The best 12″ wheel first pedal bikes for ages 2 years and over

Buying your child's very first pedal bike is such a milestone - and you want to make sure you're choosing the best bike for them. There's a bewildering range of kids first pedal bikes available, so in this article, we look at the various 12" wheel kids bikes suitable for children aged about 2 and a half years and over.

Take a moment to GRAB YOUR FREE KIDS BIKE BUYING CHECKLISTwhich will help you record all the information you need to find the perfect bike for your child.

Before going any further, ask yourself whether your child is really ready for a pedal bike.

Have they mastered using a balance bike yet?

A balance bike is cheaper and lighter than a pedal bike and they will learn the important skill of balancing and moving, without having to worry about learning to pedal at the same time.   Usually, children who have used a balance bike can move onto a pedal bike without stabilisers when the time is right.

Check out our post on the Best Balance Bikes for inspiration if they're not ready to pedal yet.

The majority of 12" wheel bikes come supplied with stabilisers because very few 2 year olds are ready to start pedalling unaided.

The issue many parents have with stabilisers is that they don't teach a child how to balance properly, so they struggle to ride without them at a later date. Stabilisers also add weight to the bike, slow the child down and impact their ability to turn, climb etc.

Children with stabilisers on their bike often get left behind by their friends on balance bikes and can find it a frustrating experience.

However, some children appreciate the additional security they feel by having stabilisers, and move happily onto two wheels when the time is right.

There are two types of children's bikes - those that are designed by bike companies and those designed by toy companies. The latter are commonly known as "bike shaped objects".  There is a BIG difference between the two.

I haven't got room to go into why you shouldn't buy a Bike Shaped Object here but click here to read an article which explains the dangers of buying a cheap children's bike. They're poorly made, incredibly heavy and can be unsafe. You're likely to end up with a very frustrated child and wishing you'd spent that little bit more on a proper bike.

Bike Shaped Objects tend to be associated with cartoon characters, pirates and princesses, handlebar streamers and other gimmicks.  They are usually sold in supermarkets, discount stores and large warehouse stores.  They always seem to be a very good price, until you have a broken bike and upset child on your hands!

The best test of whether it's a bike shaped object is to ask your child to pick it up. If they can't move it (and if you think it's heavy) then avoid!

Good quality children's bikes tend to be gender neutral, with child sized components. They are lightweight so can be moved around easily by a young child (including lifting it into a riding position when it's been left lying on the floor).

There are a lot of cheap, poorly made 12" bikes available through the major online retailers. However, while some are fit for purpose, there are plenty that will either break very quickly or be so unpleasant to ride that your child may swear off cycling because of them. Either way, it’s money wasted!

Theee are the key things to consider, and avoid:

• How much does the bike weigh? Anything over a third of your child's body weight will be far too heavy for them to lift and manoeuvre.
• Are the tyres made of plastic? While some parents can’t bear the thought of fixing a puncture, plastic “puncture-proof” wheels can be very uncomfortable to ride outside.
• Is it just about the graphics? It’s tricky to steer your child towards a good quality bike when they’ve seen one that looks like their favourite cartoon character. Typically, a cheap ‘Frozen’/’Cars’/’Thomas the Tank Engine’/You name it bike isn’t worth the money. Consider buying some stickers to decorate a better quality bike to keep them happy. We love the sticker options from Dyed Bro, and Veloviz, and there are lots of great accessories available on ebay, like these Disney bike baskets and Disney bike pinwheels.

Now you know what to look for when you're buying a first pedal bike, let's take a look at the best bikes available for children aged 2 years and over.

It's worth noting that the majority of quality children's bike manufacturers (such as Frog Bikes, Islabikes, Woom, Squish) don't start making children's bikes until the 14" wheel size, which is suitable for ages 3 and over. They recommend the use of a balance bike before that.

We've therefore included several small 14" wheel bikes on our list which we recommend looking at if your child fits them, as they'll probably get more enjoyment and a long use out of them over a much heavier 12" wheel bike.

We do hope you find a great first bike for your little Cycle Sprog. Do drop us a note below and let us know how you got on.