Balance Bike- -- What Age?

Updated on September 26, 2011
J.R. asks from Washington, DC
12 answers

Dear Moms,
i am currently living abroad, and here there are many young children 2-5 year olds -- with these wide two-wheeled bicycles... where there feet touch the ground. They sit and use their feet to push off and glide. ...They are supposed to teach children how to balance and prepare them for real two wheeled bicycles.

Do they have these bicycles in the U.S.? do you know what ages they are good for?

Thanks for your good input and advice....

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So What Happened?

ADdition: The bicycle does not have training wheels. It is more like two huge wheels and a seat where the child sits and pushes off. there are no pedals. Sorry i am not good at describing! :)

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N.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son had a wee rider at 2 from Walmart didn't ride it much at all. At 2.5 we got a Strider off the the internet at 3 he was riding a two wheeler with no training wheels. I highly recommend this, but you don't necessarily need a special bike. A 10 inch/12 inch bike with pedals removed and a lower seat will give you the same effect. Good luck

1 mom found this helpful

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R.C.

answers from Phoenix on

My son started riding a balance bike we bought at Walmart at age 2.5 yrs and by his 3rd birthday he was riding a regular pedal bike without training wheels. I highly encourage you to get one, doesn't have to be expensive, just right size for your child.

2 moms found this helpful

L.E.

answers from Los Angeles on

my son rode a strider balance bike from about 18 months until he was 2 1/2. we got ours on amazon. I also see lots of kids riding the scoot bike. It's definitely fun for the two-ish age group!

2 moms found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Boston on

I know what you mean since I am from Holland, I have never seen them in the US. We got our kids those Razor scooters to teach them balance before going to a bike. I think it all depends on the child - there are kids in our neighborhood who can ride a 2 wheeled bike at age 3 and then there are 7 to 8 year olds just taking off training wheels. It also depends on how much you actually ride. In Holland EVERONE rides bikes all the time for transportation, and kids learn much earlier and without training wheels.

1 mom found this helpful

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

All the little kids around here seem to have them. Our son used a friends when he was 3. I think 3 is a good age but it depends on the child. 3 or 4 depending on how interested in bike riding your child is. My son is 7 and he still LOVES them and wishes he had one! He's way too big now but he thinks they are great fun. He learned to ride a bike soooo fast by using one of these! Our other friends just took off the pedals of their daughters bike and lowered the seat as far down as it would go. They made their own push bike. They sell them online, at high end toy stores, and at REI.

1 mom found this helpful

J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

They make bicycles for younger kids. Most stores have them like Target or Walmart. They are small and have removal training wheels. If you find one in the store bring your child to try it. I did this with my daughter since she is a little taller then most kids.
Is this kind of what you are looking for?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=1571...

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

I could see it for a tiny kids, 2, maybe just turning 3, but honesty at 3 my kids had a regular bike with stabilizers, and they were both riding without stabilizers by age 4, so I think gimmicks like this are a waste of money.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.G.

answers from Jacksonville on

I've seen them on online but that's it. My son learned to ride his bike with the same concept in under an hour so for me it wouldn't have been cost effective. He was also riding a razor scooter before that so I think he was prepared for the balance issue when we took his training wheels off.

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H.P.

answers from Dallas on

Our little boy got a strider bike at around 2 years old. He's 3 1/2 and can ride a regular bike without training wheels. I don't think the brand matters, but here's a link...
http://shop.stridersports.com/bikes/products/2/

1 mom found this helpful

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Yes they do have them here in the US. My nephew had one when they moved down here from CA this past January. He was 2 1/2 at the time. Not sure how long he had had it. I think he may have just gotten it for Xmas right before they moved.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.S.

answers from Washington DC on

My son had a wooden balance bike when he turned 3... he was riding a real two-wheeler with pedals about a month later... I'd probably say 2ish if you want them to use it for a while...

1 mom found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Yes, we have them everywhere. I believe they are for younger children, toddlers and pre-schoolers. They are very tiny bikes, not even as tall as our tricycle.

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