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A balance bike is a bike that is pedal-free with two wheels attached and is mostly loved by kids while they choose to ride on them almost regularly, powered by their running legs, unlike the others that are run via pedals.
But why must a parent choose the best balance bikes? The reason behind why parents must opt for these bikes for their 2-year-olds plus children is because they do not have training wheels as the kid might have had in the past and also helps the toddler learn to balance on their own, just like their parents! The other names through which these are known are, of course, strider bikes, glider bikes, or running bikes.
Nonetheless, purchasing these best balance bikes for 2-year-olds is quite tricky due to the large availability of all kinds. Therefore, Parenthood bliss has curated a list of things you must keep in mind while buying the best balance bikes for your toddlers, below, followed by our top picks with their ages as per the recommendation. Read on to know more!
Things to keep in mind when buying the best balance bikes
- Make sure to measure your toddler’s inseam and then compare it with the height of the seat of a balance bike. This is important as not every balanced bike fits all toddlers, so look for those that have a minimum seat height or may be equal to the child’s inseam.
- While looking for your best balance bike, make sure to choose the air tires over the foam tires, this is because the foam tires do not offer any cushioning and also attractions less as compared to the air tires.
- Always and always look for the bikes for toddlers that have hand brakes, it’s not a recommendation but a must. Hand brakes help to stop the bike faster as compared to stopping their bikes with their feet.
Parenthood bliss's top 10 best balance bike for toddlers
Here are the best balance bikes for toddlers that you can choose, however, also make sure that you buy a bike helmet as well for safety. THIS is the list that will lead you to the best helmets for toddlers.
1. WOOM 1 Balance Bike- Ideal for ages 18 months to 3 years
Cost – $199
Height of the seat – 10″ to 14″
These best balance bikes from WOOM 1 feature to be smooth and are easy-to-ride for young toddlers at their early start and are available in a range of 5 colors to choose from. They feature handlebars that help the little riders to be placed at a natural, upright position with centered weight, enhance balancing skills, are lightweight, have a low step frame, minimum seat height, air tires, and an easy-to-use handbrake.
Pros:
- Helps to naturally upright the position of the body
- Is easy to balance
- Low step frame
- High-end components included
Cons:
- Doesn’t have a great range of seat heights
Amazon Reviews
We purchased our 18 month old daughter a GT balance Bike. The seat was too high for her and she had a hard time holding the bike up due to its weight.
The Woom bike is freakin awesome, the seat can drop very low and it’s super light. She was able to pick it up and mount it on her first try. The Woom bike was double the price of the GT but it is so worth buying a bike that is the perfect size and weight for our daughter.
For more product reviews visit Amazon
2. Prevelo Alpha Zero Balance Bike- Ideal for ages 24 months to 3 years
Cost – $199
Height of the seat – 11.4″ to 14.6″
This best bike for 2-year-old kids is the top choice for most parents, they do not have any bright and busy graphics and are of a perfectly proportioned balance bike. They feature high-end components, have a long wheelbase for better stability, and are smooth and effortless to ride on.
Pros:
- Have a low seat height
- Easy step-through frame for young riders
- Include threadless headset, Kenda tires, and Tektro brakes
- The rounded bolts prevent any scratches
Cons:
- Have a small seat height range
3. Pello Ripple Balance Bike- Ideal for ages 18 months to 4 years
Cost – $198
Height of the seat – 11.25″ to 15.5″
Pelli Ripple offers a versatile, best-in-class component bike with a unique design. They feature wide air tires, a Cane Creek headset, a caliper hand brake, an extended seat post, and offer centered rotating handlebars that are of an ideal fit as your toddler grows.
