Bike fora two-year-old child
Two-year-olds are bursting with energy. Parents who until this moment managed to keep up with their little one, who was just learning to take their first steps, are often surprised by the pace at which their now older child starts to discover the world. They find anything that's new interesting, and if you encourage them properly, they'll happily take on challenges. This is a good moment to consider a bike for a two-year-old. The first independent bike is an important investment. For your child to confidently start learning to ride, a bike must have several important features. One thing that makes things much easier at the start is a low frame without any protruding elements to enable your little one to get on and off easily. Also check the seat: it should be adjustable and soft so that you can correctly tailor the bike to your youngster's height and ensure comfortable riding. Another handy function is handlebar adjustment. For young beginners who aren't yet ready to start learning to keep balance, a tricycle for a two-year-old will be the right choice. A more-stable frame will encourage even less-confident children to go on a bike adventure.
What should a bike for a two-year-old be like?
A two-year-old is slightly more independent and full of fervour for new discoveries, physical activity and fun, but they're still a little child for whom challenges that are too difficult may be burdensome. That's why it's important that the bike for a two-year-old you choose is perfectly adapted to the youngster's skills: to their height, strength and motor skills. Which features should you look for when buying?
Features of the perfect bike for a two-year-old
Even though from the perspective of an adult it may seem that all bikes are similar in terms of design – the child's needs influence how bikes for littlies are designed. Make sure that the bike you choose for your pride and joy has the following features:
- low frame without any protruding elements – a spirited two-year-old may not be able to get on and off slowly and carefully, and that's why the frame should be as low as possible and rounded to protect your youngster from possible falls or injuries;
- adjustable, soft seat – a bike shouldn't be bought in advance: too-high a frame will make things uncomfortable and learning less effective; your little cyclist's feet should easily touch the ground. An adjustable seat is a must to tailor the height of the bike to that of your child. It's also important that the seat is soft – a little cyclist is more likely to take off if they're comfortable! And in the 4-in-1 and 5-in-1 models, a very important function is adjustment of the distance between the seat and the handlebar;
- sturdy wheels (foam or air filled) – they'll ensure stability and comfortable, smooth riding on many different surfaces; foam wheels are ideal for park pavements, while air-filled ones are suitable for more-difficult, less-firm terrain;
- lightweight design – you don't need to worry that your youngster will feel less confident on a lightweight model – the weight should be suited to the skills of a child who sometimes gets off the bike to walk it in a certain direction; a lighter bike also makes it easier to accelerate and brake;
- large, non-slip handlebar handles – a little rider must feel confident when manoeuvring the bike; getting on and off and turning are easier if they can firmly grip the comfortable handlebar handles;
- footrests – even though this isn't a must-have in a bike for a two-year-old, they can be very handy on faster rides or when riding downhill, when tired feet can rest on comfortable platforms; in tricycles that are also suitable for younger children, footrests are placed above the pedals so that the little cyclist can use them whenever they like.
Also easier for the parent
Since you now know more about convenient features for children, it's good to take a moment to ponder bike features that'll make everyday activities with a lively youngster easier. Parents will love the specially designed carry handles and handlebar, which make carrying the bike much easier. Another handy aspect is the function of folding the bike to a smaller size – in your two-year-old's kingdom full of toys and accessories, storage can be a challenge, so the more space you have available, the better! You should also look for models that don't require complicated tools for folding and operating. An example of such a bike is the JAZZ tricycle.
