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Jax430
Hi!
Member since 5/05 18919 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Balance Bikes
Does anyone have a balance bike for their two year old? Any to recommend? I want to get one for DD for her birthday. Thanks!
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Posted 4/28/14 10:50 AM  |
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Eireann
Two ladies and a gentleman!
Member since 5/05 12165 total posts
Name:
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Re: Balance Bikes
I know you didn't ask for opinions, but I'm going to give you mine anyway  ...
I would have no idea what one would cost, but I think they're a waste of money. When they turned 5, we got both of my girls real bikes. We then took the pedals off and they practiced for a few months like that. Eventually we put the pedals back on and voila! Instant bike-riders! So, the concept really works, and in our case, the girls are 8 and 7 now and still have the same bikes. I can't see buying a balance bike for any age, but especially a 2 year old because realistically is she going to learn to ride a bike at 2.5 or whatever? I'd rather do a trike or scooter at that age...
Maybe there's someone here that can dispute me though...
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| Posted 4/28/14 12:11 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Balance Bikes
My sister lives in CO and all the toddlers in her town ride balance bikes. She got DD a strider for her second birthday. It's for 18 months and up so I'm sure she'll fit it well but she hasn't actually gotten it yet. They are pricey but I found a great deal for it on zulily. There's one that TRU carries that we also considered. It's also for 18 months I think and comes with two adjacent back wheels to give them a tiny bit of stability and then it comes off when they're ready. I forget the brand but I know they had it in store.
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| Posted 4/28/14 12:16 PM |
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MrsE323
LIF Adolescent
Member since 12/13 530 total posts
Name:
M
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Balance Bikes
I honestly don't understand the point of balance bikes. Maybe I am missing something, but why not get a 14" bike with training wheels and then take those off when your DD is ready? That's what my parents did for my younger sister and after a few months practice with the training wheels she was riding a 2 wheeler by 2.5 years old. I plan to do the same for my DS. Balance bike seems like an unnecessary gimmick in my opinion.
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| Posted 4/28/14 12:45 PM |
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Maddie180
LIF Adult
Member since 2/07 1992 total posts
Name:
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Re: Balance Bikes
My son has this one that he got for Christmas and he LOVED it. He was riding around the block within two minutes of using a regular bike with no training wheels on Easter. My two year old just started using it also. We got this one when it was a lot cheaper. It's extremely light and they can carry it everywhere also.
Balance Bike
Message edited 4/28/2014 12:46:57 PM.
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| Posted 4/28/14 12:46 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Balance Bikes
Posted by MrsE323
I honestly don't understand the point of balance bikes. Maybe I am missing something, but why not get a 14" bike with training wheels and then take those off when your DD is ready? That's what my parents did for my younger sister and after a few months practice with the training wheels she was riding a 2 wheeler by 2.5 years old. I plan to do the same for my DS. Balance bike seems like an unnecessary gimmick in my opinion.
2.5 is not the norm for riding a bike without training wheels. Not at all. That is actually exceptional.
The idea is so they can balance without having to worry about pedaling, an there is no learning to balance involved when you have training wheels on.
My DD just turned 7, and I just took the pedals and training wheels off her bike, which has helped SO much with the balance. So I don't think they need an actual balance bike, but you need to take the training wheels off AND the pedals to get the same effect of a balance bike.
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| Posted 4/28/14 12:53 PM |
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VikingChick
LIF Adult
Member since 5/11 1024 total posts
Name:
Anna
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Re: Balance Bikes
I got my DS a balance bike when he was 2ish. He LOVED it. Used it for probably 2 years. At 4, he was able to ride a real bike, with no training wheels. Totally worth it.
