2nd birthday.... balance bike or scooter?

[partyskirt]

Not sure which to get! Please vote.

Bruffin - I wonder if you've ever seen a child learn to ride using a balance bike, it genuinely is so much more instinctive. My DD learned the traditional way with stabilisers (no real problems learning at all and she rides very easily and well now), but my DS is younger and we tried a balance bike for him after seeing how well they worked for a few DC of our friends. He just learned so much more easily and quickly than DD.

Yes, they are different children so it could have been that way anyway, and yes you wouldn't tell the difference now between how they can ride a bike so actually it doesn't matter, but it was a much more fun experience and made the riding so much easier in the early stages as he could come out on family rides with us from age 2.5/3 - we never found that particularly easy with a DC on stabilisers as if you go on a more bumpy surface the stabilisers don't work as well.

You might say it's a gimmick and an extra thing to buy but ours will be used for 2 DC (DS and our younger DD) and it had already been used by our friends 2 DC and is in great condition so likely to be passed on and used by more DC in the future. They are only needed for a year or so so don't get worn out quickly and obviously you save the cost of stabilisers!

My 3rd dc is now using the same micro scooter. I think they're fab too. But I'd also like to buy a balance bike for Xmas. Can those that have them recommend which to get? I don't want to spend too much money.

ittellyouwhat I really rate the Islabike Rothan balance bike, but it is expensive. Very light and had a brake though, and ours looks brand new still after 4 years hard labour by 2 dc. having said that, I reclkon that any bb is better than none, and I have noticed that Sainsbury do a wooden one for around £50, which is often reduced a few weeks before Christmas.

Only on MN could a balance bike start a bun fight

I would go with metal, not wood. Lasts longer and is lighter and usually more adjustable

Both mine used the same light metal BB and it us ear marked for a friend next. It will do at least 6 kids before it's hung up for good by my reckoning. The wooden ones tend to be heavier and more cumbersome. Decathlon and halfords forty pound ones are both popular round our neck of the woods. Tons of 2 - 3 year olds whizz about on them. The trick is to use it lots and within days they are belting about. Helmet needed due to speed

Like mutley I would add that the upside of a balance bike is they can go off road, over mud and grass and cobbles not problem. They can whizz down bumpy hills. They can easily go up and down pavements without parent having to lug it up and down.

We have a (wooden) Early Rider lite, chosen because at the time it was the smallest and lightest we could find. That was 6 years ago and there is much more choice now. For a 2 yr old you need a seat that goes low - they need to be able to put their feet flat on the floor, and as lightweight as possible.

The plastic FirstBike we had was extremely light. And very low to the ground. Ideal for 2 year olds and hard wearing. We had lots of people asking where we got it from (second hand sale!).

Photos here: www.firstbike.com

Both the decathlon one and halfords go very low too - fine for 2 year olds

DS loves his scooter but isn't very good on the balance bike. DD is 21mo and can already sort of scoot as she wants to do everything her big brother does.

Other children seem to love their balance bikes however, so it could be worth getting one at some point.

Can anyone recommend where to buy a helmet? Preferably a comfy one and fun design that a toddler will actually wear?

Kiddimoto do fun helmets, although I would go to local bike shop to be sure of the fit.

Thanks, will have a look.

DD refuses to use her balance bike because it hasn't got pedals like a proper bike. She loves her scooter.