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Christmas

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Original poster

Balance bike/trike/scuttle bug for a 2 year old

32 replies

Summerdays2014 · 04/10/2017 19:13

Hi,

My son will be 2 a few weeks after Christmas and I'm wanting to get him some type of bike for Christmas. Not sure what to type to go for at all really. When will he be ready for a bike with stabilisers? What would you recommend at the age of 2? Many thanks.

OP posts:

KingIrving · 04/10/2017 19:27

I think this PUKI balance bike is the best www.kidsbikeshop.co.uk/balance-bikes.html, they come in many sizes

ohnowhatcanido · 04/10/2017 19:32

My DS got a balance bike when he turned two. It was a bit early as he was too short to use it properly, he started using it properly at about 2y 9mo. If you have a very agile and fairly tall DS you may be fine earlier, but we should have waited till his 3rd birthday really.

He has a scuttlebug and he LOVES it and has been whizzing around the house on it since he was at least 2, so that would be my recommendation. They are especially good for indoor use if you have a little bit of space with wooden or tiled floor. They are not so good for outdoor use.

ohnowhatcanido · 04/10/2017 19:33

Oh and my 3year old can't use pedals yet. I think stabilizer bikes are more for 4 year olds - though I might be wrong here.

Ploppie4 · 04/10/2017 19:34

This is small and perfect for a 2 year old

[[https://www.fun4kids.co.uk/tiny-bike-balance-bike-purple.html?cx_campaignId=167734206&cx_adGroupId=24177953406&cx_feedItemId=&cx_targetId=pla-171492375126&cx_locationInterestId=&cx_locationPhysicalId=1007126&cx_matchType=&cx_network=g&cx_device=m&cx_deviceModel=&cx_adId=90916238046&cx_keyword=&cx_placement=&cx_placementTarget=&cx_param1=&cx_param2=&cx_adPosition=1o1&cx_channel=adwords&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6aDKu83X1gIVRo0bCh1V0Q77EAQYASABEgJiovD_BwE|]

Original poster

Summerdays2014 · 04/10/2017 19:35

Ohno, that's really helpful. He's small (9th percentile) so that makes me worry about the balance bike. I saw some kids on a scuttle bug today at the park, I'd never seen them before but they looked great which is what got me thinking...

OP posts:

isthistoonosy · 04/10/2017 19:39

Ours were about 2.5 when they started on balance bikes but could have waited to three as they really just walked them around until then. They both used scuttle bug type toys from around 1 yr esp inside the house. Eldest started using a peddle bike (without stabilisers) just before turning four.

isthistoonosy · 04/10/2017 19:39

Just seen your ds is little, mine are both on the tall / sturdy side.

Evelynismyspyname · 04/10/2017 19:42

There is a tiny Puky Balance Bike - if you get him that and a pedal ride on (tractor or something) and use them lots he won't ever need stabilisers, he'll be riding a proper bike without by 3.5

However for most kids pedaling comes after balance, so a tiny balance bike first. Some people prefer to go the scooter route and the mini micro is supposedly easy for 2 year olds to use. It depends really on where and how often you'll be able to let him use it.

43percentburnt · 04/10/2017 19:48

Ds got a strider balance bike for Christmas when he was 2.4 months, he was tiny and walked around with it. We took him out most days from springtime and by 3 he was whizzing around on it. He got a 2 wheeler frog at 3.8 and was riding within 20 minutes. We never needed a bike with stabilisers. We were worried the frog would be too big (he was approx 90cm when he got it) but he loves it.

I would definitely get a balance bike. The strider is from 18 months our 19 month twins are already walking around on his old one.

SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower · 04/10/2017 19:48

I think balance bikes can be better from 3 tbh. Something not quite so speedy for when they're only 2. Skuttlebugs are great.

Have a look at the decathlon balance bikes, when you do get one. they're excellent, cheap and very very light

Evelynismyspyname · 04/10/2017 19:49

My eldest was tiny too - smallest Puky is really tiny. It fit tiny dc1 on her second birthday - tall dc2 used it from 16 months!

It's about opportunity though - the walking them thing happens at first, but if you live somewhere your kids can use it endlessly they'll easily get the hang of riding it properly. Dc2 who adopted his big sister's balance bike so early was riding to take her to kindergarten (safe cycle paths well away from roads with smooth surfaces abroad - 3 miles each way) by the time he turned 2. He adopted his big sister's pedal bike (no stabilisers) at 2.5 and rode it to kindergarten the next day confidently.

