Little Tikes vs Smart Trike 3-in-1

[CocoaBeanPlease]

Hi,

We're liking the idea of a 3-in-1 trike for our 19 month old DD. Does anyone have any thoughts on how these two compare? They seem pretty similar to me, but I was wondering if any had an advantage over the other.

www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Tikes-618277-3-in-1-Trike/dp/B003DRFW1O/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
www.amazon.co.uk/Smart-Trike-Fresh-Tutti-Frutti/dp/B004FN1AI4/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_1_1

I'm particularly interested in the maneuverability when using the parent handle, as we'd like to use it on busy London footpaths. If it's possible for the child to suddenly pitch it into the road, that would severely limit where we could use it.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

I have the smart trike zoo 3 in 1,
www.amazon.co.uk/Smart-Trike-1573400-Zoo-Cow/dp/B003BNY8MO/ref=sr_1_8?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1315419531&sr=1-8
I hasten to add I bought mine in the sale and it cost £63 from Amazon and I've seen it in mothercare for a similar price.
I did a lot of research on which model seemed to be the best and I did find a lot of horror storys on the cheaper models metal parent handle snapping which did put me off but I can't say if its a real concern as I didnt buy that model, the model we purchased has a much sturdier handle and I have to say I have no concerns of it snapping as its chunky and feels safe.
The version we bought I cannot sing its praises enough! I love the fact that when we bought it DS was 1 years old and the fact he was enclosed and in a padded and harnessed seat was a big plus for me I felt safe that he wasnt going to fall out or escape. The trike itself is well made, it has a cup holder on the front and a toy phone with its own holder that he loves playing with. It also has fold down stationary foot rests so DS has the choice of resting his feet or peddling. There is also a bucket on the back for putting your childs odds and ends in and the bag on the top of the handle is great for your phone keys and purse. The sunshade is great aswell its adjustable and does its job well.
We've had the trike for 8 months now and as DS has grown the trike has lasted well, he still fits in the enclosed padded seat and is comfortable (I should mention he is quite tall for his age) He happily rides in it and we've found it perfect for going to the Park or Library and does get a lot of admiring glances and comments.
The parent handle as mentioned is very sturdy and stears well, I live in a hilly busy seaside town with narrow footpaths so I too was worried about DS stearing into the road, so far we've had one incident when he did turn the handles unexpectedly but the parent handle responds brilliantly and disaster was averted. Aslong as you are aware it may happen and have firm grip on the handle then you should be fine.
The only gripe I have and this is me being picky is that its not the best at navigating kerbs so you do need to forward think when crossing roads that you will have time to get up and down the kerb.
Overall I would definately recommend the model I have esp if you can buy at the sale price as I do think its worth spending the extra few pounds. I also think it will last well as it adapts with two options for the safety harness turning into a lap belt. Its also easy to take the handle, canopy and safety enclosure off to turn it into a trike for the garden so I think it will last for a few years to come and most importantly DS loves it and is comfortable and happy to sit in for short journeys.
Hope this helps :)

Hi CocoaBeanPlease, which one did you go for in the end? DH and I are having the same dilemma!

Oops! After having read JoJobean83's very helpful answer, I completely forgot to come back and update. So thank you very much for your help, it was very useful, and we did go for the smart trike.

We're thrilled with it. DD was too big for stage 1 when we got it, so I can't comment on that part of it, but we're still happy we got it and have gotten a lot of use out of it. DD loves riding on it so we always take it when making short trips to the shops, park, etc. I agree with JoJobean83 that it steers well (which was my concern) but that it's tricky on kerbs.

I guess this is too late for Pawl (sorry, I don't check my old threads often!), but it might help someone else.