Talk to me about balance bikes

[Rhian82]

DS is almost two, and we want to get him a balance bike for Christmas. However we're torn between the metal ones (which seem just like normal bikes without pedals), or those fancy wooden ones (the handlebars don't seem to turn as fully on these?).

Does anyone know what the main practical differences are, or the pros/cons of each type?

Thanks

My DD had the wooden version and it worked well for her and several boys before her. A friend had the metal and she swore by that so it's just personal choice. If you can, let him try both varieties out and by Christmas he will have forgotten about it and be excited. We have just gone on to the tag-along-bike which is great too and has taught our DD to ride a bike without stabilisers better than the balance bike.
Sorry not been much help but thought i'd post my experience.

My Ds (5) had a wooden one (cheap from argos) which has worn well and is about to be passed down to DD (2)

Islabikes are great if you can afford. Indestructable. It is also good for children if they're younger or on the small side. We love ours!

We bought ds a balance bike for his 2nd birthday 6 months ago and he still hasn't used it. He was too short to start with and even now he's not happy to actually balance and scoot himself along. Probably would have been better off waiting until his third birthday.

Toys R Us sell a motorbike ride on called Neox motorbike for £29.99 and ds absolutely loves it. He really picks up some speed on the bloody thing too!

DS had a metal one, brilliant! He learnt to ride his big bike only 6 months after his 7 year old sister (who didn't have one). She was 6 at the time and he was only just 4!

DS has this one

We bought this one for DS when he was 2.5yrs. He was HIGHLY excited about it between Christmas and New Year. Then he refused to ride it - because it was too bloody wobbly . I sold it a few months later - feeling quite that it had not been used. At four he got a bike with stabilisers, which has been a resounding success. MPD

We bought a WeeRide for youngest..it's one of the smallest ( she's small ). It's metal and has a brake to save sheoe wear. Found it quite cheap on e-bay.