Balance and turning. Your child won’t develop these skills on a tri-cycle. When you put your child on a bike with training wheels, they are not actually learning how to balance themselves. Here you can find a detailed post about why your toddler needs a balance bike before pedal bike. Balance bike takes the process of first walking and you child will naturally lean forward while gliding and scooting forward.

1. WHY YOUR TODDLER NEED A BALANCE BIKE
BENEFITS OF BALANCE BIKE
WHEEL GADGET
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2. Table of Contents
WHAT IS A BALANCE BIKE? 2
WHAT ARE BALANCE BIKES? 4
DIFFERENT TYPES OF BALANCE BIKES 5
WHAT MAKES BALANCE BIKE GREAT FOR KIDS? 6
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 7
What Is A Balance Bike?
Imagine a very small bike with no pedals. They look like some sort of running bikes
without training wheels and pedals. The kids rely on their feet for balance and movement.
They are lighter and easier to navigate than normal bikes. Bike experts actually recommend
avoiding tri-cycles and training wheels. Ask yourself this… What is most important when it
comes to learning to ride a bike?
Balance and turning. Your child won’t develop these skills on a tri-cycle. When you put your
child on a bike with training wheels, they are not actually learning how to balance themselves.
Here you can find a detailed post about why your toddler needs a balance bike before pedal
bike. Balance bike takes the process of first walking and you child will naturally lean forward
while gliding and scooting forward.
Balance bikes are safe and can be ridden on all sorts of outdoor surface. They also don’t
require any parental assistance. This also builds a sense of independence within them.

3. Gets Kids Outdoors
We are living in a digital era. With so many digital distractions, kids of today seem to prefer to
stay in the house. Some of them don’t want to play outside. With a balance bike that they feel
confident on, the kids will literally force you to take them for a ride.
Be Adventurous
With a balance bike, your toddlers can easily take a quick tour around the block or cruise on
sidewalks. A little tour around the block will be a big adventure for them. It will also help them
get some exercise. These bikes are lightweight enough to carry and children don’t get tired
easily when gliding on a balance bike.
Easier Switch to Pedals
A recent study indicates that children who grow up on balance bikes usually are quicker to
transition to pedal bikes. All of this is possible because they already get the hang of balance
and these kids are also confident. The Chicco red bullet is a good bike that gives the feel of a
pedal bike at an early age.
Coordination Skills
After balance, the next key element for riding a bike is coordination. When your child gets on
a pedaled bike, their focus gets distracted by the need to pedal. This is difficult for the first
time because they need to balance and pedal at the same time. The good this about balance
bike is that it encourages them to rely on their balancing and coordination skills.
Mobility
Without pedals getting in the way, they will use their legs to keep a steady mobility. A new
rider will instinctively figure out how to just push off with their legs and glide the bike. It also
enhances a child’s motor skills.
Safer
Balance bikes are much safer than pedal or training bikes. There are no pedals or chains to
hurt their tiny feet. They won’t fall off the bike either.
What’s Wrong With Try-Cycles?
There are lots of advantages to using a balance bike instead of a tricycle. With a tricycle,
children don’t learn to balance or coordinate. They don’t have to worry about falling due to the

4. What Are Balance Bikes?
These are small bikes specially made for toddlers and can be used for kids up to 5
years old. They have no pedals or training wheels. Kids ride using their feet to push
the bike. Balance bikes are perfect for developing your child’s confidence at an early
age. It also improves their balancing skills.
Kids love to play, explore and expand their mobility. It is a natural drive that takes them
from sitting to crawling, to walking, to running. Riding a bike represents the next natural
step in the pursuit of these experiences. It's why "riding a bike" is such a childhood
milestone. With the development of the new category of balance bikes on the market,
children are reaching this milestone earlier than ever before.
Additionally, this early-riding development has been scientifically proven to increase
overall balance and coordination which will help in all aspects of their lives.
Simply put, the earlier a child develops the part of their brain used to ride a bike on two
wheels, the easier all physical and athletic endeavors will be for them later on. Let's
consider the typical methods of learning to ride in comparison to a balance bike:
Balance Bikes are properly sized for beginning riders, as young as 18 months, and
adjust as children grow, offering up to 4 years of use from one bike. They are
lightweight and simple, yet focus on the fundamental skill development of balancing on
two wheels. They teach proper steering technique for a seamless transition to a pedal
bike, they are easily portable, and they offer mobility on all types of terrain.
Ride-On Toys are usually small in size and lightweight for really young riders but they
lack any ability to develop balance and steering skills. They don't enhance mobility
over walking or running, and can't go on varied terrain such as grass, dirt or gravel.
They don't adjust to fit a growing child and don't aid in the transition to a pedal bike
later on.
Tricycles have been the "go-to" choice for decades and seem ideally suited for toddlers, but a
focused analysis reveals a number of shortcomings. Tricycles have added weight and
complexity compared with balance bikes. Many times the reach from seat-to-pedals is beyond a

