Balance bikes/Like-a-bike

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

+1 or take advice from a health professional or kid's bike specialist....I'm not an expert on kid's anatomy but I'd guess they are pretty delicate at 12mths.....my 13mth old has a plastic trike from mothercare, he loves it, you can lock out the pedals and it has foot rests...he's just learning tos steer.

+1 to grow up too.

But just to add in my two dineros...
My favorite kids bike is the early rider. They actually seem much lower than the like-a-bikes, but the real advantage to them is in the steering. With most of children's first bikes they have a restricted steering, which end up not being stiff enough when they are learning to balance and too stiff when they have got the hang of it and are learning to turn. The Early rider has two steering settings, one for when there learning that is very stiff, and another for after then have the hang of it that is completely free.

Ok, as people with kids think that he is too young I shall get him a wooden walker thing that is full of coloured wooden blocks that he can push around- if it was good enough for me etc.

I'll get him the Early Rider Lite (I hate that way of spelling light!) at Christmas when he will be spot on the age requirement for it- and hopefully the right height for it also.

Check it out- risers and a flame pattern, tres cool I think.

EDIT- that's a picture of the classic which is 2+, not the Lite which is 18 months+

That's the right decision Dammit. At 1 he really won't be able to use it, both in size and co-ordination.

A walker thing of bricks is excellent. Brick towers - build 'em up, knock 'em down. Fun for all the family (except when you step on a brick at night in bare feet).

Another option, which encourages the same motion as a like-a-bike is one of these:

Kids love them - especially if they've got wooden floors.

Hmm, they sell them in a shop by the Cutty Sark, I'll have a look.

Roughly how much $$ are we talking about for one?

http://www.funkymoose.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2_20

This one is awesome.

Good decision on leaving the bike 'til he's big enough. For what it's worth, I'd go for an Isla bikes Rothan every time. More robust for outdoor use/moisture and you can fit a brake to them later if needs be.

A friend of mine got one for his son a few months ago. First visit to the playground on it and he was asking if he could ride down the slide! Did it twice too. Dad was so proud. Trouble is, his son is now going so fast that he has trouble stopping, hence a brake has been added. Nice to have the option.

Apologises for the negativity but I would not recommend a Wheelie bug either.
Expensive, noisy on wooden floors and the caster wheel steering is frustrating.
I think the wooden walker or the trikes with the long detachable handle, though his feet might not touch the pedals let alone pedal yet. They quite enjoy being pushed along and steering.

I have a pedal ID bike at home- rather too many small parts I suspect.

GrowUp- decision has been made to go for the wooden trolley thing filled with coloured blocks.

Lol, it does say age 15 and up?

Sounds good though mate, wish I'd had a bike as early as a kid!

Gave him this today:

He was very happy removing blocks, throwing them on the floor, then picking two up and whacking them together.

nice

I'll get him the Early Rider Lite (I hate that way of spelling light!) at Christmas when he will be spot on the age requirement for it- and hopefully the right height for it also.

Check it out- risers and a flame pattern, tres cool I think.

EDIT- that's a picture of the classic which is 2+, not the Lite which is 18 months+

From my experience of teaching a small child to ride a bike, I think that these are probably a waste of money.
IMHO you should, for starters, get a cheap bike that fits. And remove the pedals. This will serve the same function as what you are proposing to buy, when the child's balance gets a little better then you can re-attach the pedals onto something that they are already comfortable with.

just my 2p

'Silver basic CrMo frame set'

It's made of fucking plastic.

Do you have to pay more money for 531/653 etc.?

apparently they are genuinely steel.

'Silver basic CrMo frame set'

It's made of fucking plastic.

Do you have to pay more money for 531/653 etc.?

There are plastic parts on it, but the frame is definitely metal. I saw one yesterday at kattt's party.