Balance Bike, Green, Made of Aluminium, Hape My First Balance Bike. 12 months +

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All the products that are shortlisted into the Awards are triple tested. Not only are they judged by the team here at MadeForMums, but also industry experts, as well as home testers who share their experiences testing the products in daily life” - Made for Mums Toy Awards 2021 5* Rated She is loving getting on her bike like the rest of them and is getting faster and faster scooting her little legs along. It is just the right size and weight for a tiny tot and though it is recommended for ages 18m+ and she isn’t quite there yet (she started using hers at 14 months) the 1.6kg frame is easy for her to maneuver and both pull as well as ride.

It’s ok: we’re not going to start advocating chamois shorts for five-year-olds. But it’s worth knowing that the ideal balance bike saddle isn’t necessarily the same as a pedal bike saddle. The body resting on it will be putting quite a lot of weight through the centre of the saddle, so these are ideally shaped in a ‘scoop’ shape. However, your child probably won’t be out for three-hour jaunts like many parents – so don’t panic too much about this.Aamira is now studying sciences at university and volunteers for the Barnardo’s service that supported her. She is also an ambassador for young people’s mental health services within the NHS and a hospital volunteer. They can be used from as young as 18 months and teach toddlers how to balance and move on a bike without the added complication of using the pedals. They’ll also build their confidence and learn bike control which will make the transition to a full pedal bike almost seamless when they’re older. What to consider when buying a balance bike While some people would argue that it’s better to dive straight into a standard bike with stabilizers, we think that balance bikes are absolutely worth it and a great place to start learning bike riding skills. We work with young people who are homeless and those living in places that aren't safe or don't have a proper tenancy. We help them get somewhere to live that's right for them, and we support them in their tenancies.

If you're looking to invest in a bike you can sell on, the Islabikes Rothan is hard to beat. How we choose our recommendations Parent testers We had a strider and it was brilliant. Also amazing customer service when we needed some help.” (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user SpanielPlusToddler) Our verdict To come up with our list of the best balance bikes, we interviewed bicycle experts and parents with real-world experience. That includes Eighteen Summers founder Emma Kozlowski; Cassandra Brooklyn, author of Cuba by Bike; Priority Bicycles CMO and cofounder Connor Swegle; and Thuan Tran, vice president of the children's rideable company Droyd. We also researched the highest-rated and most popular bikes in their respective categories at a range of price points.

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The wide grab rail allows adults to easily hold on if they want to guide a toddler just getting to grips with balance bike life. It’s also a useful feature when you inevitably end up carrying the thing. Speaking of, it’s relatively lightweight so not too difficult to carry round the park but still incredibly sturdy which is reassuring for parents of fearless toddlers. There are no brakes on this balance bike but there is a stopper in the handlebars so the bike can’t be oversteered which is really useful for new riders.

We asked real parents to put some of the UK's top balance bikes through their paces, letting their young children try out each model and taking detailed notes on a number of points:

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Why We Like It: This bike is easy to assemble, even for novices, and you can take it from a balance bike to a pedal bike as kids gain confidence in their riding.

But which balance bike is best? There are lots of different options out there from cheap and cheerful to high-spec and built-to-last. If you only have one child and know that you’ll only need a balance bike for a short time then a cheaper option might be best, but if you have more than one child it can be worth investing in something pricier that can be passed from child to child. A lot of balance bikes also have great resale value so that’s worth keeping in mind too.Also bear in mind that you’ll probably have to lift your child’s bike in and out of the car boot or, at the very least, carry it should they get tired, so you’ll thank yourself later for going that little bit lighter. Three-year-old kids fit squarely in the middle of the recommended age range for this steel-frame balance bike, made for kids between 28 and 38 inches in height.