Balance bike for 1 year old

[LemonDrizzle44]

I am looking to get my DS (who is also turning one around the same time) a balance bike for Christmas. Am looking for one that will ideally last a little while.
There seems to be 2 options - 1 wheel at the front and 2 at the back or 2 wheels back and front? Worried the latter will be easier (although better for younger age) and therefore outgrown quite quickly.

Any thoughts?

I wouldn't go for either of these. My one year old went straight onto a hornit balance bike as they are so lightweight and have rubber air filled wheels so aren't slippy and was whizzing around the local BMX pump track well before she was 2yo. She's pretty tall for her age though (75 centile) so that is something to consider.

Depends how stable they are on their feet really. We had a three wheel one but the kids also played on four wheel ones at nursery and they were able to ride them without tipping over at an earlier age.

They played on the four wheel ones at nursery way beyond the age they were on a proper two wheeler. Kids like toys that are too easy for them and quickly reject those that are too hard.

mine were late walkers and one in particular rode the little three wheel bike for months when she wasn’t yet walking. She wouldn’t have been managing a two wheeler though!

Get them a proper bike. These are toys.

Something like this: https://www.frogbikes.com/en_GB/tadpole-mini.html

Frog bikes are amazing - a second hand one will be just as good.

They're trikes not balance bikes surely....

I agree with @basherlass. Frog bikes are amazing and will last much longer.

They hold their value too. I bought my son's for £180 and sold it a couple of years later for £110.

woom Bikes are great!

I'm a massive balance bike advocate and both my children could ride a pedal bike confidently at age 3, but when they got a decent lightweight balance bike at just turned one they absolutely couldn't use it. It was completely pointless until they were quite a lot older. I think if OP wants something that will be used immediately then what's she has linked looks fine (either).

Look at the cyclesprog blog lots of reviews and articles about bikes for kids from this to teens.

Strider bikes will grow with your kid and you can get a longer seat pole.. don’t forget the helmet.. my 3 year old broke his helmet but his head was fine..

Kidvelo bikes are very good. 12 Balance Bike | Toddler Bike | Kidvelo Bikes kidvelobikes.co.uk/product/rookie-12/ The Rookie 12 is the smallest, for children from approximately 18 months old.

I agree (we’re a cycling family).
One is too young to “get” a balance bike. DS couldn’t even walk on his first birthday. Now 2, with a light bike, air tyres and brakes - he was zooming in no time.

Thanks for your response. This is exactly it. I want something DS can use straight away. He’s not yet walking and probably won’t be by Christmas.
I will eventually get him a proper balance bike like the ones suggested above but maybe for once he’s a bit older (perhaps his 2nd birthday). I’m keen for him to be a confident rider.

Thanks for your unhelpful response. I was merely quoting what the manufacturers called them.

Thanks. I’m keen for DS to get a balance bike. But like you say nearer 2 would be better.
i was thinking the ones above would be better for a 1 year old to “get the idea”. Rather these than the ride along cars etc.

Will definitely look at hornit and frog bikes. Although I definitely don’t think he’d manage until he’s much older. He’s a little shortie (4th percentile) so not sure if he’d be too small.

Maybe look for a scooter with the option for a seat and long handle like this. With the seat low, she can push herself along, similar motion to balance bike.

We've used and loved it since about 15 months, she's now finding a balance bike fun and easy at 2.5

https://www.micro-scooters.co.uk/collections/ride-on-scooters

You'll probably need to wait to nearer 2.5/3 for balance bike. I got a small one but my 15-20th centile girl only just fits it now at 2.5 with the seat right down.

Go for one wheel at the front. Two wheels at the front are harder to steer.
Our first proper balance bike was a vitus nippy, super lightweight, great quality and so much cheaper than the frog or similar. Mine rode it from about 2, and my 5yo still fits (just about).

Ohh yeah he'd probably struggle with the hornit for a while then. But once he's tall enough, it's so good. My daughter was ready for pedals at just turned 2yo (but then we couldn't find a pedal bike small enough 😂)

Is a scuttlebug too simple?

scuttlebug
Both mine loved these before they graduated to micro scooters at 2/3.

I prefer by the trike as I think they turn more easily.

Did consider a scuttlebug but then changed my mind to getting something more bike like.

I had one similar to the second one for my now two year old. It was brilliant for her. She was riding a proper balance bike at 18 months and I’m sure she had the confidence and the correct movement from the baby bike.
She was a super early walker (8.5months) ans no way would she have been riding a proper balance bike at 12 months!
she still rides on her “baby bike” around the house so it’s lasted a good year so far.

At 1 year we bought a mini bike that was low and two wheels at front at back. Called mini bike or something for about £30 off Amazon. My Ds walked early but an actual balance bike on 1st birthday would have been crazy

We bought a woom 1 actual balance bike on 2nd birthday and he loved it. But he’s tall and he was just about tall enough on low setting, it would have been too tall at 1 year. ( he still likes to ride it at 5, even though he now has the woom 3 proper bike and cycles properly, so worth every penny)