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Original poster

Trikes v bikes for 3 year old?

31 replies

Enid · 29/09/2005 09:44

dd2 will be 3 in a couple of weeks and wants a bike or a trike. She is quite weeny and although strong, not very coordinated. What shall I get her?

OP posts:
Original poster
Enid · 29/09/2005 10:16

.

OP posts:
TinyGang · 29/09/2005 10:30

Our dt's have had bikes during the last year (they have only just turned 4). With stableisers(sp?) they seemed fairly well balanced and you can take them off if they get the hang of it. Not yet in our case Ds is perhaps slightly better on his. Dd gets a bit stuck sometimes on hers.

A trike may feel more 'solidly' on the ground though iyswim and might be a bit better at this point for a little one who's only just three.

I think at three ours would have been just as happy with a nice trike - it's just that dh is mad on bikes and wanted to get them on one asap.

Whatever you get, make sure it has a basket or bag on it for dolly or teddy too. This seems to be very important as is a bell. You can also buy streamers for the handlebars from Halfords!

tarantula · 29/09/2005 10:56

lol Im having the same dilema Enid. dd is coming up fro 2 and wants a bike (a motorbike for preference )but shes very small so not sure what to do.

I was looking at these too but have a feeling shell be too small to get onto the saddle and have her feet on the floor so may wait till next year for that.

Kelly1978 · 29/09/2005 10:58

i think bikes are supposed to be easier to ride. dd never mastered a trike, but she did ok on her first bike. (4th bday)
I would hve a look around and see if you can find a good stable one.

Bozza · 29/09/2005 10:59

I would say bike with stablisers. DS (also uncordinated and a bit short in the leg) found it easier to actually pedal his bike than his trike due to the different more upright seating position.

Would say trike for the nearly 2yo though!

Scatterbrain · 29/09/2005 11:02

Hi Enid,

I'd go for the bike to be honest ! We bought dd a lovely trike when she was almost 3 and then she wanted a bike almost straight away - we got her the Raleigh Molly which is weeny and she was absolutely fine on it at 3 - still riding it at 5 and only fallen off lately as we have boldy removed stabilisers ! Mind you - with number 3 on the way at least you will have another user of the trike - we got one from John Lewis which has a push-pole and seat belt and have put visiting 12 month olds in it for a walk !! So you could kill two birds with one stone I suppose ?

Hope that helps - & huge congratulations by the way !

TinyGang · 29/09/2005 11:05

Hey I missed that Enid! Congratulations

Original poster
Enid · 29/09/2005 11:36

why thank you

I will do a quick search around at lunchtime. So you can get weeny bikes then?

I remember dd1 could never master a trike but went on to a bike no problems when she was 4ish but she is very sporty unlike little roly poly dd2

OP posts:
clary · 29/09/2005 11:40

Oh enid I am not a fan of trikes (except we have a very old one which was passed on to us and is more like a bike).
Our ELC trike with parent pole thingy is hopeless; IME by the time the child is strong enough to pedal they are too big for it. DS2 is 2.5 and can't push the pedals round because they are in front of him, not beneath him like a bike.
I would go for a bike every time but make sure you get it from a bike shop not Toys R Us then you don't have to put it together and also they should offer you a free service after a few weeks.
congrats from me too btw.

clary · 29/09/2005 11:43

this one is the one you want, suerly. Loooove those streamers!

Scatterbrain · 29/09/2005 11:46

Yes Clary - That's it exactly !! There's also a brand new one on ebay at the moment - got 3 days to run - can't do links I'm afraid but if you do a search on "Raleigh Molly" it comes out at the top ! Lovely bike !!

We got ours from Halfords BTW.

Original poster
Enid · 29/09/2005 11:54

omg she would love that

how big is a 12" wheel size? She is a short 3 year old

I suppose if she couldnt actually ride it she could play with the doll

OP posts:
Original poster
Enid · 29/09/2005 11:54

I will measure her inside leg tonight (she will think I have gone mad)

OP posts:
puddle · 29/09/2005 11:58

My dd was three this week Enid. She got given a very light bike by some friends a month or so ago and she has amazed me by being fantastic on it. She can pedal it herself - I think the key is that it's quite light so doesn't require huge effort.

She did get a barbie scooter for her birthday tho which has also gone down very well.

oliveoil · 29/09/2005 12:01

Enid - my dd1 is 3 on the 23 Oct and I am after a bike as well! I am looking at a Barbie one (seeing as though you won her dolls in the comp ), will see if I can link.

oliveoil · 29/09/2005 12:03

two of them here

scotlou · 29/09/2005 12:04

Yes - get a bike. My ds had the Raileigh Ollie (very small and pedals like a "real" bike - ie you can't go backwards which you can with a trike and some cheaper bikes). My dd (just 3) has it now. Both could pedal it before their 3rd birthdays.
Better quality trikes / bikes seem to be easier for them to pedal cos they are better balanced or something.

clary · 29/09/2005 12:36

enid lol at measuring her legs!!

clary · 29/09/2005 12:38

btw this is the bike a friend had at her recent b/day and dd (4) was very taken with the furry seat cover which you can zip off.....wants one on her bike now (sadly it's ds1's old bike so green and blue, no handlebar streamers....)

Original poster
Enid · 29/09/2005 17:45

the Molly fits inside leg from 34cm and she is bang on 34 cm so hopefully it will be OK. Still can't quite see her on a bike though.

OP posts:
tassis · 29/09/2005 18:09

Have you thought about a scooter?

Friends ds got one or his 4th b'day. Huge success. My 2yo recently now has it on a long term loan coz they're in Oz for a year and he ADORES it.

PeachyClair · 29/09/2005 18:16

Both of our older boys had a bike for their third birthday, and we will carry that onto DS£ in July. They do have scooters / trikes as well 9they get the trikes early- 2nd b-day usually).

We don't go for a particular model, just whatever Halfords have that has kiddy appeal and is sturdy, currently it is a frggy design and a noddy one. Never completely the cheapest, as froggy has lasted three years so far and still going strong!

Milliways · 29/09/2005 18:57

My DS had a tiny (& cheap) bike at age 3, and because it had plastic wheels it was very light (so easy to carry across roads etc) & easy to balance. He was off stabilizers by 3.5 & we ditched the buggy & let him ride the school run etc.

He is still bike mad at age 10 BTW.

Scatterbrain · 29/09/2005 19:15

Ooooh Clary - you can buy the furry seat covers in Halfords - I've got a big one on mine !! My Raleigh Molly didn't have one - so I bought one separately !!

golds · 29/09/2005 19:19

I would go with the bike too, dd couldn't get on with her trike as her legs weren't long enough to stretch out front. We didn't bother trying ds with a trike went to straight to bike, he rode a 12" at age 3