The child’s age and stage of physical development will choose the right bike for them. We exclusively advise ride-on toys and balancing bikes as the two varieties of toddler bikes. Ride-on toys are great for young toddlers till they are 18 months old or are just approaching two years old because they do not yet have the motor abilities for a balancing bike.
This article is for you if you’re searching for a toddler bike but don’t know where to begin. Knowing what bikes are ideal and how to start your child might be a little complicated, particularly if this is your first child. It is the reason we wrote this manual.
We discuss the many types of toddler bikes, our best recommendations, the benefits of bicycling for toddler growth, and factors to consider when selecting a bike for your child.
Why You Should Purchase A Bike For Your Toddler
The simpler it will be for a youngster to ride a bike for the remainder of their lives, the sooner you get them started. Children learning to ride a bike when they are young find it much simpler to learn to maintain, pedal, brake and ride.
There are several reasons your toddler needs a bike, although if you don’t care all that much about bicycling. Cycling encourages physical activity, gets youngsters outside, and fosters self-assurance. Balance bikes can help your child’s gross motor abilities grow and strengthen.
Toddler Bike Types
We would immediately say “a balanced bike” if a person on the street asked about the best type of bicycle to purchase for a child.
However, depending on the child’s age and degree of ability, a variety of bicycles could be suitable for a toddler. Here, we’ll discuss a few alternatives: pedal bikes, balance bikes, three-wheelers, and ride-on toys.
Toddlers between the ages of 12 and 18
Early children as 12 months old can enjoy themselves on a ride-on toy. These are often three- or four-wheeled bikes suitable for young children who aren’t quite old enough for a balancing bike but can start learning how to move around on a bike.
One of the nicest investments we ever purchased was a ride-on toy for my son’s first birthday. Even when he switched to a pedal bike, it entertained him for decades and helped enthuse him about bicycling.
From 18 months till they can transition to a pushbike, toddlers
Young children’s balance bikes are pedal-less, often called tricycles or run bikes. Children may begin riding a balancing bike as soon as they can walk and have enough motor abilities, typically about 18 months.
Because they give youngsters the skills they will need to succeed on a pedal bike later, balancing bikes are our preferred type for toddlers. Most children who learn to ride a balancing bike as toddlers can completely forgo using training wheels once they transition to a pedal cycle. Additionally, balance bikes are fantastic for enhancing motor skills and gross motor development.
Tricycles
Another common option for toddlers is a tricycle. Although using tricycles or big-wheeled vehicles in the backyard might be fun, they don’t impart true riding abilities. We advise selecting a balancing bike if you want to proceed in this direction. The Wishbone 3-in-1, which transforms from a tricycle to a balancing bike, is one standout option.
Bike Pedals
Pedal cycles with training wheels at this age prevent the development of abilities, just like a tricycle does. They are harder for kids to control since they weigh more than a balance bike. Additionally, they prevent young children from successfully gaining the balance necessary for riding a pedal bike.
If you want to purchase a pedal bike, take the gears and pedals off and instruct your child to slide and glide first, just like they would on a balancing bike.
A 12″ pedal bike without training wheels can be used once a child has learned a balancing bike (or a pedal cycle without wheel chocks). Based on your child’s aptitude and interest level, this might be as young as 2.5 or 3 years old. Choose a light bike for your youngster if they are preparing for their first true pedal cycle. The biggest obstacle to achievement at this age is an excessively heavy bike.
Things to Think About When Choosing a Toddler Bike
Indoor vs. Outdoor
Will you mostly use the bike inside or outside? We like balancing bikes and ride-on toys with rubbery or foam wheels for usage indoors. Ensure that they won’t leave any stains on your floors. Avoid using plastic wheels without rubber because they are too slick for interior flooring.
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Invest in a genuine bicycle (balancing bike or pedal bike) with inflatable (air) tires rather than one with foamy or plastic if your youngster plans to ride a bike outside. Plastic is virtually never a wise choice. However, foam tires could be OK for extremely light driveway use.
Make sure you get a bike with pneumatic (air) tires if your child will be riding on an uneven surface, dirt, or other types of mixed terrain. Compared to tires made of plastic or foam, they provide more traction.
Bike vs. toy
The choice between a genuine bicycle and a “toy” should be made. Many children’s bikes are toys, and that’s good! However, you must purchase your child a real bicycle if you wish them to develop actual biking abilities or go on excursions outside your backyard. A balancing bike or pedal bike with inflatable (air) tires, a high-grade steel or aluminum frame, and (perhaps) brakes are referred to as a “true” bicycle.
Dimension and Readiness
When should you introduce your young child to biking? Whenever they can walk! Young toddlers as young as 12 months old may be interested in bicycles. They would benefit greatly from a ride-on toy.
We would suggest giving a balancing bike a try for around 18 months. Finding a balancing bike that is tiny enough will be your biggest challenge at this age.
Safety Options
When it relates to toddler bikes, we often look for various safety features than you do from a bike for a larger kid. Toddlers frequently tumble. After all, they lack the same power and coordination as preschoolers or grade school students.
On a toddler bike, we seek safety elements like round and sunken bolts, grips with grooves at the ends, and a steering restriction, among others.
Weight
Toddlers are so little! They lack the stature and strength to manage a hefty bike. For youngsters of this age, we favor low-weight bikes. It greatly improves their enjoyment and safety during the encounter. A lightweight bike is simpler to ride and learn on.
How is light sufficiently light? We prefer to seek bicycles that weigh less than ten pounds.
Teaching a young child to ride a bike
When introducing a pre-bike to extremely young children, treat it like any other toy. Right now, the plan is to expose them to bicycles. When you put them on the bike, you might observe that they immediately crawl off and begin to play with the wheels. It is quite typical.
You should assist somewhat older children riding a balance bike in learning to stand and scoot on one. Set a daily goal of 10 to 15 minutes.