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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To consider spending £60 on a balance bike for a 2nd birthday?

72 replies

u32ng · 15/01/2015 21:38

DS is going to be 2 shortly and me & DH quite like the idea of a balance bike. The puky one gets good reviews and looks good but as much as I think DS would get on well with it, part of me is thinking "£60 for a 2nd birthday?!"Shock

AIBU to be considering spending this amount??

OP posts:
FannyFanakapan · 15/01/2015 21:40

one of mine had a balance bike - rode it every day until it fell apart (was a wooden one) and took to a big boy bike 2 years later with confidence and great ability. I think it was worth every penny.

SameThing · 15/01/2015 21:42

Surely you can spend however much you want? If you'd like to buy the bike for your DC and can afford to, then why not? FWIW, as far as £60 presents go, I think it's a brilliant one.

silverstreak · 15/01/2015 21:43

Yanbu.... I'm a proper tight-arse and spent £50 on a Tiny Bike for pre-2yr old at Christmas, amongst a couple other things.... He'll love it, & it's a developmental tool to boot - Priceless, IMO! :)

2minsofyourtime · 15/01/2015 21:43

I brought mine s balance bike for his 2nd birthday, his feet wouldnt touch the floor even at the seats lowest point. He toppled off and refuses to get back on. It's a scoot. Just check the size first. Wish I hadn't bothered

grannytomine · 15/01/2015 21:43

If you can afford it and want to, why not? I never heard of them when my kids were young. We just bought a bike and took the pedals off, when they had their balance put the pedals back on. Two for the price of one but then we didn't have alot. Hope he has a good birthday, two is a lovely age even with the occasional tantrum.

Marmot75 · 15/01/2015 21:43

We spent more than that on a balance bike for our son's 2nd birthday (we got him a First Bike). To be honest he couldn't really ride if until he turned 3 but he's 4.5 and gets a lot of use out of it.

I think it would only be unreasonable if you couldn't afford it or sacrificed something else more important to buy it. If you can afford it then enjoy :)

BlinkAndMiss · 15/01/2015 21:44

YANBU, a relative bought my DS one for his 2nd birthday (no idea of the make). At the moment it's an indoor toy that he pushes around and admires but by the time the weather changes he'll know what to do with it and will be able to go outside on it. I agree that spending a lot on toddler's birthdays is unnecessary but I think it's worth it when it's a present that will last and grow with them over at least the next year.

Balance bikes are great for teaching coordination and a bit of independence, it's taken my DS a while to brave actually sitting on it but it's something he's worked up to and achieve pretty much by himself which has been lovely to watch.

evenherfartsarefragrant1 · 15/01/2015 21:45

Get small kids bike. Remove pedals and stabilisers = balance bike. Wait until they are genuinely balancing (turning at speed etc).
Put on pedals. Give them an hour. Sorted.

Backtobedlam · 15/01/2015 21:47

Ds had an Islabike one at 2, he didn't get it straight away but within a few weeks was flying on it. Then passed it on to dc2 (or you could sell on) as it was still he good condition. Both had pedal bikes at 3 but used the balance bike for fun/when friends were round so it really did help and was worth every penny.

arethereanyleftatall · 15/01/2015 21:48

I love balance bikes. If you want your child to cycle without stabilisers by the time they're 3 or 4, (even 2 for a friend of mine) then definitely invest.

Violettatrump · 15/01/2015 21:49

My friend had a 'tiny bike' (google it) and it was excellent! Metal frame and much better then the wooden ones that break

Violettatrump · 15/01/2015 21:50

Friends son lived on his and went every where on it

Scotslasslivinginfrance · 15/01/2015 21:52

I don't think it's an issue, if you can afford it and you think it will be good fun well used gift then go for it. It will probably last a good few years anyway, even when my DD had moved on to a proper bike she still loved to muck about on her balance bike. Next year he may be totally mad on crafts and you might only spend £20 on a load of arty stuff.

MiaowTheCat · 15/01/2015 21:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thegreylady · 15/01/2015 21:54

Dgs had a Puky for his second birthday and it was one of the best things he ever had (the other was Brio trains). He was riding a bike without stabilisers well before he was 4 and the Puky was passed to his younger brother when he was two. At 5 the younger one is on his second Isla bike and has never needed stabilisers either. That £60 will be money well spent.

DanyStormborn · 15/01/2015 21:54

It's worth the money as it is a great way to get them cycling. I'm not going to spend much on my daughter for her 1st birthday (maybe a good set of Megablocks) but plan to get her the best balance bike for her 2nd birthday.

Ifyourawizardwhydouwearglasses · 15/01/2015 21:57

The Trax one is better, cheaper and a better size for a 2 year old.

Mine has been riding his since he was 17 months and it's the best £40 I've spent in a long time, worth every penny.

DearTeddyRobinson · 15/01/2015 21:58

Seriously? There is a brand called Puky? Shock

Siennasun · 15/01/2015 22:01

We were going to get 1 for Christmas for DS who is 2 but couldn't find one where his feet could touch the ground.

neolara · 15/01/2015 22:03

Balance bikes are great. Mini micro scooter would be a brilliant alternative.

oneowlgirl · 15/01/2015 22:03

Puky balance bikes are ace & great for getting kids riding with pedals from quite a young age.

Dutch1e · 15/01/2015 22:48

DearTeddyRobinson Grin
I thought the same thing when I first heard the name. Rhymes with bookie if that helps.

OP you won't regret buying it. I was just about to spend that much on a puky too until our neighbour gave us hers as a hand-me-down. In hindsight I would have paid double the brand-new price and still been happy.

Original poster
u32ng · 16/01/2015 07:25

thanks for all the replies! Will look into a couple or the other brands mentioned too but glad that most of you are for it. I was worried I might have been turning into one of those parents who must buy the 'best' for their precious first born!Blush

OP posts:
Runningupthathill82 · 16/01/2015 07:52

We got DS the £40 Decathlon one as a joint Xmas and second birthday present. He LOVES it and has used it most days since (we go to the park rain or shine in this house!) so it's been a great buy for us.

HamishBamish · 16/01/2015 07:54

The balance bike we bought for DS1 was one of the best toys we bought him and it lasted well for his brother too. We had a Likeabike Jumper, but there are loads of different ones to choose from. I think it's an excellent present.

I would definitely go for it OP. They are brilliant fun and dispense with the need for stabilisers when moving to a pedal bike later on.