prefer showing off with his brothers cast off 2 wheeler. They will honestly give anything a go at this age.
He also has a scuttle bug trike, which is great for being able to carry on the go.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 04/05/2019 20:21

Balance bike. My son had the smallest Puky (which every child around here has - you can buy them second hand for 10 quid).

By 2.5 he could shoot along for a couple of miles, no problem. At 3 he got a bike and rode straight away, no stabilisers. He's the most uncoordinated child in the world too.

Don't spend much on a balance bike, save it for s good first pedal bike.

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WindsweptEgret · 04/05/2019 20:25

DS was riding a pedal 2 wheeler at 3 and a bit, but still used the balance bike until around 4, because it was so easy to throw in the car when we went out somewhere, so it got plenty of use.

Fatted · 04/05/2019 20:28

If it's just for the garden, then a scooter.

If you actually want to take it out for the day, then a balance bike.

Because of the ages of my DC, we've kind of ended up a balance bike, scooter and pedal cycle all at once. Eldest got a scooter for his third birthday and never got on with it until he was older. He got a pedal bike at 4 and loves it. Youngest got a balance bike at 2. He's just got a pedal bike now for his 4th birthday. He liked the scooter from about 3, but only really in the garden.

TheseThingsAreFunAndFunIsGood · 04/05/2019 20:42

To add, if you go scooter don't go cheap get a micro scooter, they are far and away the best! Also easy to get second hand.

spinn · 04/05/2019 20:46

Balance bike but invest in a light weight decent brand one.

The position of the child on the bike is so important and the Halford's/smyths cheap versions don't help that.

I would really recommend frog, cuda or Islabikes (all have great resell value too so start on eBay!).

For context on how good balance bikes can be. 11yo didn't have one and learnt to ride without stabilisers after much grief and stress age 5.5. 6yo had one from age 3, rode age 4 without stabilisers with some stress and grief from me (he also has coordination issues and adhd), 3 yo started with balance bike age 2 and is already riding with no stabilisers!

Ragh · 04/05/2019 20:47

It took DD a long time to get good at scooting but just after 3 she nailed it. She will happily do a few miles at a fast pace and it's so easy for me to carry or drag. On nice days her preschool buggy park is full of them! And agree get a mini micro as they last so well

spinn · 04/05/2019 20:47

Also agree with pp, scooter get microscooter and actually it's a different skill so don't rule out having both (I picked one up for £10 on fb selling)

Geekster1963 · 04/05/2019 20:52

A balance bike, my DD loved hers and when we bought her a proper bike when she was three and a half she learnt to ride it in an hour without ever needing stabilisers because she learned how to balance.

nordicwannabe · 05/05/2019 08:21

DD (who loves wheels) didn't really get on with her balance bike - I think it was too heavy for her. She did learn to ride a bike (very light - Islabike) within a week aged 4.

At 2 it was all about her scooter. We were using it as transport from 2.5, even for things like days out in London.

I'd second also getting a Scuttlebug as a play-around toy. You can get a 2nd hand one for not much, and they're really fun.

Whatever you decide to get, don't go for a heavy, cheap version. Quality and weight really make a difference for wheels!

Original poster

bebeboeuf · 05/05/2019 10:08

Thanks for all the advice. Grandparents also want to get some thing for him so maybe he can have a scooter and a balance bike.

When it comes to balance bikes it looks like most don’t have brakes.

Should I definitely be buying one with a brake lever or not bothering?

I’m looking at and comparing the Frog, Ridgeback, Trybike, Kiddimoto and Striders at the moment...

OP posts:

WindsweptEgret · 05/05/2019 10:54

DS didn't have a brake lever on his, he just used feet to stop. They often lack the hand strength at that age. He just used the back pedal brake on his pedal bike until he got the hang of the hand brake too, so it wasn't a problem that he hadn't learnt yet.

flitwit99 · 05/05/2019 13:06

I don't think a brake is essential. Ours managed fine on a £20 bike from toys r us. Save your money for a decent pedal bike

Stayawayfromitsmouth · 05/05/2019 13:15

My just turned 3yo has been using a decathlon balance bike since he was about 20mo. He's just got the hang of the brake and I'm now moving him up to his brothers pedal bike. He's super fast on the balance but took a while to get going. To start with he would just walk along with the bike between his legs. We also have a micro scooter which are lean to turn and ds1 is pretty speedy on that. The decathlon ones are handle turn which he doesn't get on with.

TuckMyWin · 08/05/2019 15:25

I also don't think a brake is needed. My eldest didn't have one on his balance bike and picked it up fast enough on his pedal bike.

If it helps, I found the Strider the one with a saddle that went the lowest- my son started using his at about 18 months. Worth considering depending on your child's height/size.

BikeRunSki · 08/05/2019 15:29

Balance bike. Make sure it has a brake, and pneumatic tyres for longevity. Islabike, Frog, Scoot (Ridgeback) and Puky are all good brands. Also Decathlon.

BikeRunSki · 08/05/2019 15:32

Also Stryder and Like A Bike.

DS needed a brake on his balance bike to actually stop, he could pick up a huge amount of speed!

Kiwiinkits · 09/05/2019 00:58

Wishbone balance bike - for adventures and longer journeys
Mini micro scooter - for trips to kindy, park, library etc

Kiwiinkits · 09/05/2019 01:02

Look for ergonomics/geometry. Islabikes and wishbone are the best IMO. I like Wishbone's recycled plastic bike. I think you can get them in the UK, but I'm not sure.

As with all bikes you get what you pay for - don't go cheap - invest in a good riding experience for your child. Cheap bikes are often too tall and too heavy. You want something light and low to the ground.

Don't forget you'll often end up carrying the bike. Because toddlers and 3 year olds sometimes don't want to ride and there's nothing you can do to make them. So get something you can carry easily on your shoulder or in your hand. If it's too heavy and too awkward for you to carry you'll not want to take him out on it.

StitchingMoss · 09/05/2019 01:07

IslaBikes are brilliant and made for small children. They hold their value on eBay too.

We paid £100 for our balance bike - taught both DDs to ride and sold it for £80! Bargain!

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