[lafonda]

I don't get them.. please explain to me.

I have heard of them but had never googled. I don't understand how a child stays up, I don't understand how they move?

DS has a bike with training wheels that he has a hard time pedaling. I am wondering whether I should add a bike to his Christmas list.

TIA

[LeggyBlonde]

I don't get them.. please explain to me.

I have heard of them but had never googled. I don't understand how a child stays up, I don't understand how they move?

DS has a bike with training wheels that he has a hard time pedaling. I am wondering whether I should add a bike to his Christmas list.

TIA

They stay up with their feet flat on the ground! The idea of a balance bike is that the child can sit comfortably with their feet on the ground, they propel the bike with their feet, and lift their feet to coast.

The lesson learnt is balance (perhaps the hardest bike skill). Most kids on balance bike progress straight to pushbikes without training wheels.

[lafonda]

Ah, that makes more sense, now I feel stupid. Why didn't I think of that? Thank you

[Guest_CaptainOblivious_*]

We have one for our 3 year old who would dearly love to ride it, but she's too short to sit comfortably on it. Make sure you try it out for height before you buy.

Otherwise, I think they're fabulous. Our older DD was terrified of getting her training wheels off. She had a couple of quick goes on DD2's balance bike, then went straight to riding her own bike (first just pushing along like a balance bike, then pedaling) in about 15 minutes without us needing to run along behind them.

[YellowRubberDuck...]

What is a good age to get them at? Love the idea of them but my daughter is only 18 months...

[Guest_CaptainOblivious_*]

What is a good age to get them at? Love the idea of them but my daughter is only 18 months...

We gave DD2 hers for her 3rd birthday. We were going to do it for Christmas when she was 2.5 but she was waaaay to short.

[melaine]

Yeah, height is the limiting factor. We got a metal one with the lowest seat we could find - the strider - and it's just right for a two ytear old.

This post has been edited by melaine: 25/11/2012, 04:05 PM

[Kasey5]

My DD & DS each got going on the balance bike at around 2 1/2. DD progressed quickly to 2 wheel bike without training wheels at 3 1/2. Time to start DS soon!

[TheGreenSheep]

My DS1 progressed so quickly and came off his training wheels when we gave up hoping he ever would. Without pedals it gives them a real sense of balance and leaning, turning and leaning into corners, just far enough, any further they slide off. Whenever we have kids over they love zooming around on it.

I reckon DS2 was on it around 2 when he was off and riding on his brothers.

[Ireckon]

If you have a bike already, why not just take the training wheels and the pedals off for the time being, rather than buying a new bike? It then becomes a balance bike by design, needing to be propelled by foot. As long as the height is right.