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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

How old was your child when they got their first proper bike (with stabilisers) ? Especially interested in answers from parents of non-trike riding kids.

57 replies

NomDePlume · 12/02/2006 08:44

As you may (or may not) have seen, DD is 3.5 and we are just about to start the waking nightmare that is getting rid of the dummy. We were going to start last Friday night, but I've got this flu bug and was in no state to be dealing with the fallout, and last night DH came down with it . Anyway, it was suggested that the 'dummy fairy' takes her dummies and leaves something fabulous for DD as a reward for being such a big girl. I love this idea and have been wracking my brains for a good enough present that won't break the bank but will make her feel grown up, and have come to the conclusion that a proper bike (with helmet etc) would be a good idea.

She has a Disney Princess trike (the one with the plastic wheels), but she's never been able to pedal it herself, it seems to take too much strength somehow. Would a bike with stabilisers be easier for her to pedal ? How old was your non-trike riding child when they could pedal a normal bike ? Is it unusual for a 3 year old to find a trike awkward (she is a strong, tall 3 year old) ?

TIA

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Clary · 12/02/2006 18:49

NDP agree with Hula and other posters here that trikes are difficult.
None of mine have ever had the ooomph to pedal ours until they are too tall! The pedals are too far forward. I wouldn't buy one again.
Not sure when we got DS1 his 1st bike, but DD (now 4.5) inherited it about a year ago so sonds like you are on the money with yr dd, esp if she is tall. DS2 (3 in April) is desperate to ride DD's bike but his legs are way too short bless him.

nikkie · 12/02/2006 19:05

2.7/8 ish ,wanted a trike but she couldn't pedal it.

persil · 13/02/2006 09:46

ds1 had a scooter for 3rd birthday and a bike for christmas when he was 3 1/4 and he still prefers the scooter which even ds2 (23m) has mastered! Have you contemplated a scooter instead? Oh, he also does not pedal a trike!
Incidentally the reindeers took away ds1's dummies at Christmas for their babies and left him a tool kit. He asked after it for about 3-4 nights but we said the babies still needed it and he has not mentioned it since. We were convinced it would not work as he seemed really dependent on it

Original poster

NomDePlume · 13/02/2006 09:49

Thanks for that Persil . I haven't really thought about a scooter, tbh, she's never shown an interest in scooters when we've seen them out and about.

OP posts:

tarantula · 13/02/2006 09:54

Dd has got both a trike and a bike (both handme downs)and is just gone 2. She cant get the trike going at all but LOVES her bike and does the pedal halfway forward and then back again like Wallaces ds.

OldieMum · 13/02/2006 10:05

We did the dummy fairy thing when DD was 2.7. We gave her a Playmobil Zoo and the whole thing worked very well. She fully understood what the deal was. There was just one hitch - we told her that the dummy fairy would come only when she was ready for her to come and hid the zoo until the big day. She announced that she wanted the fairy to come just as she went to bed on the night that we returned from our summer holiday, after a long ferry crossing and drive home. So DH and I then spent 4.5 hours putting the zoo together, finally finishing at 1am.

Original poster

NomDePlume · 13/02/2006 10:10

ahhhh, they have great timing don't they, OldieMum

OP posts:

snailspace · 13/02/2006 10:28

Message withdrawn

sandyballs · 13/02/2006 10:40

It's quite amazing how quickly kids can pick up riding a bike without stabilisers. I'm sure I was about 6 or 7 but my twin DDs managed it last summer when they were 4.3.

clairemagnolia · 13/02/2006 16:37

We took stabilisers AND pedals off a regular child's bike handed down from my niece, the theory being that the child learns to balance first and then you introduce the pedals later. DS age 3.75 could whizz along and balance on two wheels, both feet in the air, within an hour. He's got some really cool moves! This was a much cheaper option than buying a running bike which are about £120. In my opinion, no one learns to ride a bike by using stabilisers.

sniff · 13/02/2006 16:56

mine can pedal his bike with stabilizers and he is 2.5 but he never had a trike

sounds like a great idea to get rid of a dummy will have to remember that one and try it

girliesmum · 13/02/2006 17:13

help! my dd now nearly 7 still cannot ride her bike, she now refuses to try. We are moving house soon and we will be living in a lovely close which is ideal for bike riding, also jsut around the corner from my nice and nephew who go on regular (accompanied) bike rides and I think she will really be missing out. How do you get them to ride any tips greatfully received

fennel · 13/02/2006 17:49

mine could both ride a bike with stabilisers at about 2 and a quarter. as others said, it's often easier than riding a trike.

girliesmum - it helps to learn on a bike that's a bit small so they can put their feet down easily. otherwise, maybe she's just not a cyclist. has she got a scooter cos they can improve balance and help with cycling.

