How old for a balance bike?

[OneUp]

My little one will be almost 2 this Christmas, is it worth buying a balance bike or will she still be a bit too little for one?

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DS got his aged 2 from islabikes.

Can't decide whether to get it for christmas or wait until her second birthday in March.

I'd be tempted to hold off until 2. Some kids do get the hang of it earlier, but 2+ is more typical. Also from March you'll get much more use out of it than in winter.

Ds1 had one for his 2nd birthday he was 2 1/2 before he really got it so I'd wait until her birthday

Depends on the bike, we got our tall 2 year old one for her birthday. (Wooden kidimoto one) and she couldn't reach the floor. So got her a mini micro scooter instead.
Islabike should be ok though

I think it depends how long they have been walking tbh.

If they are well established and running about, I'd say get it earlier. My neighbours kids and nephews were proper cycling on actual pedal bikes by 2 and a half after having the balance bikes.

But if they have only been walking a couple of months, I'd say wait till birthday time.

We got dd1 one for her 2nd birthday, tbh she still struggles with it at 2.4 and prefers her toddlebike or scooter or trike. I think she will get it before she's 3 though, so I'm not sorry I got it, she likes it and wants to ride it.

I think most kids manage between 2 and 3, so i'd probably wait until her birthday.

My son was 2 in March just gone and he still hasn't got the hang of his balance bike. Really doesn't know what to do with it. He was a slow walker (19 months) and is still quite unconfident physically.

She's been walking since one but she's only been attempting to run for a few months so I think I'll hold off until March :)

My dad got dd a strider bike for Christmas she is 14 months and average height. He has tried her on it and she can reach the floor and push it. Steering is a completely different story

Ds got his for his 2nd birthday. He could 'do' it straight away but it was a bit big for him ( he is short though). I'd hold off til her birthday just because the weather will be getting nicer then so she'll be outdoors more. They are fab though, ds learnt to ride a proper bike with no stabilisers at 3 and I'm sure it's because he had his balance bike :)

Ds was big enough for his at 19 months (Puky LRM) and he isn't tall. He could ride a pedal bike without stabilisers 3 months later.

Might be a good idea to wait until the weather is nicer in the Spring though.

I think islabikes have the minimum leg length the seat will take on its website. We got one when DD is about 2.3yo or 2.4yo. She learned how to ride it within an hour or two.

They change very rapidly within a few months though. So if they can't do it just before 2, they might well be ready 3 months later.

We did get ds his one for Christmas when he was 13 months. We expected to put it away until he was big enough. In the end we just left it lying around and he was ready sooner than we expected.

Just remembered that I read somewhere that somebody had a tall 11 month old on a Strider bike!

Or if you want to get it now, look at the toddlebike on amazon. It's a pre balance bike. My 18 month old wont put it down, it's absolutely brilliant!!

My DD has only just got to grips with her balance bike now and she's 6! And it's far too small for her now! To be fair she's not the most coordinated or athletic child