The blance bike had been his absolute favourite thing in the world for a year by then though - he'd have slept with it if I'd let him, he gave it a name etc. My other two weren't as besotted so not quite as early riding a normal bike!

ohnowhatcanido · 04/10/2017 19:49

Is that 9th percentile for height? Mine is 50th so seemingly not that short, but he's quite sturdy and not very agile which didn't help. If he's 9th percentile for height then I'd definitely wait for the balance bike and go for a scuttlebug bug. They are so whizzy (also cheap for the amount of use they get).

My DS also has a scooter but again he's not great at this and certainly couldn't scoot at 2. He could manage to sit on the seat attachment and push himself on it but it is a bit clunky and not hugely easy to maneuver.

Perhaps a trike would be a good halfway house if you want something he can use in the park. Can you go to a toddler group and let him play with some of the pedal toys to guage how he gets on?

43percentburnt · 04/10/2017 19:52

Just saw your ds is little, all of mine are tiny - dd is at the very bottom of the chart and has been since birth. The bike has a dinky baby saddle which you change when they are bigger (it comes with 2 saddles and takes 30 seconds to change over).

BrawneLamia · 04/10/2017 19:53

Ds is 22 months and already loves his wheely bug.

I'm getting him a micro scooter for his birthday as he's always trying to steal his sister's, and at nearly 5 she's still nowhere near ready to give it up.

I've tried him on a balance bike but he wasn't ready for it yet. Dd never got into hers, she much preferred her scooter. But some kids seem to love them.

minipie · 04/10/2017 20:02

DD is quite small (25th centile, on a tall day ) and I would say:

mini micro scooter is hands down her favourite thing. You can get a seat and short handle (O bar) for it to make it more of a scoot along trike. Will be used daily till she is 5 no question.

she loved the scuttlebug at 1 but is now starting to grow out of it at 2.5, not size wise but it's lost its appeal

she has a Strider balance bike which is one of the smallest balance bikes (it's very adjustable so will last for when she is older) - she is just starting to "get it" at 2.5 but there would be no harm in waiting till 3

So overall - if you haven't got a mini micro - get one! If you do, maybe a balance bike, Strider is a good long lasting option.

peachy94 · 04/10/2017 20:09

DS got a scuttle bug at 18months and still uses it at 4.5, he didn't fit on a balance bike till 3 but he wasn't really interested in it till this summer as he turned 4

maamalady · 04/10/2017 20:54

My DD1 is small, and got an Isla balance bike for her second birthday. She loves it, got more out of it as she approached three, but then she's not very physically brave. If you have an adventurous child then go for it at two - my DD1's peers are charging around on their balance bikes, having ridden them since 2/2.5

Original poster

Summerdays2014 · 04/10/2017 21:05

Thanks everyone. Might get a scuttle bug for Christmas and a balance bike for birthday. I'll probably put it away until the summer when he's 2 and a half. With the two being so close together I like the idea of getting him things he can grow into during the year.

OP posts:

SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower · 04/10/2017 22:55

Great idea

Equimum · 05/10/2017 06:47

He'll grow out of a scuttlebug quite quickly. DS2 received one for Christmas last year, aged 16 months, but it won't be great for much longer now.

A balance bike is probably the way to go, but make sure you get a small and light-weight one. PiL bought DS a very nice wooden balance bike when he was about 2, but it was too big and heavy for well over a year.

Ploppie4 · 05/10/2017 07:21

The scuttle bug was a two minute wonder for all mine. They all used the Tiny balance bike though from 1.5/2 upwards.

Ploppie4 · 05/10/2017 07:22

Get a metal balance bike. Those wooden ones look nice but warp and snap and are massive.

QuentinSummers · 05/10/2017 07:26

+1 for mini micro and seat. They are perfect for 2 year olds.

Ploppie4 · 05/10/2017 10:22

Mini micros are ace

Original poster

Summerdays2014 · 06/10/2017 12:20

Thanks everyone. We actually have a mini micro that's been passed down from his cousins. I'll have to get that out. It doesn't have a seat though. Might have to have a look at one of those.

OP posts:

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