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Original poster

Mini Micro Scooter or Balance Bike for 22 month old?

16 replies

lovepigeon · 01/12/2013 14:27

Hi I just wondered if anyone had any advice on which to get first - scooter or balance bike (looking at puky lr m)?
I was originally going to go for bike as worried scooter would be more dangerous but then saw lots of threads on mumsnet about 2 year olds enjoying scooters so now I'm not sure.
DD is very physical and well coordinated and is very interested in the scooters she sees children in the park with - don't see so many balance bikes about. She has had a go on one in a toy shop a month ago and was managing to scoot around straight away.

OP posts:
ElaClaw · 01/12/2013 17:43

Balance bike :) Ds3 had the Puky LRM from 19 months. He was able to use it from that age. He still uses it sometimes now he is 3.

It only took a few months from balance bike to pedal bike with no stabilisers.

perfectview · 01/12/2013 18:18

Scooter DD still uses hers at 5.5 and DD2 can just about manage to scoot so is getting one for Xmas- she is 26mths. DD1 had no trouble learning to ride a bike despite not having a balance bike.

ElaClaw · 01/12/2013 18:32

Also you can take balance bikes where you can't take scooters, through the woods, bumpy paths etc

RandomMess · 01/12/2013 18:33

I'd say scooter, easy for you to pick up and carry when they've had enough as they are so light!

ElaClaw · 01/12/2013 19:25

I can personally testify that the Puky LRM is light enough to carry easily. It is also light enough to carry toddler, bike and bags of shopping Grin.

ZenNudist · 01/12/2013 20:05

Scooter - easy to carry when dc had enough.

We have both & scooter gets way more use. Every child I know has one & if one takes theirs to the park, the other one wants theirs too! Look round the parks you go to, see what your friends have. I rarely see people with balance bikes but lots of scooters.

justtoomessy · 01/12/2013 20:05

I'd say scooter too. My DS had way more fun on his scooter than the balance bike.

ElaClaw · 01/12/2013 21:02

That's because all the kids on balance bikes are at the dirt jumps/skatepark/BMX track ;)

ElaClaw · 01/12/2013 21:03

btw I guess it depends on where you live. Not really anywhere smooth enough to use a scooter in our village.

EmGee · 01/12/2013 21:13

We have bought DD2 at almost 21months the mini micro scooter for Christmas. Her big sister has one (that DD2 tries to use) and also a Puky bike (not the smallest model). Where we live, the scooter is the best bet for the moment. I find the scooter infinitely easier to carry than the bike.

DaveMccave · 01/12/2013 22:06

In my experience of both, all children take to mini micro scooters but some never take to balance bikes. Especially not at 2. Boys tend to take to them more often than girls I've found. My dd got a mini micro for her 2nd birthday, took her a while to get the hang of the steering but it was used every day until she got her maxi at 6. Balance bike got sold as she never got the hang of it. You can just take the pedals of a normal bike...

You can get a scoot n pull strap which is perfect for dragging tired toddlers up hill, and then putting scooter over your shoulder when not in use too.

blueshoes · 01/12/2013 22:27

Balance bike, simply because they will learn to ride a bike in 5 minutes later.

MummyPig24 · 02/12/2013 05:41

Neither of mine have had balance bikes so I can't really comment but ds had a 2 wheel micro scooter and dd has a 3 wheel mini micro and they storm along on them. They really love them, money well spent.

Ds had no problem riding a bike without stabilisers age 4, he has fab balance though. Dd is getting a bike for Xmas (she's 3.9)

Iheartcustardcreams · 02/12/2013 05:56

I think you will get more use from a scooter. Mine both got scooters for 2nd birthdays. We also have a balance bike. Ds1 took it and loved it and was able to ride a bike very quickly. Ds2 is 3 now and still won't use it.

ElaClaw · 02/12/2013 06:35

The good thing about balance bikes is that even when they can ride a bike they still take their balance bikes out to play because they are really good fun for jumps and tricks.

blueshoes · 02/12/2013 08:38

Iheart, keep trying occasionally. My dd would got a balance bike at 2 and would not ride it until she was over 3 years old (but she is small sized so it could be related to her having better control when she was taller).

They look so cool on it. When we are in the park, we get dads looking wistfully and often coming up to ask us about them.

I agree you get more use out of a scooter, but you have to upgrade when they are older. We have both and the scooters are still in use, as is their normal bikes.

Just having a balance bike to eliminate the aggro of having to teach your child to ride a bike later is well worth it IMO. Ds could ride his bike to school, with me walking alongside, after he turned 4. Again, I got the wistful looks, this time from mums on the school run who marvelled at how little my son was but already riding a bike.

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