mszebra · 13/02/2006 18:34

ds1 could ride with stabilisers at 2y+7m, but that was as early as his legs could reach (short kid). I'm sure he would have done it at 24m if his legs were long enough. He pedalled a trike at 23m, so I really don't get this idea that trike-riding somehow inhibits riding on a "big" bike.

yossa · 13/02/2006 19:35

i have been reading this thread with interest as my ds1 who is nearly 4 keeps saying he wants a bike for his birthday in May (He wants a Dora The Explorer one which just happens to be pink but that's a whole different argument) Keep telling him that he can't have a bike until he laerns to pedal as they cost lots of pennies. He currently has a little tykes trike and it had never crossed my mind that the angle at which the pedals are might make it difficult for him - looks like that might be the case. By the way, why don't they do Dora stuff in a more boyish colour - i'm sure there are loads of boys who adore her but i really can't facce buying him a pink bike

arwen · 13/02/2006 19:50

Haven't read the whole thread but noticed someone mentioned a running bike. We got ds 3.6 one for Christmas and he loves it. It was less than £65 inc postage brand new on ebay.

It's wooden and really lovely and I anticipate he will ride reallly easily on a proper bike as his balance has already improved. Most bike shops will actually recommend removing pedals or getting a running bike as it is now accepted a s a far better way to learn than stabilisers. Might be a good idea to try one instead of a bike?

We got ds a ride on train in exchange for his dummy at 3.6 and he moaned a bit but once reminded about his big boy train was fine. we had no disturbed nights as a consequece, bonus is dd, 2, has also given hers up !

mumoftreasures · 13/02/2006 21:35

I agree with Persil, fennel and Clairmagnolia that balance comes for riding, and a scooter really works with that. DS1 got a scooter for his 4th birthday and at 4.4 yrs old he saw a big bike (no stabilisers)at a jumble sale, asked if he could ride it for a bit, and rode away on it!! We had to buy the bike then, ofcourse. DS2 (just turned 4)is now scooting everywhere, and I hope that it won't take a lot of effort for him too, to ride a bike without stabilisers.
(Btw, they both rode bikes with stabilisers before the scooter. Only DS1 liked the trike, too difficult/heavy to pedal for DS2 for some reason)

pebblemum · 13/02/2006 22:02

My ds1 never really got the hang of a bike until he was 4, he was quite nervous about me letting go.
DS2 (2.4yrs) got one with stabilizers on for xmas. After 2 days he was riding it properly with no problems at all. Now there is no stopping him and it is a regular sight on the school run to see me chasing after him down the road while he gets faster and is laughing at me! He has also got a scooter which he had when he was 15 months, we had to buy him one as he kept riding ds1's. He whizzes round on that too going just as fast as the big kids. About a month ago he started trying to copy their stunts . He is just mastering ds1's skateboard too (he only rides it indoors though thankfully).He has NO fear.I Have a horrible feeling I may spend many hours in casualty with ds2 before he is grown up.

Neither of my boys were able to pedal trikes very well. The pedals are always too far forward and seem very uncomforatble to use.

wysiwyg · 13/02/2006 22:05

DD just gave her dummy up aged 5 years and 9 months. Funnily enough it was about the same time as she learnt to ride her bike without stabilisers.......

alliep30 · 13/02/2006 22:10

ds learnt to ride bike without stabilisers in a day aged 4yrs 3mths. He was so determined (and bruised after) that he made me take them off and just kept trying. Dummies went to Father Christmas when he was 3, and left a toy instead.. were on the tray with milk and biccies...maybe the easter bunny could take them??!!

myturn · 13/02/2006 22:14

dd1 learned to ride without stabilisers when she was 4. dd2 spent the day watching her and insisted on having a go too. She refused to let me help her and had taught herself by the end of the day! dd3 was 4. dd4 is 5 and has no sense of balance... hopefully she will be riding a two-wheeler by the time she is 18.

Han7382 · 16/02/2006 10:51

My 1yr old son was given a trike for christmas from the 'in laws'! I was a bit sceptical but it has a parent handle and a strap to secure him to it. I look after older children who love riding their bikes so i tried my son on his trike. He loves it! - can't reach the pedals but holds the handlebars and grins as we follow the other kids. It has encouraged us to get out more and provides an interesting alternative to the pushchair!

dummyfairy · 18/06/2007 13:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ZipadiSuzy · 18/06/2007 14:45

2 and a half

Blueblob · 18/06/2007 21:50

3, he could never get the hang of trike pedals. We were in a toy shop one day and he got on one of the bikes and rode it away! At 5 he can finally use his old trike

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