Balance bikes/Like-a-bike

My GF's nephew is one on Saturday.

I was thinking about getting him one of those small wooden bikes that he could skoot along the floor with his feet, rather than a trike or something that would mean he did not learn to balance from the word go.

Most of the ones that I can find online say years two and up though, and are sized appropriately for this age.

Does anyone make a really small one suitable for a child who is just one?

And also is this a really bad idea- he has just learned to walk, so am I trying to get him on a bike too early, even though it's a sit and skoot?

I have absolutely no idea about small wooden bikes but I think it's an awesome idea.

Hot-housing FTW...

One of these Chris, wish they'd been around when i was a nipper.
@Dammit - I dont think its too early at all - I mean he can always grow into it, it will last him a good couple of years and then he'll be able to ride fixed with no problem! ;-)

Best present we bought our daughter was a like a bike

YouTube - LIKEaBIKE & EARLY RIDER PEDAL-FREE WOODEN AND ALUMINIUM TRAINER BIKES LIKE-A-BIKE

http://www.likeabike.co.uk/
or this is a tad cheaper
http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/rothan.html

At one he is probably too small but money saving tip would be to get a small bike with pedals and remove them and BB, then replace when ready.

Great present BTW.

These get very good reviews.

http://www.puky.net/homepage/produkte/laufraeder/4053.htm

proper bearings in wheels and headset so good longevity.

My boy is two and is reasonably competent, though has only been using a few weeks.

I'd say 1 is to young, but as with everything it depends on the kid and the pace of development.

Col.

Brakeless FTW!

Actually really cool, and gets the kids learning balance which is great

I was thinking about one of these:

The only issue that I can see is of him being able to get a foot to the floor on either side.

The wheels are 12", so it follows that the saddle is around 14" from the deck.

It's meant to be "from 20 months" according to the website.

Who here knows the average inside leg of a one year old male child?!

Apparently at this age I used to tear around the garden of my parents house pushing a wooden trolley around full of my wooden blocks- hence my adult love of supermarkets.

I'm trying to give Marlon a better start.

More expensive, but I reckon Islabikes and likeabikes are a lot easier for nippers to ride, and are less bulky than wood, more compact/lower. I bought my kid a cheap wooden one and it was a waste of money, he never rode it. He has an Islabike (pedals, he's nearly 5) now and its going OK and he's getting into it - he has always been a bit reluctant ... You Will RIde A Bike! (<that's me being a Modern Parent)

I think Islabikes will do part exchange on the next size up when the time comes.

My 2p.

There is no average with children, Nancygat hera when ahe was 18 months and it was a tad big. The only reason she had to wait to get a "real" bike was that like mummy and daddy she is short. Get it, he'll grow into it.

More expensive, but I reckon Islabikes and likeabikes are a lot easier for nippers to ride, and are less bulky than wood, more compact/lower. I bought my kid a cheap wooden one and it was a waste of money, he never rode it. He has an Islabike (pedals, he's nearly 5) now and its going OK and he's getting into it - he has always been a bit reluctant ... You Will RIde A Bike! (<that's me being a Modern Parent)

I think Islabikes will do part exchange on the next size up when the time comes.

My 2p.

This is all true. Islabikes are very good to deal with. Ordered one day arrived two days later on the IoM.

Looking at the Islabikes they are 2+, the early rider ones are the only ones that say 20 months, which is what pointed me toward them.

I've emailed his Dad asking how tall he is (Marlon, not the Dad).

ahem

my boy loved his islabikes Rothan (aged 2) and still does @ 3 1/2...

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/growthcharts/set1clinical/cj41l017.pdf

This chart appears to insinuate that the average height for boys aged 12 months is 32 inches.

I'd say that a likeabike will be a little big for him at the moment but it should certainly be rideable before his second Birthday. I'd personally go for it so that he can start riding as soon as he's tall enough.

Buy the bike and two blocks of wood.

Nail blocks of wood to child's shoes.

Every month sand off a little of the blocks as child grows.

Problem solved

Try the "First Bike" push along bikes that Velorution stock.

Much better than the wooden ones-they don't delaminate for a start when you've left them in the garden!

They have a brake.

But they are expensive and probably too big for a one year old. It will just collect dust until they are big enough to ride it and you'll end up tripping over it and cursing it. Too big to go in most toy boxes.

I think I'll get it for him in the knowledge that it is too large, but that he can be sat on it and pushed around.

This should hopefully be fun for him, and get him used to sitting on something with two wheels and handlebars.

As he grows he should want to start scooting himself around when he can reach the floor comfortably, and by next spring he should be zooming around like Jimbilly full of Cider.

oops seem to have got some weird link in there, can I edit it out?

and by next spring he should be zooming around like Jimbilly full of Cider.
Hahaha.

i bought my son a like-a-bike when he was 18 months as it was summer. In the end he didn't use it till the age of 2 as he didn't have strength / understanding of how to use the bike, and he also was too short for it. He used it from 2 to 3 years and he got on the isla bike with pedals and had the balance but didn't know how to pedal, after a week of me teaching him that his feet had to move in circles he was riding the isla bike no problems.

One of these Chris, wish they'd been around when i was a nipper

Sorry, I know what they are just not how suitable it'd be for a 1 year old when it's made for a 2 year old.

Anyway, I too wish I had one of those, it would've been great.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/FirstBike_Street_with_Brake_Pedal-Free_Kids_Bike/5360033823/

and then add this
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/FirstBike_Lowering_Kit/5360033867/

Please wait another year. Let the child learn to walk comfortably and with confidence before getting them to balance and push with there feet.

Please wait another year. Let the child learn to walk comfortably and with confidence before getting them to balance and push with there feet.

that'd be brilliant, "I don't know how to walk but I'm a damn sight faster than any of you on my bike!"

A bit like running before you can walk.