At what age can a balance bike be used and what is the reason?

A runbike is a bicycle-like structure without pedals that is propelled by a child's feet. It can have several names: bike scooter, laufrad, bike ride, foot walk and others. Whatever it is called, the popularity of this vehicle is growing rapidly. Accordingly, many parents are interested in the question of at what age you can put your child on this very run bike. This will be discussed in the article.

This invention is quite new and therefore not fully understood by everyone. And if young parents keep up with the times, using the novelties of our time, then the older generation is not entirely clear whether a small child needs a bicycle without pedals. First of all, do not confuse a balance bike with a gurney. The similarity is that both devices can be propelled by feet, but there are differences.

• Gurney Is a stable design with 3 or 4 wheels, a bike ride - there are always only 2 of them.
• The stretcher can be used, as soon as the baby is able to confidently sit and hold, but without the help of adults, it cannot be done here. The child learns the runbike independently.
• The main function of the walk is to maintain balancewhile the gurney is just a means of transportation.

A treadmill is a modern device that helps your child get ready for cycling.

Podiatrists and pediatricians claim that the balance bike can be used from the age of one and a half years. This is due to the fact that it is at the age of one and a half that the baby actively begins to grow and master the world around him. Therefore, he remembers well all the acquired knowledge and skills.

Riding a balance bike helps to strengthen the muscles of the back due to the child's efforts to maintain balance. Since at 1.5-2 years old it is difficult for him to pedal a bicycle, follow the road and control the steering wheel at the same time, then a bike ride will be an excellent alternative.

However, it happens that the child flatly refuses to sit on the balance bike. This may be due to:

• fear of an unknown object;
• unsuccessful attempt to ride;
• unsuitable size or model of construction.

You should not force the baby on a bike ride. It might take a few months for him to get used to the new vehicle. If the child himself does not want to ride, then you can show how other children do it.

It is impossible to say unequivocally at what age a child will be comfortable on a balance bike. You can start getting to know him from a year and a half, but whether he starts to ride, the kid will decide for himself. At the age of 2, children are already able to concentrate on the road, driving their own transport, and very quickly master the principle of the action of the scooter.

Surely every mother wants her child to be active, athletic and healthy. The runbike helps from an early age to instill in the baby a love of active walks, dexterity and the ability to control his own body. This is definitely useful. This usefulness is justified only if the bike ride is selected correctly. Since it is designed so that the baby learns to keep balance as early as possible, you need to pay attention to a number of points.

• First of all, the device must be appropriate for the height and age of the child.
• The design looks like a bicycle, but without pedals.
• Unstable wheels. The balance bike itself should not stand.
• Choose the correct model and size of the device so that both feet touch the ground when moving.

You should also pay due attention. lightness of materials... Wheels made of foam rubber is much more practical and lighter than inflatable ones, and in tandem with an aluminum frame, the weight of the bike ride will be no more than 2 kg. Then the baby will be able to lift and carry his own transport himself, emphasizing his independence.

Even if the baby has learned to move independently on a balance bike, parents need to take care of some related details:

• impact protection (helmet, elbow pads, knee pads);
• constant instructions on the rules of the road;
• starting from 3-4 years, it will be useful to have a hand brake.

When the child is already free to ride on a balance bike and keeps the balance well, the question arises - where to put his legs when maneuvering. For this, a special footrest is located under the seat. However, not all models of this transport are equipped with it. A footrest is included in the package for older children, while for the smallest it is not provided.

The child will tell you exactly when to stop riding the balance bike. This usually happens by the age of 5-6 years. Having fully explored all the possibilities of a bike ride, the kid seeks to conquer new peaks. This is a signal to buy a bike.

For an overview of balance bikes for children, see the video below.