Kazam
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| Posted 4/28/14 1:05 PM |
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Otherme
Square head cutie pants
Member since 3/06 6899 total posts
Name:
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Re: Balance Bikes
I've never heard of these
what does the kid do on it.. just stand/balance on it? How do they 'play' with it and get enjoyment out of it?
and what does it do that a regular bike with training wheels wouldn't do at a later age?
i'm somewhat baffled as to what the point of it is (again, because i've never seen it)
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| Posted 4/28/14 1:40 PM |
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Jax430
Hi!
Member since 5/05 18919 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: Balance Bikes
Posted by Otherme
I've never heard of these
what does the kid do on it.. just stand/balance on it? How do they 'play' with it and get enjoyment out of it?
and what does it do that a regular bike with training wheels wouldn't do at a later age?
i'm somewhat baffled as to what the point of it is (again, because i've never seen it)
From what I'm reading about them, they push with their feet and coast along. They learn how to maintain balance on a bike without pedaling, then when they are around 5 (or apparently younger, in some cases), they can start riding a regular bike without training wheels. The hardest part of riding a bike is not learning how to pedal, it's balancing, so this is like a training bike. Sizewise, there's no way a toddler could ride a small bike with training wheels. The balance bikes are toddler sized (there are bigger ones too).
ETA: For those who are saying that it's a waste of money, I think there are more benefits to balance bikes than the ride on buggies that a parent pushes or any of the power wheels type cars. These actually help develop a necessary skill for riding a bike, at a young age. The cost ranges from about $55 to $150 on average, but most of the ones I'm looking at are around $75. Not that bad for a child's ride on toy (and I'm not buying it, it will be a gift from her grandmother).
Message edited 4/28/2014 1:58:01 PM.
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| Posted 4/28/14 1:54 PM |
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maybeamommy
Blessed beyond belief
Member since 10/07 17048 total posts
Name:
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Re: Balance Bikes
I wrote to you on FB too I think but we had a Skut at around 2 years old and now at 4 he has a Strider.
I wish I could post a video here of what my 2.5 year old could do on the balance bike at that age! It was INCREDIBLE!
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:06 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Re: Balance Bikes
Posted by maybeamommy
I wrote to you on FB too I think but we had a Skut at around 2 years old and now at 4 he has a Strider.
I wish I could post a video here of what my 2.5 year old could do on the balance bike at that age! It was INCREDIBLE!
There are lots of youtube videos for those who are curious. This is one of a 19 month old on a mountain biking trail that DH (a big mountain biker) flipped over. This kid is pretty awesome!
link
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:16 PM |
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Jax430
Hi!
Member since 5/05 18919 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: Balance Bikes
Posted by maybeamommy
I wrote to you on FB too I think but we had a Skut at around 2 years old and now at 4 he has a Strider.
I wish I could post a video here of what my 2.5 year old could do on the balance bike at that age! It was INCREDIBLE!
I would love to see that. I don't know anyone IRL with one, but they sound great. DH and I both loved bike riding as kids, and we want her to enjoy it too. Plus, maybe it will motivate us to eventually bike ride as a family as she gets older.
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:24 PM |
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SandL
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/12 541 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Balance Bikes
DH' father bought my son a Strider bike simply because that is my sons name (Strider). I would never have purchased a balance bike on my own. But at 2 years old, DS is starting to get the idea of balancing so I guess it's worth it, esp since I didn't pay for it, lol.
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:53 PM |
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maybeamommy
Blessed beyond belief
Member since 10/07 17048 total posts
Name:
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Re: Balance Bikes
Posted by Jax430
Posted by maybeamommy
I wrote to you on FB too I think but we had a Skut at around 2 years old and now at 4 he has a Strider.
I wish I could post a video here of what my 2.5 year old could do on the balance bike at that age! It was INCREDIBLE!
I would love to see that. I don't know anyone IRL with one, but they sound great. DH and I both loved bike riding as kids, and we want her to enjoy it too. Plus, maybe it will motivate us to eventually bike ride as a family as she gets older.
Tagged you on FB with it 
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| Posted 4/28/14 3:17 PM |
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