When to Get a Bike?

My boy was about 24" tall when I bought him a 12" bike with training wheels and he did just fine. He was even riding with no training wheels within about 6 months and has never had a problem. Sure there and the few scrabs and bruises but that is with every kid. Just get the smallest one with training wheels and let her have fun.

Both of my girls - also pretty petite - started on tricycles before going on to 12" bikes. They were still pretty small even when I got them, but they had training wheels and the girls felt pretty comfortable even when their feet didnt quite stretch. :}

My two year old daughter is also just shy of 32". We opted to get her a radio flyer tricycle instead of a bike. She likes it because she's still in control and peddling and I like it because even if she's a little short for it she can't tip it over easily.

A bike store told me this rule: you need to be able to touch the ground with your feet when you are on the seat. This goes for every age and size.

Sometimes I have to respond to some of these with my mouth agape!
What's the rush? She's 2!! Ever heard of a tricycle or big wheel or one of those Fred Flintstone cars? You need to wait for about a 4-5 year old height is what you need to wait on. She may have to wait til she's 5 to ride a bike??? Yea because that's around the time she'll be coordinated enough to do it. Sometimes Mom it isn't about what the child wants, is she going to dictate her raising or are you?
B.

I cannot remember if my kids' bikes are 10 or 12 inch. However, my daughter got her Dora one on her 3rd bday. Our son who is 2 just got his the other day. He is around 30" tall. :) He cannot always peddle it by himself but he scoots it enough to get where he is going. We bought it because his tricycle got run over by the neighbor. :( And, he wanted a bike like Sister. I guess what I am trying to say is that if its not a safety issue with you - buy her the bike. She will grow into it in no time and you'll both be happier. Good luck.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9203278

My daughter has this bike. She will be 3 in August and rides this bike with no problem. The seat is adjustable so it grows with her. We got this for her on her 2nd birthday and she just now is really able to ride it. She loves it.

Toy-r-us have 10 inch bikes. thats what we have my son on.

I can not give you a measurement per say but your daughters need to be ablle to push the padels, If you take the seat down to the lowest place it can go and if you have blocks to the padels could she then push them. Jeff need not have a bike until he was about 8. Does she have a tryclce.

Hi,
My son was 2 when he was screaming to get on a 20 inch bike. He had to have what his sister had, and by 3 he was popping wheelies in the front yard on a tire, with no training wheels. That's fast, I know, and can be dangerous, of course, but once he had the bike, he took over from there.
Give your daughter whatever sized (child's) bike you can give her, and she'll start where she feels comfortable.

They do make 10 inch bikes which might fit her better

S.,
I had a tall child and a short child and they each received a 12" bike for their 4th birthday. There are other things to consider than height. Just like driving, there is the maturity to think of. At two she's more likely to go into the street, hit your car or just not be able to work it to HER satisfaction. If she gets hurt riding at two, you might never get her on a bike again. That would be sad and inconvenient later. Let her be a baby while she has the chance. Buy her a tricycle all tricked out with a horn/bell and handlebar tassels.
I've seen bikes with smaller wheels but she'll still have training wheels and it's harder than it looks to ride a bike. Giving her everything she asks for now will catch up with you later. Big time. And it won't be pleasant for either one of you!
Hang in there and have fun. All the developmental steps are important. You don't want to skip any of them. Having a tricycle before a bike is one of those steps.
Happy Summer!

I think it has more to do with age than height. My daughter is really tall (at almost 3 she is 41 inches) and we bought her a bike for Christmas and she never uses it. She doesn't get how to pedal and steel at the same time. I thought just because she could reach the pedals she would love it since she always wants to sit on it in the store. I would recommend a big wheel or something similar. She LOVES her big wheel and is starting to get the pedal and steel concept. My friend's son is short for his age and he loves his big wheel too. I think like the other moms have stated around 4, maybe 3 1/2, is the age for a bike just so they are developmentally ready for it regardless of height.

I have a three year old who is not even 3' yet. We got her a bike just before she turned three. It took her a while to figure out how to get on it because she is so short. We had to lower the seat all the way. It also took a while for her to figure out how to peddle. Now...keep in mind that we just got this bike in April and she is only about 32" and weighs 28lbs...last week she rode her bike to her sister's school which is about half a mile from our house.

I said all that to say...it's not going to be as much about her size as it is her coordination. If she can sit on the bike with the seat at the lowest and her feet can at least touch the peddles...she's ready to start trying. Just remember to be patient. She's young and it is going to take her a while to figure it out. She will probably even be scared of it at first. She'll get it.

Hope this helps...