In this article:
- Intro
- Best Balance Bike for…
Learning how to ride a bike is a traditional childhood milestone and a skill that will serve your child their whole life. But you don’t have to wait until your child is big enough to reach the pedals to start teaching them bike riding basics.
Introducing a balance bike in toddlerhood can help prepare your child to develop bike riding skills and instill a love for the activity early on—even without the need for pedaling. Here’s what you need to know about how to choose a balance bike and Truly Mama’s top picks for the best ones.
What is a Balance Bike?
A balance bike is essentially a bike without pedals. The child sits on the bike and holds onto the handlebars, just like with a regular bike, but their feet sit flat on the ground. To move the bike, the child pushes their feet along the ground and balances with their upper body. It may sound complicated if you’ve never seen a balance bike before, but the process is really quite intuitive for kids, and toddlers as young as 18 months can usually figure out how to use a balance bike.“Balance bikes are really quite intuitive for kids, and toddlers as young as 18 months can usually figure out how to use a balance bike.”
Benefits of a Balance Bike
There are many benefits to a balance bike, especially for younger children who aren’t ready for a pedal bike:Lightweight
Balance bikes do not have drivetrains, pedals, or cranks, so they are much lighter than regular bikes.
Easy to steer
They also sit lower to the ground, so they are easier for young kids to steer and propel. Most balance bikes are designed for young toddlers, starting around 18 months up to 3 years; others are more suitable for kids ages five to seven. Some are even adjustable and can grow with your child.
Build balance and coordination
You can think of a balance bike as a precursor to learning how to balance on a pedal bike—the purpose of a balance bike is to help develop your child’s coordination, balance, and confidence so they will feel comfortable transitioning to a bike with pedals. Children typically start out on a balance bike by walking their feet, working up to running and then gliding. Once your child has mastered gliding, they’re showing they can maintain proper balance and may be ready to transition to a bike with pedals.
What to Look for in a Balance Bike
There are several different types of balance bikes. When choosing a balance bike for your child, consider:Size
Regular bikes are grouped by their wheel or frame size, but balance bikes are sized based on your child’s inseam. To get the right fit, your child’s inseam measurement should be the same or slightly longer than the length of the bike’s seat height to the ground. This ensures your child will be able to put their feet flat on the ground while sitting on the bike. You’ll also want to make sure your child can comfortably reach the handlebars with their torso leaning slightly forward.
Adjustability
Most balance bikes have adjustable seats, but some have a wider range than others. If you want to start your child on a balance bike early, you may be interested in models that will adjust for a wide range of heights and ages. Some balance bikes have smaller ranges meant for toddlers, others are designed for older kids, and some are adjustable for all ages up to about 7 years old.
Price
Purchasing a balance bike can be an investment, so price is definitely an important factor. The most adjustable balance bike options are typically also the most expensive, but this option could save you money in the long run since you won’t need to buy two different models — a toddler balance bike and then a child balance bike.
Brakes
Some balance bikes don’t have brakes, while others have rear brakes only. For young toddlers, this isn’t really a problem since they typically aren’t moving fast enough to have a need for brakes, but once your child gains confidence and speed, you may want brakes for your child’s safety.
Footrests
Not all balance bikes come with footrests, but these are a good feature to look for. Footrests will help teach your child how to balance without their feet on the ground, and gives them a spot to put their feet on a downward slope or once they’ve gained speed.
The Best Balance Bikes
Strider - 12 Sport Balance Bike, Ages 18 Months to 5 Years
This is one of the most popular balance bikes on the market and for good reason. At just under seven pounds, it’s super lightweight so it’s easy for kids to control, and also has narrow handlebars and small grips for toddler-size hands. This bike also has footrests so your child has a place to put their feet once they have figured out how to glide, and parents rave about how easy this bike is to assemble.
- Tool-free assembly
- Fits children with an inseam of 12 to 20 inches
- Wheel size is 12 inches
- Weighs 6.7 pounds
Chillafish BMX Balance Bike
The Chillafish is a medium-sized balance bike recommended for kids ages 2 to 5 years. Like the Strider 12, this bike is very lightweight and easy for young kids to move around. One unique feature of this bike is rubberskin wheels (rubber-covered foam), which are puncture-proof and have more traction than traditional foam tires. This bike also comes with a removable footrest that’s big enough for kids to rest their feet on, but not so big that it interferes with riding.
- Comes with a footbrake, but no handbrake
- Seat height: 12.25 to 15.25 inches
- Weight: 7.26 pounds
- Dimensions: 31.5 x 17.3 x 18.5 inches
Ybike
Designed for ages 2 to 4, this lightweight yet durable balance bike is a great option for introducing bike riding to your toddler. With easy-to-grip handles and its low-to-the-ground design, the Ybike can make even the least adventurous tot feel comfortable. The versatile design of this balance bike also allows it to glide on just about any terrain, including grass and concrete.
- Comes in four different colors
- 18-inch wheels
- Weight: 8.3 pounds
- Dimensions: 9.4 x 33 x 17.3 inches
Ybike Evolve
This model is similar to the original Ybike but allows for three different stages of learning and motor development. The first stage is a tricycle with pedals. Once your child has mastered riding a tricycle and understands how to steer, you can move one of the front wheels to the back and remove the pedals to make a balance bike. Keeping two wheels in the back and one in the front helps provide stability while your child figures out how to balance on the bike. Once they have mastered that, you can remove one of the back wheels to create a traditional balance bike.
- Easy assembly
- Wheel size 12 inches
- Weight: 14 pounds
- Dimensions: 30 x 21 x 20 inches
Strider 14x Sport Balance Bike
This is a larger bike intended for kids ages 3 to 7 years. Most balance bikes have 12-inch wheels, but this one has 14-inch wheels. While probably not the right size for a young toddler, this bike can be converted to a pedal bike when your child is ready, making this choice a solid investment for both a balance bike and your child’s first pedal bike.
- Durable frame
- Accommodates kids with inseams ranging from 16 to 23 inches
- Weight: 12.5 pounds
- 14-inch wheels
Cruzee Ultralite Balance Bike
This is the ultimate lightweight balance bike, weighing about 4.4 pounds. This makes the Cruzee easy for little ones to balance on, and if they do fall, you know a heavy bike won’t come crashing down on top of them. Despite its lightweight frame, this bike is still quite durable and can withstand many falls and crashes.
- Comes in many different colors
- Adjustable seat and handlebars
- Weight: 4.4 pounds
- Dimensions: 27.9 x 5.6 x 12.6 inches
Frequently Asked Questions
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