Pros:
- Includes rotating handlebars
- Have a durable frame
- Easy-to-reach hand brakes
- Wide air tires with extra cushioning
Cons:
Is comparatively heavier than the other high-end balance bikes
4. Strider 12 Sport Balance Bike- Ideal for ages 18 months to 5 years
Cost – $110
Seat Height – 11″ to 19″
Strider sportbike has a well-designed frame that can be easily adaptable to fit kids from 18 months to 4-year-olds. They feature an extended seat post, have adjustable-height handlebars, affordable, and can manage kids as per their weight.
Pros:
- Is lightweight
- Easy to maneuver
- Have foam tires that never go flat
- Include adjustable height handlebars
Cons:
The exposed bolts on the balance bike could attempt to scratch the legs
Amazon Reviews
Our Grandson turned two and wasn’t sure how he was going to do with this bike…. He loved it! Perfect size with great options to grow with him. Well made too
This strider will help your child with balance and control of speed. Not only is it safer , it’s durable and high quality. Ditch the training wheels and buy your kid this bike. I promise once they master the strider they will master a bike in no time
For more product reviews visit Amazon
5. Swagtron K3 Balance Bike- Ideal for ages 24 months to 5 years
Cost – $59
Seat height – 12.25″ to 15.25″
The kids’ balance bike from Swagtron has a well-designed frame as for its price and has a longer wheelbase that makes it stable for the child. It features a solid-quality air tire, a sleek aluminum set-through frame, a headset, and budget-friendly.
Pros:
- Features a good design
- Is easy on the pocket
- Has air tires
- Is lightweight
- Includes a headset
Cons:
- In order to adjust the height of the seat, tools are required
Amazon Reviews
I purchased this balance bike for my 3-year-old daughter and overall, I’m happy with the product. The pink color is cute and not too flashy, and the design is modern and sleek. While the screw holding the handlebar in place wasn’t perfectly centered, this was only a cosmetic issue and didn’t affect the functionality of the bike.
The assembly process was a bit frustrating as the instructions included were incorrect, but I was able to figure it out by looking at the picture on the listing. It’s also important to note that the tires come completely deflated, so you will need to fill them with air yourself. Once the bike was assembled and the tires were inflated, it worked great and my daughter loves it.
I want to be clear that the assembly experience should really earn this bike a 4-star rating. However, I’m willing to overlook the frustration because the assembly was ultimately simple enough and the end product is great. Because Amazon doesn’t allow for in-between ratings, I’ll be giving this bike a 5-star review.
In conclusion, I would recommend this balance bike to any parents looking for a quality product for their child. While the assembly process may be frustrating and the instructions incorrect, the end product is definitely worth it. The bike is well-made, sturdy, and looks like it will last a long time.
For more product reviews visit Amazon
6. Yedoo Too Too Balance Bike- Ideal for ages 24 months to 4 years
Cost – $160
Height of the seat – 12.5″ to 16.5″
The Yedoo Too Too offers cute designs and is available in a wide range. It features nimble, lightweight, cushioning air tires, headsets for increased maneuverability, a handbrake, and an angled tire valve for easy pumping.
Pros:
- Includes a hand brake and a turning limiter
- Is lightweight
- Air-filled tires
- Have wide handlebars for better stability
- A 7″ adjustable seat height range
Cons:
- The exposed bolts could potentially scratch legs
Amazon Reviews
I got this for my 2 year old son and he loves it. I have the seat all the way down and there is plenty of room between sitting and standing. I wanted a bike with a hand brake as most balance bikes do not have this feature and even though he is not using it now, I know it will come in handy when he starts riding more and going faster. We live in a hilly neighborhood so after seeing our neighbor with a brake, I knew he needed this too. Our neighbors have the other brand with a hand brake which was double the cost of the Yedoo and even though the geometry is quite a bit different between the bikes, the quality on both is the same. Plus the Yedoo is a little bigger so he will not outgrow it as quickly as the other one. I struggled spending this much on a bike for a toddler who will outgrow it in a few years, but for an Xmas present it was worth it. It was relatively easy to assemble too.
