What is more Beneficial a Trike or Balance Bike?

What is better a trike or balance bike? The truth is, the answer isn’t that simple. Both are different and beneficial in their own way. 

Balance Bike 

A balance bike helps your toddler strengthen their core muscles and refine their vestibular system to learn the skill of balancing on a bike. This skill helps children learn the skill they need to balance on a two wheel bike.

Make sure your child can reach the ground when they start using a balance bike. And always make sure your child is wearing a helmet!

Here are some great balance bike options:

High end: The Strider bike consistently gets the best reviews for balance bikes, but it comes with a higher price tag of around $100

Budget Pick: While this radio flyer balance bike may not have all of the same features of the strider, it only costs about $40

Helmet: ALWAYS ALWAYS make sure your child is wearing a helmet. This one is great for young toddlers.

Trike 

A trike teaches your toddler how to pedal, which is an essential skill for bike-riding. This will help build muscle strength, endurance, and coordination. This skill helps your child learn to pedal on a two wheel bike.

Make sure your child can reach the pedals before they start using a trike.

Here are some that we love:

We love this radio flyer option if you are buying for an infant because it converts as children get older !

If you already have a toddler, you can buy the radio flyer trike alone!

High end option: If you want a higher end trike, the Schwinn always gets great reviews!

When to Introduce?

You know your child best, but both the trike and balance bike can be introduced around 2 years old. For safety reasons, make sure your child can reach the pedals/floor, and always read the product description of the specific toy you are purchasing.

Your child will likely perfect the skill of riding a trike or balance bike by around 3 years of age, but of course, this may be earlier or later depending on your child’s awareness or gross motor skills.

The trike and balance bike are great transitional toys for an upright bike, which isn’t usually introduced until children are around school age (between 4-9 depending on the child’s developmental skills). 

So should we get both?

The current theory suggests that if you are trying to avoid training wheels, an upright trike coupled with a balance bike should help your toddler learn the essential skills of balance and pedaling.

The moral of the story is that you can’t go wrong. The more exposure your child gets to various activities the more they will learn. If you are just choosing one, pick the one that interests your child the most.

And of course, safety first! If you notice any developmental delays or odd behaviors on the balance bike/trike contact your doctor and/or a specialist. A pediatric physical or occupational therapist can help with individualized care. And just reminding you once more to always wear a helmet!