5. Different Types Of Balance Bikes
Let’s talk about the classification of these bikes. Based on the frame they are classified into
three categories. There are significant differences among them. We’ll talk a little bit about
these types.
Metal Frame
These are the most common and the most popular type of balance bike on the market. These
frames are either made of steel or aluminum. Aluminum frames are lightweight and steel
frames are heavier and sturdier. These are long lasting bikes and can be passed down from
sibling to sibling.
These bikes will provide a great value for money because they wear less and can be used for
years. Their welded design improves balance and comfort. The handlebar and the seat on
them can be easily adjusted and some of them even come with footrests for smoother gliding.
Plastic Frame
Just because the frame is plastic doesn’t necessarily mean they are fragile. The balance
bikemanufacturers use premium quality plastic materials that make their bike highly durable
and lightweight. Most of them use ABS plastic because it is sturdy and lightweight.
These types of bikes are more portable and easy to store. Also, they are easy to assemble.
They are so lightweight that even your child can lift them. The handlebar and seat height on
them can be easily adjusted.
Wooden Frame
It may be a surprise to you but there are some balance bikes out there that are made entirely
out of wood. By the way, only the frame is made of wood. Not the whole bike. Who would ride
a bike made out of wood anyway?
That being said, these bike gives an excellent combination of a traditional design and the
touch of a modern bike look. Beautifully designed bikes are very popular among the parents
and children. The frame is made of ply wood which can resist element and they are stronger
than solid wood.
Here are some of the key factors to look for when shopping for the best kids balance bike.

6. them is the air type tires. They are also known as pneumatic tires and provide the most
traction and cushion.
The EVA foam tires are lighter and puncture proof but lacks traction. Rubber tires are better
than foam tires as they are also puncture proof and provide good cushioning and traction. But
they don’t match the traction level of pneumatic tires.
Turning Radius
The maximum turning angle for a bike is the one that allows the handlebar to get close to the
frame. Some bike comes with turning limiters but a lot of people think that they restrict a child
from learning to turn properly. Turning limiters are installed on a bike for safety measures.
This shouldn’t be a big issue when it comes to buying a bike.
Budget
There are some cheap ones as well as expensive ones. Go for the mid range budget or pick
the one that we mentioned so that you can get most out of your budget without losing any
quality or feature.
What Makes Balance Bike Great For Kids?
The hype for the balance bike isn’t just for show. They have actually earned it because of the
benefits they give to your child. Here we are going to talk about why they are great for kids
who want to learn how to ride for the first time.
Builds Confidence
Balance bike improves the coordination skill of a child at an early age. Unlike training wheels,
they can rely on themselves for balance and gives a smooth transition to pedal bikes without
ever having the need of parental assistance.
Less Risk For Injury
We know safety is the top most concern for a parent. Learning to ride a bike for the first time
comes with a little risk. But this what makes balance bike so great. Balance bike is much safer
than try-cycles or traditional training wheel bikes.
The low-profile engineering of these bikes enables your child to place their feet on the ground.
Also provides maximum stabilization, user-friendly brake support, turning limiter that reduces

7. Frequently Asked Questions
What size is perfect for my child?
This is a question that we get a lot. Generally, a 12” balance bike is suitable for 1.5 year old
child. Check our comparison chart to find the correct bike for your child’s age.
Which Frame Type Is The Best?
Aluminum frames. They are sturdy, lightweight and you’ll notice that the best balance bikes
are made using this frame. They are also expensive.
Do Balance Bikes Need Brake?
Not necessarily. A child will instinctively brake using their feet. But it doesn’t hurt to have a
brake feature on a balance bike. It’ll also help them master the art of braking a bike at an
early stage.
Is Footrest Necessary For A Balance Bike?
This is actually a debatable question. The answer depends on how well the footrest is
designed. A toddler will normally lift up their legs while gliding. This is why most of the
balance bike doesn’t come with footrest.
Conclusion
This article was written with the intention that all the parents can appreciate the benefits of a
good balance bike. All the models that are reviewed here are very popular among the
consumers. We want to make sure you appreciate the same way.