Balance bike for 2 year-old?

[mizzles]

Hi all

DD will be 2 in late May and I am pondering whether to get her a balance bike. She is a little bit slow with gross motor skills (still not running at all really, although her walking, balance and climbing are fine) and can't manage the micro scooter I got her at Christmas (she can balance on it fine but can't figure out pushing with her leg). I am really keen to ensure that she has as many opportunities as possible to be active and to take pleasure in being active. At the moment she mostly focuses on picking up lots of sticks when we go to the park and I worry it must get a bit dull for her. Would a balance bike help her or just frustrate her? I am relaxed about the cost but don't want to get her something which will discourage her. Can anyone advise?

When kids start on balance bikes they just walk along with two feet. They don't have to trust their whole weight to an object with wheels like on a scooter. I think she'd be fine. If she has gross motor issues it probably just means she'll take longer to progress to gliding, but that's fine.

How big is she? What about a scuttle bug?

We got DS a balance bike at 2, and now he's only just started to use it and he's nearly 3. He's very cautious and again had a scooter at 2, but is the slowest scooter user

The balance bikes are heavy to carry around if they don't want to ride. We got the symths toys one, 29.99 l'd say it's better 2.5 onwards. But why not take her to a Halfords or a Decathlon store to try them? Mostly they say 3 +, but I do see some younger kids flying on theirs, just depends on the child.

Hi both, thanks for the replies. Snoringdoggo, she's not very tall (still fits some 12-18 month clothes) so, having looked into it a bit, I think most of the bikes would be a bit too big. We don't drive so getting to a Halfords etc to try them first is a bit of a to-do as there's not one within walking distance or a bus ride. I think I'll wait til she's a bit bigger and more physically confident. I think what she would really enjoy at the moment is a little keyboard; seems a shame in summer but she is always playing the one at nursery and announcing that she's 'playing piano' and trying to play my guitar, so at least she would enjoy it straight away. (She has inherited my nerdy, unathletic genes to a t.) But the scuttlebug looks like a good option as it's much cheaper than a bike and looks a little easier to use. Anyway, thanks both!

Our 3 year old has just 'graduated' from a scuttlebug to a balance bike. At 2 , the scuttlebug was perfect, and she used it constantly, both inside and out, until she was too tall for it. Had the advantage of being easily transported in the car too, if required. Thoroughly recommend!

Thanks Ladylinda. I had got a bit worried with so many people saying that their DC were on balance bikes/scooters at 2 and got the hang of them in an afternoon. DD is just nowhere near that with the scooter. Good to know she's not a complete outlier! A scuttlebug it is.