For more product reviews visit Amazon
7. WOOM 1 Plus Balance Bike- Ideal for ages 18 months to 3.5 years
Cost – $269
Height of the seat – 14.8″ to 18.7″
WOOM 1 Plus offers balance bikes for toddlers that are designed to be big with mostly all upgraded benefits. They feature to be comfortable, maintain the upright body positioning, have large 14″ air tires, include a removable footrest, turning limiter, and dual hand brakes.
Pros:
- Include a large aluminum frame
- 14″ tires
- Is lightweight
- Has removable turning limiter
- Includes removable dual hand brakes
Cons:
- The footrest might come across too big for the tiny toddlers
8. Banana Bike GT Balance Bike- Ideal for ages 24 months to 5 years old
Cost – $69
Height of the seat – 12.5″ to 17″
Banana Bike GT is quite affordable and has a larger wheelbase so the toddlers aren’t cramped up in the space. They feature a seat post that boasts 4.5″ and provides much room for your child. Nonetheless, the only downside of this bike is that it doesn’t have the two key features: one, larger 14″ wheels, and two, a handbrake.
Pros:
- Has a comparatively good design for its price
- Has a headset and handlebars that are likely to twist
- Includes a quick-release seat post
- Fitted air tires
Cons:
- Not quite durable
- Would require to be assembled
Amazon Reviews
I looked at several models before settling on the Banana GT for my son’s 2nd birthday. I liked the design, features and price. After over a year and a half of frequent use indoors and outdoors on varied terrain, it has held up great and performed well. The only improvement might be a handbrake, but that is a judgement call on added cost. Now he’s just starting up on the Woom 2, and the transition to pedals was pretty smooth.
For more product reviews visit Amazon
9. Ridgeback Scoot Balance Bike- Ideal for ages 3 to 5 years
Cost – $215
Height of the seat – 14″ to 20″
They offer a top-quality balance bike that is a bit heavier as compared to the other bikes on the list. It features air tires, a handbrake, a quick-release seat post, a kid-shaped saddle, and durability.
Pros:
- Has air tires
- Includes good-quality hand brakes
- Has wide handlebars
- Includes a long wheelbase for good stability
- Offers good and high quality
- Is durable in nature
- Has a 6″ adjustable seat height
Cons:
- Is quite heavy
- Has exposed bolts that might stretch the legs of the little rider
10. Ridgeback Scoot XL Balance Bike- Ideal for ages 4 to 7 years
Cost – $225
Height of the seat – 16″ – 21.5″
Ridgeback Scoot XL bikes are perhaps quite identical to the Ridgeback Scoot bike except for their size. The Scoot XL features a much larger and taller frame for taller toddlers and an adjustable handlebar that is placed at a good height that is a plus for kids who are 6 or 7 years old.
Pros:
- Has a 14″ tire
- Include wide and stable handlebars
- Has a long wheelbase that offers stability
- Is durable in nature
- Has a 6″ adjustable seat height
Cons:
- Is quite heavy
- Has exposed bolts that can stretch the legs of the little riders
To Conclude:
It is important for parents to choose the best balanced bikes for toddlers as it helps them enhance their skill sets, encourage their social skills, and also helps build good physical strength. With each balance bike offering its highlights, parents must make sure to choose and pick the one that would suit the little rider the best, in terms of their height, weight, and choice.
FAQs - Best Balance Bikes For Toddlers
1) Should 2-year-old toddlers ride on a balance bike ?
2) At what age can a toddler ride a balance bike ?
3) How important is a balance bike ?
Reviewed By:
Nimrat Sidhu - Pediatration
Dr. Nimrat S Sidhu is a practicing pediatrician for about 5 years now and holds an MD pediatrics degree. She was the topper of her batch, has always had a keen interest in her core medical field, and is specially trained for neonatal resuscitation.
She has published multiple research papers on pediatrics and is interested in topics like Neonatal care, skincare, baby growth, vaccination, growth, and development.
