Choosing the best bike for your two year old

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Being two years old is such an exciting age! As the adult in the life of a 2 year old, you're probably looking at ways to keep them occupied - and what better than their very first bike?

You've come to the right place - Cycle Sprog is here to guide you and your family on your cycling journey, including everything there is to know about cycling with babies and toddlers.

2 years of age is the perfect age to start to introduce the concept of bikes and cycling to your child.

In this article, we'll look at what a 2 year old is capable of, introduce you to some of the best balance bikes, and also show you some of our favourite pedal bikes that are perfectly sized for a 2 year-old.

Things to think about when buying a bike for a 2 year old

Before you rush in and buy a toddler bike, it's always worth stopping and answering a few questions.

How old is your two year old?

This may sound like a silly question, but if it's your child's 2nd birthday, they're going to be a totally different child, with different skills and requirements than a two year old who has their 3rd birthday tomorrow.

So much physical and mental development goes on during this year - by the end of it they're going to be taller, stronger and have better coordination.

How tall is your 2 year old?

Two year olds can vary massively in height. A small two year old girl on her 2nd birthday could be 77cm tall. A tall two year old boy just before his 3rd birthday could be 106cm tall.

This is a massive 29cm difference between two children both 2 years of age. This is why it's so important to check the sizing of any bike you buy, and whether it's correct for your child.

Is my 2 year old ready for a pedal bike?

Whilst there are the occasional exceptions, 2 year olds aren't ready to ride a bike with pedals.

The skills needed to ride a pedal bike develop over time, and it's best to start simple and let your child have loads of fun first.

A balance bike is usually the best option for this age group; they are small bikes with no pedals. They will teach your child all the fundamentals of how to ride a bike and will remove the need for using stabilisers.

Over time they will learn how to balance, steer, move at speed and come to a stop, all without having to worry about turning the pedals.

Bike: Lena Scooter
Price: £22.00
Age Range: 1–3 years
Colours: Red
Bike Weight: 0.8kg
Tyres: Plastic

The Lena Toddlebike is a perfect beginners ‘scooter’ (or pre-balance bike) for when a child has begun walking (usually around 18months, but it can be earlier) and has an inside leg measurement of 20cm.

The Toddlebike features two wheels at the rear, making it more stable than a balance bike if your child isn’t at that stage yet, and requires more stability.

The geometry is narrower than a traditional three-wheel trike, which enables your child to learn the balance skills needed to progress quickly onto a balance bike when they are ready.

It can be used inside and outside the house and is REALLY lightweight (less than 1kg).

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Bike: Scuttlebug
Price: £22.99
Age Range: 1–3 years
Colours: Red Yellow Pink Green
Bike Weight: 0.6kg

The Scuttlebug has a three-wheel design which is great for stability and is aimed at slightly older toddlers aged 1 to 3 years old.

Available in a range of bright, colourful designs, including bumblebee, butterfly, grasshopper and beetle.

It requires steering, so is the next stage in helping your child develop their motor skills (whilst having great fun and being active).

The Scuttlebug wheels are suitable for indoor and outdoor use and ensures a smooth, quiet ride. It folds in three simple steps meaning it’s portable and can easily be taken on your travels.

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Small balance bikes for two year olds

As your child progresses through their (hopefully not so terrible) two's a balance bike becomes the natural choice.

There really is a huge choice of balance bikes in all prices, colours and styles. The important thing is to choose one that fits your child, so they can get both feet flat on the ground whilst scooting along.

We've selected a few of our favourite balance bikes that are sized for 2 year olds of various heights - but we've got loads of other articles on balance bikes if you want to browse further.

Bike: Frog Tadpole Mini
Price: £250.00
Monthly Lease from: £5.99
Inside Leg: 23–31cm
Colours: Yellow Green Pink Red
Bike Weight: 3.46kg
Frame material: Aluminium
Brakes: Tektro J310, aluminium, mini v-brake
Tyres: 10"x1.75", BMX-style, (ETRTO/ISO 47-152)

The 10″ wheel Frog Tadpole Mini is one of the very smallest balance bikes available and it’s suitable for children with an inside leg of just 24cm.

The Frog Tadpole Mini balance bike does have a rear brake which will allow your child to get used to braking when they are ready. However, don’t expect a very young child to use them – feet are more than adequate for stopping!

The tyres are pneumatic, which means you can take this bike outside and ride on a variety of surfaces, and there’s a quick-release seat post so the bike easily grows with your child.

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What bike will you choose for your two year old?

We hope you've found this article helpful, and it has helped you choose the perfect bike for your two year old. If not, do check out our kid s bike search, where you can find loads more choices.

If you'd like to stay in touch do please follow us on Instagram - we'd love to see what bike you ended up buying for your 2 year old (just tag us #CycleSprog. And why not sign up to our newsletter so you get all our kids bike reviews and advice direct to your mailbox.