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3 year old girl with LittleBig balance bike3 year old girl with LittleBig balance bike

Best Balance Bike Guide For Parents

If you’re a parent of a busy toddler and soon-to-be cyclist, you’ve probably come across the term balance bike more than once. These awesome little bikes are revolutionising how kids learn to ride, and for good reason. We pulled together everything you need to know to find the best balance bike for your child: from balance bike age ranges to features like brakes and wheels to fun extras like baskets and bells.

What is a balance bike?

A balance bike is a two-wheeled bike designed for young children (typically 2-4 years old) that lacks pedals, chain, gears or stabilisers (training wheels). Balance bikes, also called push bikes or strider bikes help children develop balance and steering skills by encouraging them to scoot forward with their feet and coast along with their feet lifted. Balance bikes are often a stepping stone to learning to ride a pedal bike, as they teach core cycling skills like balance, braking and steering before introducing the more complex skill of pedalling.
Key Features Of A Balance Bike Plus
  • No Pedals or Gears: Balance bikes rely on the child's feet to push off the ground and propel the bike forward. 
  • Focus on Balance and Steering: The bike encourages children to maintain their balance and steering by leaning into turns (no need for stabilisers), which are essential skills for riding a pedal bike. 
  • Lightweight and Durable: Balance bikes are typically made of lightweight materials and have fewer parts, making them easy for young children to manage. 
  • Easy to Learn: Children can easily learn to ride a balance bike by first walking with the bike, then scooting forward with their feet, and finally gliding with their feet off the ground. 
Benefits of Balance Bikes Plus
  • Develops Essential Cycling Skills: Balance bikes help children develop the core skills of balancing, steering and braking, which are crucial for learning to ride a pedal bike. 
  • Increases Confidence: As kids master balance and steering on a balance bike, they gain confidence in their ability to ride a bike. 
  • Makes Learning to Pedal Easier: Children who start on a balance bike find it easier to transition to a pedal bike because they already have the basic skills of balance and steering. 
  • Encourages Physical Activity: Balance bikes provide a fun and active way for young children to learn how to ride a bike. 
kids with littlebig bike at glendalough
What Is The Best Age To Start On A Balance Bike?​

The best age to start on a balance bike is as soon as your toddler can walk and can fit your chosen bike. Starting early on a balance bike is not just possible, but also beneficial for your child's development.

Most children are ready to start balancing a bike between 18 months and 3 years old.

While there are advantages to riding a toddler bike early, older kids will still enjoy the benefits of a balance bike, and will likely progress very quickly. Whatever your child’s age, a balance bike is great exercise and will improve their balance, coordination and strength leading to a smooth transition to pedalling.

For any age child wanting to learn to cycle independently, a balance bike is the best way to start.

littlebig 3 in 1 toddler bike to pedal bike sizing guidelittlebig 3 in 1 toddler bike to pedal bike sizing guide

Do Kids Need Stabilisers After Riding a Balance Bike

Kids who ride a balance bike first will not need to use stablisers as they have already learned to balance.

Instead of relying on stabilisers (which can actually delay balance development), your child learns to steer, glide, and stop using their feet.

Riding a balance bike gives kids a solid foundation in balance and coordination, making the jump to a pedal bike much smoother (without ever needing training wheels).

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Balance Bike For 2 Year Old And Upward

Balance bikes come in a range of sizes to suit toddlers and young children. Here’s a quick guide to help:

Balance bike for 2 year old – Look for lightweight models with a low standover height and low saddle. This is often your toddler's first introduction to independent riding.

Balance bike for 3 year old – At this age, kids may be more confident and ready for added features like hand brakes on their balance bike or a slightly larger frame.

Balance bike for 4 year old – By four, many kids are zooming along confidently and may benefit from grippier tyres and a balance bike with pedals

Balance bike for 5 year old – Bigger kids need a sturdy frame a longer handlebar reach and taller saddle. A balance bike with 14 inch wheels is perfect for older kids.

Special needs balance bike - A growing balance bike is an excellent choice for children with special needs such as autism, dyspraxia, and Down syndrome, offering them the time, support, and confidence they need to master riding at their own pace.

