What Should Your Child’s First Bike Be?

The question most parents ask themselves when when buying a new bike for their toddler age son or daughter is what which bicycle is best suited to learn to ride a bike. Most parents a bike with training wheels or maybe a tricycle. The trike looks like the safest option, but it doesn’t train any of the skills need to ride a bike. Bicycles and training wheels are another popular choice, but since most weigh in at 20 lbs, a small child will struggle to learn to ride on it. The good news is, those aren’t the only options for teaching a child to ride.

Moms and dads shopping for a bike for children under the age of five will benefit from anexciting, new teaching tool known as a balance bike, walking bike or toddler bike. These cleverly designed bikes have no pedals or a chain. The riders push them with their feet. These bikes are not one size fits all, so fathers and mothers need to factor in the following things before making a purchase.

1. The seat height of a bike in relation to the child’s inseam are paramount in selecting a properly sized balance bike. Most sites that sell bikes online have a sizing chart. The right size bike will have a seat height that can be set to 1″ lower than the child’s inseam.

2. The material a bike is made from is worth consdiering as well. Balance bikes come in wooden versions and metal/aluminum framed models. Some children may enjoy the fact that a wooden bike looks like a toy. Bikes made from steel are stronger and usually have more room to adjust and grow with a child.

3. The weight of the bike is the second most critical aspect to consider when buying a balance bike. It’s good news that a wide selection of balance bikes are less than half the weight of a standard 12″ bicycle. Despite this major difference, there are still balance bikes that weigh less than their counterparts.

4. What the tires are made of is another part of the decision process. Most balance bikes either have air tires or an EVA foam tire. Tires with inner tubes provide better grip and traction, but the foam tires will never need to be pumped up and won’t puncture.

5. Like any big ticket purchase, cost is another factor. Balance bikes are well-crafted and will cost a little more than a department store bike. The majority of toddler bikes retail for between $100 and $150. Parents may get sticker shock from those prices, but there are advantages to the balance bike. Your child will master balance early and quickly on these bikes.

Some criticize balance bikes because they argue that kids learn to balance so quickly, the bike without pedals becomes obsolete too fast. While it’s true that they should be able to make a quick transition to a pedal bike once they’ve mastered balance on their toddler bike, the majority of kids who ride balance bikes don’t abandon the balance bike quickly. They are drawn to these specially designed bikes that are easier to maneuver than a pedal bike and continue to use them even after the pedal bike has become part of their lives.

It’s easy to for kids to get started learning to ride on a toddler bike. These balance bikes are designed to put the emphasis on balance and steering first, the right way to teach a child to ride a bike.