Your child will probably be ready to do more exploring and a good all-terrain bike will cater for both riding round the streets as well as a bit of off-roading. The Vitus 24 is a good value option with all the features you’d expect from a lightweight children’s bike. Brakes are very much an optional extra on balance bikes. With the lower ride height and speeds, kids can rely on their feet to slow and stop the bike. However, what you save on brakes you may lose on shoe wear. However, they’ve got their shortcomings. When we caught up with Isla Rowntree, founder of Islabikes, she summed it up pretty nicely: “[Training wheels] are not actually a great way to learn to ride. A bicycle steers by leaning, you lean it to the right and the handlebars fall to the right, you lean it to the left and they fall to the left. The traditional learning-to-ride journey on bikes with training wheels first develops the child’s pedalling skill, before introducing the balance skill later. Balance bikes flip that approach on its head, by first developing balance and later introducing pedalling. In my experience, children find the progression on a balance bike more intuitive than trying to adapt to a regular pedal bike with training wheels. A child’s confidence also grows as they progress on a balance bike, building another key component for when the time comes to pedal off unassisted.

Although it isn't as fundamental as some of our other cons, it had to make our list. Stabilisers are usually made of plastic. Sometimes this creates an annoying rattling sound as they move. Kids will ultimately grow out of whichever balance bike they get. As such it is easy to fall into the disposable balance bike trap. Again, regardless of the frame material you choose, target well-made and durable bikes that can be kept for the next child or sold/donated to another family. Leasing

10. Best 26-inch kids’ bike: Giant ARX 26 2021 Junior Bike

Transitioning to pedal bikes seamlessly: Since balance bikes teach children the fundamental skill of balance, the transition to pedal bikes becomes smoother. Kids who have mastered balance on a balance bike find it easier to adapt to pedalling and are more likely to skip training wheels altogether. As kid bike experts, our approach to teaching children to learn how to ride a bike is that they need to learn to turn and control it as soon as possible without any help (that's inclusive of you too, Mum & Dad!).

Training wheels, also called stabilisers, have been used for decades – and they worked for most of us in our early years (as far as we can remember…). It’s tempting to go for setting the saddle low enough that they can put their feet flat on the ground, but that makes the pedalling action more difficult because their knees will come up too high and interfere with the steering. This will make gaining balance more difficult.The Kidvelo Rookie 14 is designed to help older/taller kids transition from a balance bike to a pedal-powered bike. They can start off using it as a balance bike, complete with a footrest. So, basically, when you're teaching a kid to ride a bike, there's a big debate about whether to go with balance bikes or stabilisers since it's become all scientific now. The bike is pricey but it will hold its value, so if you can afford the initial outlay, it will be a worthy investment. If you're looking for a great bike with a lower price, the Carrera Cosmos is Mumsnetters' best value kids' bike. How we chose our recommendations Recommendations from real parents Consideration should also be given to the bike’s components and general durability. A good quality and durable balance bike that can stand the test of time, handed down from one child to the next, will minimise the ecological impact. Less durable bikes that need replacing more often tend to find their way into landfill and have an increased environmental impact regardless of the material. Bikes with stabilizers can still be used for children aged 5 to 7, but the emphasis should be on transitioning to riding without stabilizers.

Balance bike frames are typically manufactured with steel, alloy, wood, plastic, and even carbon fibre. While steel is the most robust of these materials – an important factor in withstanding the rigours of playtime – steel bikes will be amongst the heaviest options and typically sit at the pricier end of the spectrum. Steel bikes are also prone to rust if left outside or uncared for. Balance bikes get the whole family on the movemore. You'll be able to go on longer walks together because your little ones will suddenly have an easy way of covering greater distances. Hornit, creators of the Airo balance bike we have on test, says “Brakes are a divisive issue” and claims brakes are alien to younger (18-month to three-year-old) riders. This certainly makes sense, and my daughter never once asked how to stop her bike. Using her feet to slow was very intuitive.

9. Best kids mountain bike: Specialized Riprock 24

Not recommended due to the reliance on stabilizers, hindering balance and coordination development. Hopefully, if you have got this far, you will have noticed the importance we put on a bike’s life span. Key to this life span is the bike’s durability and serviceability. While undoubtedly costing more, bikes that resemble adults bikes and manufactured with recognisable bike parts are almost always longer-lasting and more serviceable than bikes treading the line between balance bike and toy. Using a balance bike teaches a child how to balance and control their bike, which is fundamental in regards to their safety and as a foundation for development of further skills. A balance bike allows a child to progress at their own pace and gives them a sense of independence and pride from the very beginning.” Beth Harding, Active School Travel Coordinator schools, Sustrans NI Balance bike or stabilisers The bend in the knee might look odd at first, but it means that when they get going and extend their legs in front of them, they’ll still be able to comfortably reach the ground and take big, swooping and effective strides.