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Original poster

Is 2 too young for a balance bike?

17 replies

amazonianwoman · 10/02/2009 10:22

We're thinking of getting one for DS for his 2nd birthday next month, mainly so he can use it this summer (if we have one this year). Otherwise he'd have to wait til Xmas then probably wouldn't really use it until he's 3.

Is 2 a bit young? He's very tall so not worried about size, just mobility. He didn't even walk til he was 17 months!

I'm thinking about getting the Islabike one...

OP posts:

EssieW · 10/02/2009 10:28

would also like to know the answer. Also have a 2 year old and think he would like it. He is smaller than average though. Also thinking of the Islabike one

DisasterArea · 10/02/2009 10:30

yes. get a tricycle instead.

Yeni · 10/02/2009 10:33

I think 2 would be a good age to get one. We got one for DD when she was 3, mainly because we hadn't heard of them until then, and I regret not getting it sooner.

We have the Islabike one and it is excellent. It is very lightweight and excellent quality. It's also truly unisex which I think is important given the price!

hockeypuck · 10/02/2009 10:34

no, not too young at all.
YEs Yes Yes to a balance bike.

DS has hypermobility in his joints and didn't walk till he was 19 months. We bought him a PUKY extra small balance bike for his 2nd birthday and within a week he was flying round the place on it. It has really helped his mobility and balance and his core stability, he loves it. We make his wear a cycle helmet because he does get quite a speed up on it but he finds it much easier than a tricylce and loves the freedom.

Gorionine · 10/02/2009 10:38

I had to googlr balance bike I did not knoe it even existed! I think I would go for a trycicle as well. I wasshock] at the price of the said balancebike (Islabike)!

Gorionine · 10/02/2009 10:39

sorry for typos!

amidaiwish · 10/02/2009 10:41

i don't think it's overly expensive - i bought DD a raleigh bike complete with purple tassles and a seat for a doll fgs. cost £89.

Original poster

amazonianwoman · 10/02/2009 10:42

We've got a couple of old plastic trikes already and he has a little wooden trike he likes to straddle and walk around with but the handlebars are too low when he does that (yes we have way too many bikes in this house, DH and I are a bit bike mad)

Will have a look at the puky one. Think it might be worth it even if he doesn't get the hang of it til late summer

OP posts:

UpSinceCrapOClock · 10/02/2009 10:42

Depends on the child I suppose but I don't feel that 2 is too young. We bought one for dd's 2nd birthday last year and she loves it still (and she's quite petite so size wasn't even an issue!)

It took a little while for her to get the hang of it, but once she did, she was off. And she didn't seem frustrated in the beginning.

UpSinceCrapOClock · 10/02/2009 10:44

We also got the Puky one so can definitely recommend that!

scarletlilybug · 10/02/2009 10:50

Another vote for the Puky bike here.

I think your ds should be fine at 2.
I'm sure he'll love it.

Balance bikes are a million times better than tricycles, or bikes with stabilisers, IMO.

Original poster

amazonianwoman · 10/02/2009 10:50

Do you have the puky normal size or small?

They are expensive but cheap bikes are sooo heavy. And it should last. Was even thinking maybe DD 4 could use it to help improve her balance? My friend's DS has just stopped using his likeabike in the last 6 months and he's 6 in April. And can ride a proper bike easily.

Think I've just talked myself into one . Off to compare islabike and puky!

OP posts:

fruitful · 10/02/2009 10:51

There is one in the new elc catalogue that is a trike that converts to a balance bike. Haven't looked at your link but I'm guessing the elc one won't be as pretty!

Ds1 had a balance bike for his 3rd birthday and took a long time to get confident on it - he used to inch along on it. He is very cautious about everything though. I suspect that his little brother is going to inherit it before he is 2, and love it!

fruitful · 10/02/2009 10:52

The elc trike isn't on the website for some reason and dd has stolen the catalogue from me so can't tell you any more about it!

scarletlilybug · 10/02/2009 10:52

I think puky bikes tend to come up quite big, so if you're choosing between two sizes, I would say go for the smaller one. Having said that, the handlebars/saddle are adjustable heights, so there's a fair bit of growing room built-in.

UpSinceCrapOClock · 10/02/2009 10:55

We went for the small one, but as scarlet says, the handlebars and seat are adjustable. Dd is using the same one a year on and we're planning to go straight to a normal bike, maybe some time this year and ds can inherit the balance bike next year (when he's 2).

Original poster

amazonianwoman · 10/02/2009 11:31

Oh I like the look of the puky ones. I can't decide now! I need to try and measure DS...

OP posts:

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