is nearly four too old for a balance bike?

[stella1w]

My sister is going to get my dd a balance bike for Christmas, but she will be four in January and my friends said she is too old for a balance bike and should go straight to the real thing..
can we expect to get a year's use out of a balance bike or have we left it too late for this type of bike and should we go straight for a regular bike??

No, your DD is not too old for a balance bike! My DS had one for Christmas when he was 3.9 and used it for about eighteen months. When he got onto his first pedal bike, he just hopped on and pedalled away. Balance bikes are the greatest thing ever, can't recommed them enough!

We didnt bother. Ours just went straight to bikes and stablisers off at 4. The best thing for balance were their scooters.

They are brilliant for a swift transition to a bike. I thought it would take my ds, 6yrs old, months to ride- he was useless at peddling- hence why he was 6yrs when he tried. But a few weeks on a balance bike and the first day he tried a real bike he was off! I was amazed! You can use it for siblings in the future too.

No - but they wont be on it for long, so borrow one or buy a second hand one. We got my son one when he was 3 and a proper bike for his 4th birthday. They are fantastic. our daughter 2 and a bit years his younger was using his old balance bike as soon as he was off it and was on a proper bike by the time she was 3. The balance bike has since done 6 other children and is still going strong. its a jd bug not sure if you can still get them?