Unsure what to go for? The LittleBig convertible balance bike is perfect for kids age 2 to 6 with a growing frame and the option to use it as both a little balance bike a big balance bike and a big pedal bike.

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Convertible Balance Bike, Accessories and Spares

Accessories LittleBig Balance Bikes With Pedals

Accessories

Bikes LittleBig Balance Bikes With Pedals

Children's Balance Bikes

Spares LittleBig Balance Bikes With Pedals

Spares

Balance Bike Benefits

Easy Transition To Pedalling

With a balance bike, your child has the opportunity to learn in a natural and progressive way. Having already mastered the skills of balancing, braking, and steering, the transition to pedalling is seamless. By focusing on the core skills first, kids can confidently glide while naturally learning how to use the pedals.

Develops Motor Skills

Riding a balance bike develops kids' motor skills as they learn to balance and steer, building confidence with every glide. This sharpens their coordination and lays a strong foundation for other physical activities throughout their life.

Encourages Outdoor Play

Riding a balance bike is a fun activity that can encourage children to spend more time outdoors. This helps kids foster a love of nature and a desire to be physically active, which is beneficial for their overall health and well-being.

Gets Kids Active Early

Once your toddler is walking, riding a balance bike is very intuitive. Kids still have their feet on the ground and simply push forward off the ground with their feet to get going! And after the first few tentative steps, they will progress to running, striding and gliding in no time!

No Need For Stabilisers

Studies have shown that children who learn to cycle on balance bikes develop better balance, strength and coordination. It is also now proven to lead to earlier independent cycling then when using stabilisers (training wheels).

Safe and Fun

By having a low saddle height, kids can keep their feet safely near the ground giving confidence as they learn to balance and steer.

The Best Balance Bike for Your Toddler’s Two-Wheel Adventures

The Best Balance Bike for Your Toddler’s Two-Wheel Adventures

toddler riding the LittleBig balance biketoddler riding the LittleBig balance bike

Top Tip!

The LittleBig balance bike with pedals grows with your child so can last much longer than a standard bike, giving kids extra time to ride, saving money and being kinder to the planet.

LittleBig Convertible Balance Bike

LittleBig easily adapts from a little balance bike (aka push bike) into a big pedal bike, so you only need one bike for your child, from being a 2 or 3 year old toddler, to being a 4, 5 or 6 year old pre-schooler.

#colour_jungle green, lightweight balance bike for a two year old
Little Balance Bike
#colour_jungle green, 14 inch kids pedal bike
Big Pedal Bike

Toddler Balance Bike Features To Look For

If you're trying to find the best balance bike, look for a lightweight frame, adjustable seat and handlebars, quality parts and the right size so your child can sit with feet flat on the ground. Durable tires and easy handling help build confidence and make learning to ride fun and safe.
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Check the balance bike is the right size for your child Plus

Unlike normal kids bikes, balance bike sizing is based on leg inseam length rather than wheel or frame size. Your child should be able to have their feet flat on the ground while sitting on the saddle.

To check if the bike is the right size, measure your child’s inseam, with shoes on. This should be the same or slightly longer than the minimum saddle height of the bike. If your little one’s inseam is longer than the maximum saddle height of the bike, you need to choose a bigger bike!

Your child should be able to reach the handlebars comfortably with their torso leaning slightly forwards. Balance bikes with a longer arm reach will allow your child to go faster and maintain a more aggressive, forward leaning stance on the bike. If the bike is more upright (like a Dutch Bike), it will be okay for shorter distances but more difficult to propel the bike forward.
Balance Bike Wheel Size and Build Plus

It's best to look for wheels with air (pneumatic) tires, alloy rims, and hubs with steel spokes. Air tires will provide more cushioning and grip for your child, giving them more confidence. Tires with a wide knobbly tread will give better grip on rough surfaces, while those with a narrower smooth tread will roll faster.

Some brands use EVA foam tires which are puncture-proof but do not provide much grip. Once they wear out, they cannot be replaced, so you need to buy a whole new wheel. Make sure your bike has ball bearings or cartridge bearings rather than nylon (plastic) bushings, which can rattle and wear out easily.

