Trike, bike, scooter - what to get a 2.6 yr old??

[wonderstuff]

DD is 2.6, and soon to be getting a new sibling, who of course needs to get her a really good present when he or she arrives. She loves ride-on things and her scuttlebug recently gave up the ghost. So.. I initially thought trike with parent handle, but am now worried that in a couple of months she'll be too big for it? Bikes seem a bit big for now? Dh is worried with a bike or a scooter she'll end up flying off into the road.. What to do? We don't have much garden, just a v.small yard so will mainly be a going to park with toy.

What does you two and a half year old like, when did they grow out of a trike?

Dd is 3.5 now and still uses her trike. She has also got a micro scooter which she has had since she was 2.5, she uses it all the time, it was a little hair raising at first but once she got the hang of it (being able to steer etc) it was fine.

bike with a parent handle

ds3 18 mths uses a trike and dts had a bike each for their 3rd birthday, they were never bothered with the trike but like their 3 wheeled scooters

oooggs I did see those, but they were a bit above the babies budget! We found a bike with 10" wheels and have decided to go with that - think the peddling and steering will be a challenge and take a lot of practise, but she's a tall girl and trikes looked a bit tiny. Thanks for advice, maybe a father christmas will have a look at scooters?

I'd go for a balance bike. DS got one for his 2nd birthday and almost never used the pushchair after that - he ALWAYS used his balance bike when we were out and about. At three and a half he graduated seamlessly to a pedal bike (without stabilisers).

Balance bike! Balance bike! Balance bike!!!
We bought one for dd3 for Chrismtas when she was 2yrs 6mths, it's quite honestly the best money we've ever spent on a toy.

Dd3 loves hers and goes everywhere on it ...I can't remember the last time she ised a pram.

She has an Islabike Rothan. I would recommend it to anyone

I can second the balance bike. DS didn't have one but his friend did and they both loved using it. Better than that they then transferred to riding a real bike without stabilisers without any help - just got on and cycled off! They still like the balance bike though.

I'd vote for Scooter. We got them for our DTD the Christmas before last, when they were 2.5, and they have loved them ever since. The Micro-mini ones are really good. Our girls were really good at using them quite quickly, so you'd be able to have DD scoot along next to you as you push new baby in its buggy.

mini micro

Balance bike or micro scooter - both well worth the cost.

Got DD1 a scooter and I hated it, very noisy, she never got the hang of peddling it and also too big, and did I mention very noisy!!!

Also got DD1 a cheapo scooter - crap and she hated it, never used it a total waste of money, after recomendations on here went to Islabikes and got a Rothan - bloody fantastic and she's upgraded to the next bike now (she's 6) and no problems with not having stabilisers.

DD2 borrowed a friends micro scooter and was brilliant on it so bit the bullet and got one for her - she's probably used it every day for well over a year now and its still going strong (she also has the Islabike Rothan) and also got DD1 the next size up to DD2 scooter - again worth the money, it gets used all the time as she feels secure and safe on it.

Good lord the images when I googled mini micro!!

Ah, just reread (sorry for not paying attention properly before!) and realise this is a present from a new baby in which case I'd say scooter. We bought DS a scooter just before baby turned up and it's been brilliant. If he gets bored I can easily carry it and push the pram and I often take it to nursery to pick him up. He got the hang of it very quickly and is as safe on the pavements as he would be on foot.

And another one who will chorus Balance Bike Balance Bike Balance Bike.

We bought one for dd1 when she was just over 2. She is now nearly 5 and still using it. Can't say we have many other toys that have lasted that long.

Balance bike is also very light so easy for you to carry if necessary

I recommended balance bike initially, but if you're going to be spending time inside with your new baby, a mini micro scooter is good - my son used to go up and down the kitchen on his scooter ad infinitum, practising.

DD got a micro mini scooter from her baby brother when she was 2y7m and it was a big hit - she still thanks him for it now . Well worth the cost, and it helped with her move from the buggy to walking/scooting too.

I'd say a mini-micro scooter for now. With a trike you'll be dragging them or pushing them. My 3 yo has loved hers for a year now, but hasn't really shown much interest in her balance bike, so I'd save that for the next 'big' present.

Yes, she will go flying off down the road, but after a heart-stopping week or so, she'll get the hang of stopping at the kerbs etc. And they absolutely LOVE them.

Balance Bike here. Ds had one from 2.5 yrs and we got everywhere so quickly. He moved onto a pedal bike without stabilisers a year later. Best money we have spent.
DD is now loving it.