If you’re trying to decide a good age to teach your child to ride a bike, there’s probably a lot of factors you’re considering. You may even be casting your mind back to when you first learned to ride a bike and basing your decision on that. But if you’re remembering learning with training wheels, you might be underestimating how early your child might be ready to take their first steps—quite literally—towards riding a bike.

A balance bike is a pedal-less bicycle that riders propel with their feet. Riders start out at sort of a seated run, then as they get more comfortable can bring their feet off the ground and coast along similarly to how one does on a regular bicycle. So, how do balance bikes change the timeline for learning to ride a bike?

With a standard pedal bike, the frame needs to be tall enough to allow for clearance for the pedals, and the seat tends to be mounted higher up. This means that even with smaller models, children do need to be at a certain height to even begin trying to ride, and they’ll probably struggle with stability while learning since their feet will only just barely reach the ground. Because of this, on average children don’t begin learning to ride a bike until they’re about five years old.

The Benefits of a Balance Bike

With the balance bike, on the other hand, the frame is designed to be low to the ground, with a low-mounted seat so that riders can sit with their knees bent and their feet firmly on the ground. The result is a low centre of gravity and increased stability for riders. Children don’t need to be particularly tall or even coordinated to ride, they just need to be able to push themselves along. Children as young as two can start learning to ride on a balance bike—some even start at 18 months. And no matter what age a child starts learning, there is a range of balance bike options available based on their needs.

For some parents, the cost may be a prohibiting factor. They may hesitate to buy a bike for a young child that’s likely to quickly outgrow it. Luckily, balance bikes are highly adjustable. The handlebars and seats can be raised up as a child grows, so a single bike can be with them through multiple growth spurts. Some higher-end models are even designed to be turned into regular pedal bikes when a child is ready to try pedaling!

Balance bikes come in a lot of different sizes and materials. Some have brakes for safety and to teach children the crucial skill of stopping their bikes. With this wealth of options, it’s important to do your research when selecting a balance bike for your child. But rest assured—no matter the age of your child, chances are there’s a perfect balance bike out there to get them riding, sooner than you probably thought possible.