To just sell DC's balance bike?

[Meowstro]

My DC is nearly 3, we're getting fed up with DC wanting to take the balance bike out, sitting on it for one minute and finding it hard to do then leaving is trailing it around the whole park. The scooter can be just as bad but nowhere near an issue as the balance bike. I want to bloody give up and just buy a normal bike with stablisers. No amount of positive reinforcement or enthusiasm is helping.

DH thinks I'm giving up too easily and we're not putting enough effort in to help but there's no interest in it apart from if DC sees another child riding their bike. However, I know she can ride the bikes they have at her daycare.

Surely I'm not awful for suggesting that there's nothing wrong with getting a normal bike?!

Totally agree different approaches for different kids and of course it doesn't really matter which route you take to bike riding. However I have had success with the balance bike with both mine. My eldest transitioned to pedal bike and no stabilisers at 4 with no wobbling at all. My reasoning was that it's a lot easier running alongside & supporting the weight of a 3 year old on a balance bike than a 6 year old on a real bike minus stabilisers. Also much less fuss if they fall.

In your position, OP, I think I'd take the emotion out of the situation before giving up. (I've noticed the more I want my toddler to do something, the more they determinedly work against me). Could you get a cheap bike chain for it? So you can lock it to a post in the park when she's had enough, and pick it up on the way home?

I would get rid. Based on my anecdotal evidence.
DS had a normal bike with stabilizers aged 3 by age 4 he was cycling without stabilizers zooming around no problem.

By the time DD was 3 balance bikes were all the rage, we got one we persevered with it, she never got it, we got her a bigger one at 5 she still couldn't do it, hated it. Said she never wanted a bike. We got her a proper bike with stabilizers when she was 6, she was happy she could do it, got her stabilizers off within 3 months.

Presumably they never travel by car @speakout? Or walk?

My little one was like this at 3 with his balance bike. Now 4 and he loves it. Did 3k on it the other day! Don’t sell it!

some kids just hate them. I live in Germany and it's not uncommon to see 3 year olds riding bikes with no stabilisers.
All children are different

Waffles80 serious accidents happen far less frequently- pro rata- to car passengers and pedestrians than cyclists.

If dc is not interested in the balance bike then leave it for a few weeks and try again.

What I didn't understand from your OP was this I want to bloody give up and just buy a normal bike with stablisers

Do you mean for your dc now? Aged not yet 3? If so, I dont see why s/he would be more interested in that than the scooter or balance bike?

Is it a heavy one? Or too big? DD1 really struggled with her balance bike so we went down the stabilisers route but I think on reflection the balance bike was far too heavy. We bought an islabike when we got to DD2 and it was a completely different story and she taught herself to ride once she had pedals, we didn’t need to do anything!

Neither of mine big ones were interested till they were 4 though. All DC are different.

Mine = my

Didn't work for us either, normal bike was great at 3 and stabillisers off at 4

Bike with stabilisers is far far worse if they decide they don’t want to ride it.

3 is young. Give hime time.

I think it can depend on the bike you have. I really recommend Isla bikes... they are nice and light so easy to use from 2 years old. My dd has just turned 3 and is asking for peddles as she has got so good on hers. We're going to wait a bit longer though as she doesn't always remember to use the brakes and her steering can get a bit wobbly when she goes too fast! But in terms of momentum, she has really got the hang of picking her feet up and speeding around over the last few months. Before that she would cover less distance on a walk and it was more likely that we would have to carry it! Make sure the bb you have isn't too heavy and is also at the right height. It makes a big difference.

My eldest son is twenty and balance bikes didn’t seem to be a thing when he was little but he could ride a bike without stabilisers when he was three. Middle son is nearly eight and can’t ride a bike at all even though he did have a balance bike that he hated! Youngest son is four and can nearly ride a bike without stabilisers having loved the balance bike.

To be honest, I’m more worried about the eldest riding round in his actual car unsupervised than the fact the middle one doesn’t seem to take to bike riding in any form!

My 3.5 year old has no interest in the balance bike and can’t get the hang of it. We got him a normal bike with stabilisers which he can do no problem,

For anyone who finds their kid's balance bike is too heavy, or is just looking to buy one, this one is very light (1.9kg) and good value:
www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-nippy-superlight-balance-bike/

It's not the one DS has - we got a good deal on a Strider, which is good but a bit heavier.

We got my son a balance bike at 2, and although he liked the idea of taking it out, we would end up carrying it. We decided to persevere and within a year he would be nipping about for miles on it.
He went straight from balance bike to pedal bike (no stabilisers), but he didn't like pedalling so the new bike mostly sat in the garage for a year. However he's now 5 and loves his pedal bike and during Lockdown we've been out every day !

Sometimes it's just a case of them getting used to something - and letting them learn at their own pace. I don't think you can push riding a bike until the child actually has an interest.

She's definitely not too young. Although my dd has both stabiliser and balance bike at 2 and was closer to 3.5 before she was really interested in the balance. The combo of the 2 meant she could do both pedal and balance so when I took her stabilisers off just after her 4th birthday she just took off like she'd always been doing it. Probably could have done it sooner. We got the balance bike for Xmas just before her 2nd birthday then she was gifted a stabiliser one just after. I was cursing at the time as she preferred the stabiliser one massively and was confidently cycling around pretty much straight away. Worked out well though

Neither of mine got on with a balance bike but both have ended up happily rides bikes.

That said I wouldn’t sell it in case she comes round to it a bit later.

3 is just the right age but some children just aren't interested. My ds could ride on 2 wheels when he started nursery at 3 as he had older cousins and he just kept at it. My dd had a tailgator on my bike and she just went from there.
I have just bought my godson a balance bike as his mum kept saying he won't pedal and keeps hurting his knees on the normal bike. He loves the balance bike especially downhill.
If she's not interested just get rid of it and get a conventional bike with stabilisers ( and preferably a push handle.

Perhaps it’s just not their thing at the moment? Balance bikes are brilliant for some kids and they definitely make riding a pedal bike an easier transition, but not all children will enjoy cycling.

I would put it away and bring it out again in a month or so. Your DC will come to it when they’re ready.

My DD had one and couldn’t get the hang of it at. She went straight onto a proper bike (with stabilisers) and much preferred that. Sold the balance bike and got a good price!

Don't get rid of the balance bike. Whatever you do, never buy a bike with stabilisers. It's a dead-end road, in terms of cycling skills. Keep trying the balance bike. If they outgrow it without mastering it, teach them to ride a bicycle with stabilisers.

Balance bikes weren't a thing when I was growing up, so I made the mistake of buy her a bike with stabilisers. For her first bike without stabilisers, she had to learn from scratch. None of her previous experience was of any use. (And actually bikes with stabilisers are more likely to have falls than a begginer on a bike without. They tip over sideways on non-level ground.)

Prior to lockdown, my Granddaughter (3 in February) had a balance bike and scooter. Numerous "tries" with bb - really didn't like it - much preferred the scooter. Not seen family since middle of March - she now loves/is competent with both.
Put bb away for a while - then go back and try again. Also, stating the obvious, ensure safety items are used - helmet etc..

I would never encourage my children to cycle.

Encouraging your children to cycle is irresponsible and dangerous parenting? Ah, Mumsnet. Never change.