Most toddlers are ready for a balance bike around 18 months of age. But what happens when they want a bike even sooner than that?
Having seen mom and dad (and grandma and grandpa and friends and racers) riding their bikes his entire infancy, my son was obsessed with bikes by 10 months old.
Luckily, there are a number of tricycles and even balance bikes (pre-bikes as I like to call them) for young toddlers and babies who aren’t quite ready for a real bike.
While I’d still highly recommend a balance bike for those old enough to safely ride it, these bikes bridge the short gap between wanting a bike and being able to actually ride one. Some of the options work for little ones as young as 9 months old.
Our Top Picks
| Bike | What We Love | Price |
| Early Rider Bella Velio | Aesthetically beautiful | $229 |
| Woom Wow | Self-balancing design | $199 |
| Scuttlebug | Easy to pack and transport | $59 |
| Wishbone 3-in-1 | Grows with your child | $229 |
| Retrospec Cricket | Budget-friendly, small | $49 |
Early Rider Velio
Price: $229
As beautiful as it is practical, the Early Rider Velio makes for an eye-pleasing nursery decoration when junior isn’t busy riding it. While *technically* this is a balance bike, it has the world’s biggest wheels, making it stable enough for babies (10 months and up). It also has an optional removable stick that allows you to help push and stabilize your kiddo.
The only bummer about the Bella Velio is the fact that’s it’s expensive for a bike that will only be used for a year or so. Unlike the Wishbone (listed below), the bike won’t grow with your child.
Read Our Review: Early Rider Bella Velio
Woom Wow
Price: $199
Like the Early Rider Velio, the Woom Wow is a balance bike. But unlike a typical balance bike designed for older toddlers, the Wow is self-balancing and nearly impossible to tip for a baby.
Designed for ages 9 months and up, your little one doesn’t even need to be walking yet on the Woom Wow, which makes it a fun way to add mobility to your baby’s life! That said, the seat height is a little higher than the Retrospec Cricket, for example, so they need a long-ish inseam or to wait until closer to a year.
The only drawback is that, like the Early Rider Velio, it’s pretty expensive for a bike with a limited lifespan.
Full review coming soon!
Scuttlebug Tricycle
Price: (Last updated: – More Info)
The Skuttlebug is the trike that my son received for his first birthday. The cute design appeals to babies and young toddlers, and the tri-pod design requires little ones to work on balance.
The soft wheels can easily be ridden inside the house without marking up your floors (my hardwoods can attest to this). Finally, it folds up into a tiny package so that it’s easy to carry to the park or on vacation.
The wheels are tiny so it’s not great at making it over cracks in the driveway or any sort of obstacle, but once your kiddo is athletic enough for that it’s time to move on to a balance bike anyway.
Read Our Review: Scuttlebug
Wishbone 3-in-1 Tricycle
Price: (Last updated: – More Info)
The Wishbone 3-in-1 is a special kind of genius. Unlike most tricycles, which kids are going to use for a matter of months not years, the 3-in-1 converts from a three-wheeled trike (works for littles around 12 months old) to a two-wheeled toddler balance bike to a pre-schooler sized balanced bike. This makes it a solid investment despite the price tag.
Do keep in mind that the Wishbone is made of wood. This means you don’t want to store it outside. (It won’t hold up in the rain or snow). And if you bring it inside, it has a bigger footprint than most of the bikes on this list, so you’ll need somewhere to store it.
Read Review: Wishbone 3-in-1
Retrospec Cricket 2
Price: $49.99
If you want to get your baby riding as early as possible without spending a fortune, the Retrospec Cricket 2 is one of your best bets. It is the most affordable option on this list, and it’s pretty enough to keep on display or give as a gift.
Beside the price, the biggest draw is the small size. Our tester was scooting around on it at just 11 months old, which is earlier than we could get her on the pricier Woom Wow due to its slightly taller seat.
The wheels are slip-resistant and non-scratching, making it a great indoor option and perfect for hardwood floors. Just note that it’s not the best option for outdoor use, so if you’re looking for something that can handle the driveway or the park, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
Read Our Full Review: Retrospec Cricket 2
More Stuff To Help You Bike With Your Baby
- Best Toddler Bikes For Your 1, 2, or 3-Year-Old
- Biking With Baby: From Newborn To Infant To Toddler
- 10 Best Bike Trailers For Kids (Tested & Reviewed)
About Us
The Rascals are a family of three. Kristen (mom), Blair (dad), and Parker (kiddo). We started Rascal Rides when Parker was born and we didn’t want to give up our passion for biking. As we learned, we shared.
Over the years, we’ve added other families to our team and have tested hundreds of kids bikes, helmets, bike trailers, and more.
Kristen is a licensed USA Cycling coach and NICA coach, and loves to share her passion for biking with other families. Blair is a bike geek, mechanic, and mountain bike junkie. Parker is 13 now and is our resident shredder.
If you see us out on the trail, make sure to say hi!
IG: @rascal_rides
YT: @rascalrides
i was interested in getting a schylling scuttlebug for my daughter after reading these reviews. However, i am not having any luck finding a place to purchase one. i am assuming still available since article was just updated this march? note – i am finding other brands but not sure if the quality is as good?
Hi Andi,
I am sorry to see that it does look like the schylling scuttlebug has been discontinued! It was available as of my update in March. I can’t speak to any of the other similar brands since I haven’t tested them personally. The reviews of other “scuttleugs” on Amazon don’t look great.
Thanks for this!
FYI – the Shuttlebug is available at Target (11/21) — I just ordered it! It’s a Bee though now, not a ladybug.