How old/young for a balance bike?

[August Mom]

When did you first start using a balance bike with your DC? I didn't know about them with DS but am thinking about them with DD. I'm wondering how much time I have to think. LOL

TIA

[o_mom]

DS2 could touch on the Kinderbike at around 2.5 yrs. He is really getting it now and just turned 3 last month. He is on the small side, so I would say by 2-2.5 most kids could touch on the smaller balance bikes.

[WatchingThemGrow]

DD JUST fit on the Hotwalk when she tried it at the store last month. We'll know at her 2nd b'day tomorrow if she can make it go!

[brittone2]

DS got his for his 3rd bday and is still riding it at 4 yrs and a few months old. If you get it at 2 or 2.5, it might be outgrown before they are ready for a pedal bike or something like the Trek Float (where pedals can be added onto a balance bike). If you don't mind buying yet another balance bike to fill in the gap, I think many 2.5 year olds could probably enjoy it.

We're hoping to go from the Puky directly to a 16 inch pedal bike or a Trek Float closer to DS's 5th bday this winter.

[hellokitty]

Just keep in mind that even if he is physically able to fit the balance bike (touch his feet down), it doesn't necessarily mean he will take any interest in it. We got the target balance bike for my son last yr and even now that he is almost 4.5 yrs old, he is still not interested in it. In fact, my 2.5 yr seems more interested in it than my oldest son. So, every child is different. I foresee that my oldest son will be one of those kids that learns to ride a bike very late. However, we have friends whose kids were riding bikes (w/o training wheels) by the time they were four. I've decided that this wk we'll break out the scooter and see if he is more interested in trying that out, rather than the bike.

[Joolsplus2]

Just keep in mind that even if he is physically able to fit the balance bike (touch his feet down), it doesn't necessarily mean he will take any interest in it. We got the target balance bike for my son last yr and even now that he is almost 4.5 yrs old, he is still not interested in it. In fact, my 2.5 yr seems more interested in it than my oldest son. So, every child is different. I foresee that my oldest son will be one of those kids that learns to ride a bike very late. However, we have friends whose kids were riding bikes (w/o training wheels) by the time they were four. I've decided that this wk we'll break out the scooter and see if he is more interested in trying that out, rather than the bike.

Good point! I've bought my ds every bike and rolly wheelie thing possible, and he has NO interest in any of them...he's 10 and not even riding a bike, only sometimes will ride his razor scooter (not so bad, since the kid across the street doesn't either, but it still kind of sucks... :( ). My dd OTOH was skating at 3, riding bikes at 4 and has no fear of flying on any size of wheel, lol.

Anyway.. my 28 mo dd can just barely touch the ground on her italtrike balance bike now (owned it for 6 months already...) and she's a little nervous about falling, so I'm thinking it'll be a couple more months before she's ready to go by herself on it.

[KrisM]

We have the Specialized one for DD and she is still a bit too short. She turns 2 in a couple weeks.

DS liked it and used it for a week or so. He just turned 4. He much prefers his "2-wheeler" as he calls it :).