Hellobee Boards

Our daughter's 16" bike we got from a bike shop came with training wheels. But then DH took the pedals off her old smaller bike and turned it into a balance bike bc he decided it was time for her training wheels to come off. He gave her 2 days on the balance bike and then tried out on her real bike and she was able to do her big girl bike then without training wheels.

Our 3 year old hates pedaling so we got her a balance bike since she was still too small for the other one. She's done great on it.

@PinkElephant: DH did it so I'm not sure. It took a bit of time and moderate cussing.

We were planning to buy my 3 year old a bike this year and then I read this article: http://www.twowheelingtots.com/specialized-hotrock-12-review/ and it made some good points I hadn't thought about. The pedal bike I was going to buy my son actually weighs more than I do! Probably doesn't apply for your 5 year old but maybe for the 3 year old.

@PinkElephant: we have a balance bike we got LO when she was 2 and just got her a bike with training wheels when she turned 5. She liked the balance bike but is very cautious so it took a while (and done positive peer pressure from the neighbors) for her to ride more. We have a strider and she is definitely too tall for it now (44" I think). But I think it would be a good option for your 3 y.o.?

The training wheel bike is going well after a slow start. We have started adjusting the wheels so they are higher and she is doing well. She has had it about 2 months and we hope to take the wheels off after another month. It is heavy!

This is the one we got (about $100 for 16")
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D1PQ66S/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485738655&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=royal+baby+16+inch+bike&dpPl=1&dpID=51GkHNi1NKL&ref=plSrch

Here's a link that really helped me in narrowing down our choices:

http://www.twowheelingtots.com/what-to-look-for-when-purchasing-a-childs-pedal-bike/

The weight of the frame is supposed to be an important factor. We ended up getting an aluminum bike by Puky, a German manufacturer, but if you're in the US, there's a ton of options.

I personally am not a fan of balance bikes. I have a friend with a little boy who is the same age as DS1, and he has a balance bike while LO1 has a bike with training wheels. While her LO can ride the balance bike down a hill, he walks it back up the hill. He tried riding LO1's bike with the training wheels, and could not for the life of him figure out how to pedal. Whenever we go to their house, I can see that her LO gets frustrated that he has to walk his balance bike up the hill while my LO rides his all over the place. The training wheels will come off eventually. They're both 4.

I want to get my daughter a bike with training wheels for her 4th from a bike shop. We have a balance bike and she doesn't really care for it. I've been looking at various brands, such as Electra, Diamondback and even REI's Co-op cycles. Does anyone have any recommendations?

@bhbee: thank you! which diamondback bike did you end up getting?

@imadreamer: https://www.rei.com/product/848543/diamondback-mini-impression-16-girls-bike-2015

Similar to this one. I agree with review that it probably only lasts to 6 maybe 7 with a tall girl, but we knew that when we got it. Rei will assemble it if you can buy there and they will service it if needed.

Also I bought a real basket on Amazon which sealed the deal