Some tiny balance bikes have 10-inch wheels, but most have 12-inch wheels. Although the LittleBig is a 14-inch balance bike, the unique low-slung frame means it has a similar starting saddle height to many 12-inch wheeled bikes.
Look for a lightweight balance bike Plus

For your child to push the bike easily, the bike should be as light as possible. The frames on kids balance bikes are usually made from aluminium alloy, steel, wood or plastic.

The best material for balance bikes is aluminium alloy as it’s rust-proof and is much lighter than steel. Wood balance bikes can look cute but don’t come with brakes. If you're going for a wood balance bike, ensure it's made using marine plywood as this will not warp and delaminate when wet, unlike the cheaper bikes made of standard plywood.
Balance bike with brakes for the win! Plus

A balance bike with brakes offers an added layer of safety for young riders, enabling them to slow down and stop more easily, especially on steeper or uneven terrain. It gives them early confidence using hand brakes before switching to a pedal bike.

By learning how to brake on their balance bike, children can focus solely on pedalling when they transition to a pedal bike. It's essential to choose kid-specific short-reach brake levers to ensure they are easy for small hands to use effectively.
Are The Contact Points Robust and Comfortable? Plus

Look out for a padded saddle rather than hard plastic. Check the material is tough so it doesn’t rip easily. Wood balance bikes usually have wood “saddles” with foam padding on top, which won't be as comfortable as a fully padded saddle.

Rubber handlebar grips are more comfortable and grippy than plastic ones. The only reason brands use plastic is to keep the cost down.

The best balance bikes come with a ball bearing or cartridge bearing headset, this allows the handlebars to rotate & steer freely. Some cheaper balance bikes come with rattly plastic bushings that cannot be serviced.
Are the parts serviceable or replaceable? Check warranty too! Plus

Most decent balance bikes are built like a real adult’s bike with genuine bike parts that can be serviced and replaced as parts wear, ensuring that the bike keeps running for many years.

Other cheaper balance bikes are more like toys, with parts like plastic bushings and proprietary parts (handlebars, wheels etc) that cannot be sourced locally.

It's important to check the bike's warranty as some will be very limited. The LittleBig bike comes with a lifetime warranty giving parents peace of mind.
Aesthetics, the beauty is in the detail! Plus

It's not top of the list, but if the bike looks good, your child is going to like it more and want to ride it more.

Beware of popular cartoon-branded bikes (Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, etc.) or ones with a plethora of accessories as standard (doll seats, baskets, etc.), as these are usually fitted to an inferior bike that is poorly thought out. The trinkets are usually to mask a multitude of shortcomings in the bike's design.
Long Term Value for Money Plus

Cost is obviously a big factor for many parents and really what you choose depends on the bike’s intended use. A more expensive bike will usually be lighter and longer lasting, use better components, have better customer service, and will often have a better re-sale value.

Most quality kids bikes will use genuine bike parts that can be serviced and replaced by a bike shop so can keep the bike running perfectly for longer. There are numerous cheaper copycat brands out there, but they fall down on attention to detail and build quality. They are usually missing some important features such as brakes, air tyres, ball bearings as described below.

Balance Bike Tips & Advice

10 Reasons Not To Use Stabilisers On Your Kid's Bike

Balance Bike Age Range | How To Choose The Perfect Bike

10 TOP tips for getting your child started on their balance bike

6 Ways to Tell If Your Child Is Ready to Start Pedalling

Balance Bike With Brakes – Why Your Child Needs Them

Balance Bike Vs Training Wheels. Which is Best?

Why a Balance Bike With Pedals Is The Ideal Choice

How to Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike Confidently & Safely

#colour_indigo go, lightweight balance bike for a 2 year old

Who We Are | The Journey Behind LittleBig Bikes

Hi, I’m Simon, daddy, engineer, round-the-world cyclist, mountain biker and founder of LittleBig bikes. 

After working as an engineer on some incredible projects in Cambridge, my best mate Fearghal and I completed Revolution Cycle, the first Irish circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle.

I’m also a mountain biker and love getting out on the bike with my kids to give them the same love of bikes as I have. Our sole aim is to make the best bike for kids to ensure they get the best start on their biking journey, and parents are absolutely stoked in their child’s confident riding.

