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Christmas

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Original poster

Is a tall 4 year old too old/big for a balance bike?

23 replies

Notso · 12/10/2014 08:48

DS2 is 4 just before Christmas. He really wants a bike and we were going to get him a balance bike as he picked up one in Toys are us and was flying round the shop on it within seconds.
However it was a bit on the small side and the bikes I have looked at online all seem to be from age 2.
DS is in age 5 clothes from most places so on the tall side.

Have we missed the boat?

OP posts:

biscuitsandbandages · 12/10/2014 08:50

I can ride my sons 14inch metal balance bike and im 5ft

Shedding · 12/10/2014 08:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Notso · 12/10/2014 08:58

thanks for sharing!

OP posts:

Original poster

Notso · 12/10/2014 09:01

Thanks also Shedding

Will go for it then, just don't know which one. I really like the kiddimoto ones.

OP posts:

Buttercup27 · 12/10/2014 09:04

Halfords do balance bikes with different size frames and a saddle and handle bars that can be raised.

mausmaus · 12/10/2014 09:06

if he's wizzing around like mad he might be ready or the real thing.

PesoPenguin · 12/10/2014 09:07

Hmmm I'm not sure on this one. Ds is 5 and still loves to go on the kidimotos at his grandparent's (as do his 10 year old cousins!) and we've only just got rid of the balance bike he's had since he was 2. But...DS learnt to ride without stabilisers before he was 4 ( although this may be because he had loads of practice on his balance bike) so I suspect your ds will be wanting a pedal bike soon! So... My advice would be if money is not an issue and you could just get him a bike for his birthday for example, go for the Kidimoto but if money is tighter go for a pedal bike.

merrymouse · 12/10/2014 09:07

I'm not sure how to do it, but some people advise buying a normal bike and just taking the pedals off.

Original poster

Notso · 12/10/2014 09:21

Oh not sure again now!

He was going really fast in no time on the balance bike where as DS3 2 was wobbling around.
He can ride a trike really well, and theres DN's stabiliser bike at PILs which he rides too.

I'm maybe thinking of going with the balance bike just so he can get the feel of it. DS3 will get the use out of it too no doubt. Then I will just get him a few choice bits for Christmas and save the money to put towards a proper bike in the summer.

OP posts:

jamtoast12 · 12/10/2014 09:59

I'd just get a real bike without stabilizers. I don't often see 4 yr olds on balance bikes, they're more of a toddler thing I find. I would get him peddling at four most kids start on peddle bikes at 4-5.

erin99 · 12/10/2014 10:42

DS outgrew his at age 4 and he is not huge, but it was quite a small balance bike. We took the pedals off a proper bike and let him whizz round on that for a bit, and eventually he deigned to have the pedals put on.

DH took the pedals off but if you don't know how, I am sure a bike shop would do it for not very much money.

MissWimpyDimple · 12/10/2014 21:36

Balance bikes are brilliant but at 4 you really aren't going to get much use out of it. Having said that, after a few months in it he'll be more than ready to move onto a pedal bike (no stabilisers!) and your younger child can start on the balance bike.

I wouldn't spend a lot, but the ones with brakes are great for older toddlers as it gets them used to the idea...

SquattingNeville · 13/10/2014 11:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jThompson · 13/10/2014 13:51

There are a couple of bigger balance bikes around. I would have thought a 14 inch would be fine for a four or five year old. I recently bought a 16 inch go glider for my nearly 8 year old. Coordination problems mean he's not like to ride a bike soon, but actually both kids have had fun with it even the one who's been riding for years.

Taking the pedals off is not that hard, I followed a you tube video and managed it. However the bile was still much heavier than the balance bike. Probably OK for a few weeks but I didn't feel it was a great longer term option.

Not sure how hard it is to get them back on either, that's my next challenge!

Original poster

Notso · 13/10/2014 14:36

Still undecided The bigger balance bikes seem quite expensive.
I'm now thinking of getting a small balance bike for my 2 year old and an actual bike for my 3 year old.

OP posts:

naturalbaby · 13/10/2014 14:40

I would get the balance bike for your 2yr old and proper bike for 3yr old. I did similar with my dc's and the older boy rode the balance bike for a few months till the younger one could manage on his own, then the younger one was more confident and ready to ride the bike.

merrymouse · 13/10/2014 14:45

If you have some cash to spare Islabikes are brilliant (You can pass it on to your next child and then sell).

They are much lighter weight than standard children's bikes. We got one for DS when we realised that his little starter bike was heavier than our adult bikes.

starlight1234 · 13/10/2014 14:45

Do you have a toy library near you? My DS borrowed one from there for a few months which was all he needed.

Memphisbelly · 13/10/2014 14:52

Ds is 4 and we have recently bought him a Scoot larger framed balance bike as his Kiddimoto one is too small now (he is a small kid) we took him to a balance bike fun day near us and the bigger kids all had normal bikes without the pedals on and were fine on them.

FullOfChoc · 13/10/2014 22:02

Balance buddy might be worth looking at.

www.halfords.com/cycling/accessories/kids-bike-accessories/bike-balance-buddy?source=ppc&gclid=CPSDvKbDqsECFRMatAodHngAiQ&$ja=cgid%3A4305226684%7Ctsid%3A35522%7Ccid%3A102342964%7Clid%3A6888183633%7Cnw%3Ag%7Ccrid%3A37687254004%7Crnd%3A6962571865491024872%7Cdvc%3Ac%7Cadp%3A1t1&cm_mmc=GooglePPC--KB+-+Kids+Bikes+-+Product+Accessories--Bike+Balance+Buddy+Exact--balance+buddy

erin99 · 13/10/2014 22:42

I agree with jThompson that the bike with pedals removed is possibly a bit heavy for long term use, but why would you need a 4 year old on a balance bike long term? I think any balance bike is likely to be short lived at that point. We did it with DS because he point blank refused pedals, but it didn't take many weeks with him whizzing about, and us stopping banging on about pedals, for him to decide he wanted pedals after all so he could go even faster.

A real bike is a lot heavier to handle than an outgrown (and therefore tiny) balance bike. Taking the pedals off lets them get used to the weight while still having the safety of not pedalling. I'm afraid I get a bit over-enthusiastic on this topic because we tried the stabilisers route with my eldest for a whole summer with masses of stress, and were just blown away with how much better the balance bike/no pedals route is.

FullOfChoc · 14/10/2014 21:36

I;ve taken pedals off when teaching an older kid, and this is what the bikeability (cycle proficiency) people did at my school.

Do label them left and right before removing though (speaks from experience...)

slippermaiden · 14/10/2014 21:46

Mine had them from age 2. They rode a normal bike without stabilisers by 4 and a half, probably because of all the time on the balance bikes. Your boy will probably outgrow it really quickly, but if it's cheap go for it!

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