How To Ride a Balance Bike

Make Sure The Bike Fits Your Child Plus

Riding an ill-fitting bike is awkward and frustrating. While sitting on the saddle, your child should be able to have their feet flat on the ground.

The handlebars should be within comfortable reach, without being cramped, so your child can steer easily. Handlebars on proper bikes can be rotated backwards or forwards and moved up or down to get the right fit.
Learn how to use the brakes Plus

Most kids will intuitively use their feet to stop while using the balance bike, at least while they’re getting started. Once your little one gets faster they’ll need to start using their balance bike with brakes.

It’s best to teach them to use the rear brake first, then the front brake as they get more confident. You may wish to run alongside them with your hand on their back while they are learning in case they need to stop.
Get Padded Up Plus

To ensure that a gentle fall doesn’t knock your child’s confidence, it’s best to be kitted up properly.A well-fitted helmet is strongly recommended, along with sturdy shoes and robust clothing, like jeans and a soft padded jacket. Avoid loose clothing or shoe laces that may get caught in the wheels.
Pick a Safe Suitable Location Plus

An open area free from traffic and distraction will provide a safe learning environment, and ensure your child is focused on the task at hand.

Avoid parked cars, steps, open water and any other obvious obstacles. Tarmac or short dry grass will ensure your child can get enough momentum to balance safely.
Find a Gentle Hill Plus

In order to get your child coasting along easily, it’s best to find a very gentle downhill which will help in picking up speed. Just make sure there’s a good run-off at the bottom. Parks can be great places to learn as you will find long gently sloped paths and trails without too many people around and no traffic.
Patience is the Key Plus

Balance is normally mastered quite quickly. But the nuances of pedalling and braking can take longer.

If your child is reluctant to start riding it’s best to put the bike back in the shed for a few weeks until they’re ready.

Fitting some jazzy accessories like bike bells, basket or stickers could help entice your child to get on their bike.
Ride With Friends Plus

Your child will try and copy whatever you do, so try to let them see you riding a bike as much as possible.

If they have a brother or sister who rides a bike then all the better. You can then go out and ride as a family, and that’s what it’s all about!

Top Tip!

No need for stabilisers (aka training wheels), balance bikes offers kids a smoother and safer progression to pedalling. Check out our 10 Reasons NOT TO Use Stabilisers On Your Kids Bike.

Balance Bike vs Pedal Bike Fitted With Stabilisers (Training Wheels)

A balance bike actively challenges children to maintain balance, which quickly helps develop the skills needed to cycle independently.

On the other hand, a bike with stabilisers supports the child while they learn to pedal. However, the problem with this method as I experienced, is that when the stabilisers are removed, the child has to suddenly learn to balance the bike (while pedalling), making it a more daunting experience.

Additionally, the bike is more likely to tip from side to side unpredictably as the child’s weight transfers from one stabiliser to the other. This limits the variety of terrain the bike can be used on and slows the child’s development of core cycling skills.

For an in-depth comparison, read our post Balance Bike Vs. Training Wheels: Which is Best?

balance bike vs training wheels, which is best?

Frequently Asked Questions

Balance Bike FAQ's

What is a balance bike and how does it help children learn to ride?

A balance bike is a pedal-free bike (sometimes called a “push bike” or "Strider Bike") designed for toddlers—typically ages 2–4—that encourages children to walk and glide using their feet. This helps them develop balance and steering skills naturally, making the transition to a pedal bike easier and faster.

At what age can a child begin using a balance bike?

Children are usually ready to start using a balance bike as soon as they can walk confidently and fit the bike comfortably. Most kids begin between 2 - 3 years, and older children can still benefit from using a balance bike, particulalry if it has a growing frame like the LittleBig.

Why are balance bikes considered better than training wheels?

Balance bikes help kids learn proper balance and steering skills from the start. In contrast, training wheels can delay development by preventing leaning and counter-steering, which often makes transitioning to a pedal bike harder later on.

What key features should I look for in a balance bike for my toddler?

Look for a lightweight balance bike that has an adjustable seat and handlebars, hand brakes, real air tires, and a low standover height so your child can easily place both feet flat on the ground while seated. These features make learning safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable.