Elle has been asking for a pink scooter and a pink helmet for Christmas for a really long time. Given that her heart is set on it and for previous years, we’ve been pretty restrained when it comes to presents, I think she’ll most definitely be waking up to a scooter shaped package on Christmas morning. But which one? I’ve searched high and low for the best (asked the team) and here’s what I’ve found…
SCOOTERS
{The Micro Mini Duluxe Scooter} This one has five star reviews on John Lewis and comes in a great range of colours. Micro put the scooters through an rigorous testing process (watch the video on their website). I also like the fact that they offer replacement parts and are a UK based company.
{The Globber Primo Fantasy Scooter} This one is a strong contender – not only is it pink, but the wheels LIGHT UP. I mean what more could you want from a scooter?!
BALANCE BIKES
While on our quest for the perfect scooter, we came across a plethora of balance bikes. The chat amongst the team is that these are fab and their kids love riding them. Plus they are great training for riding an actual bike when they get bigger.
{The Kiddimoto Kurve} I’m obsessed with the skull print on this one and it looks really sturdy.
{Bobbin Bikes} You can blame Lottie for these, as I discovered them via her previous post on scooters and bicycles. Aren’t they just beautiful?! If you’re after something that looks stunning as well as performing well, then Bobbin Bikes are the ones for you.
{Strider} These fab bikes were recommended by Amy and I’m totally sold – a product that encourages confidence and is loved by both little ones to bigger kids is perfect in my book. Plus the entry level bike is only £66 and comes in the preferred shade of pink 😉 (and how adorable is Murray here…)
TRIKES
{Foxrider Tricycle} Lottie’s fault again – this gorgeous yellow tricycle by Foxrider will take some beating on the aesthetic front.
{Wishbone Design} This one is actually a bargain as it turns from a tricycle into a balance bike. So with a bit of care, it should last for at least four years! Definitely one for the grandparents to splash out on for babies first Christmas.
{Scuttlebug} If your little one is quite little, then a scuttle bug might be a nice choice – Elle’s far too big and boisterous for one of these now, but adored playing with them at the childminders when she was smaller.
YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS
Does anyone have any other suggestions I need to have on my radar? I’m pretty certain we’ll be opting for a scooter this Christmas, then perhaps a balance bike next year.
Header image by WE ARE // THE CLARKES
My big two have the micro scooters- they have been brilliant! The two wheels at the back mean they get eased into scooting safely and they’ve been really robust! They’ve spent hours and hours on them and they’ve lasted really well x
Thanks Rachel, good to know they’ve been robust and lasted well 🙂 whenever I buy new I’m always thinking of my younger siblings who will eventually have the handmedowns for their own kids one day HA xxx
My Ted has a Wishbone and it’s fantastic. He’s used it as a trike and we have converted it to a balance bike now. We’ve also made it taller/ turned the frame over numerous times as he has grown. He is 3 and it was easily last him another year. Added bonus, it looks great, Ted gets lots of compliments on it! You can add different coloured rubber grips, seat etc too which is nice. We LOVE it.
Also, still looks like new and had been used every day for a couple of years!
Thanks Faye – I think I’m going to struggle to chose, there are so many lovely options out there xxx
NEVER thought I’d say this Fern but how cute is this balance bike from Halfords?! (t’s not pink but it is bloody adorable)
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/balance-bikes/pendleton-bayley-balance-bike
LISA THAT’S SO SWEET <3 another contender (face palm) xxx
Both my girls have Globber scooters, one standard design and one 5 in 1, which transforms from a ride on/balance bike into a standard size kids scooters. They are both pink…
We have been really impressed with the quality and the fact that the handle is so adjustable in height is really useful. They are a French brand and seem pretty popular over there.
Liz the 5 in 1 sounds like a good buy – I will investigate further…xxx
Isla bikes all the way. My son had the balance bike until he was nearly 4, progressed in half an hour ( seriously! ) onto the 14L with pedals, and at 5 is now on the 20 inch bike. They are light ( important if you end up carrying it any distance), made especially for children, they are expensive but hold their value. Look on Gumtree and eBay but they do go like hotcakes! Even if you do not get one of theirs, it is worth watching the videos on their website on how to teach a child to ride a bike. Nearly all of my son’s friends have the same bikes. Cannot recommend them enough. Having a balance bike before is the key to riding a bike easily and without stabilisers I think. We have the micro scooter too which is good for short distances and flat surfaces. Scooters are not great for bumping up curbs, non urban terrain etc. I guess it depends on your lifestyle and how she will use whatever you go for.
Thanks for the recommendation Jess, I hadn’t come across these on my internet travels. Definitely like the idea of something light. We have a few concreted areas around us where scooting would be perfect, but our dog walk is coastal paths and beach?! So it’s tricky to decide xxx
Fern, the Banwood Balance bikes are a-dorable….
https://www.themodernnursery.com/collections/the-big-gift/products/banwood-bike-pink
Xx
LOVE LOVE LOVE
My little boy turns 1 later this month and we’re thinking of getting him a trike… one that he can use now (I’ve seen some that have harnesses) but that also grows with him. If anyone has any recommendations for this sort of thing that would be fab!
Only recommendation is what not to get! We got this https://www.elc.co.uk/classic-wooden-toys/wooden-trike-and-trailer/141226.html#q=WOODEN+TRIKE&start=2 for 1st birthday which looks lovely but weighs a tonne and hard to maneuver so I spent loads of time pushing it around
Love the micro scooters, we got my daughter a 3in1 for her first birthday which has been great. Justified the cost as it will last a good few years. We’re now looking at a balance bike for her second birthday, heard good things about Isla bikes, frog bikes and scoot bikes. All ‘proper’ bike brands but designed for children so parts , brakes etc are all child sized and bikes aren’t too heavy. Also hold their value so resale options are good!
Thanks Sarah – a very good point about using ‘proper’ bike brands 🙂
We got our daughter the micro scooter for her second birthday and I’m a huge fan. I never see anyone else with anything else – ever. There is a reason for that. John Lewis had 10% off a while ago and Smyths toys have also got a slight discount on them at the minute. Worth shopping around. You don’t need the matching helmet – we got our helmet from Halfords.
In terms of balance bikes, like Jess says, Isla bikes or another light bike with less weight for them for ease of use is far more important than its instagrammability. A few friends rave about FROG bikes for cheaper yet lightweight frames.
I guess if you are going for a pedal bike with stabilisers then the light frame isn’t such an issue.
PUKY is a European brand which has excellent balance bikes and a good resale value so well worth a look. I got our PUKY on ebay – should have been £130 and I got it for £20. PUKY do different types of balance bikes – we have one with a brake purely because that was what came up locally but I think by age 3, a brake is fine.
I looked for about a year for an ISLA bike on their facebook resale group, gumtree and ebay and couldn’t find anything. New they are about £200 and resale they get close to £160.
Oh my goodness Rebecca that PUKY find was a total bargain! You did amazingly well there. I think I’m going to keep my eye on these FB pages and eBay for a balance bike for next year – surely if I give myself 12 months I’ll find something 😉
My little girl will be 2 in January so we are inundated with presents this time of year ( I know #firstworldproblems). So trying to plan ahead and ask grandparents for bigger presents that will see her through the year rather than vast amounts of plastic toys. I had my heart set on a microscooter so good to read these are recommended but am wondering if she would also get use of balance bike this year or if should wait until next birthday/Christmas? She’s not very physically confident so not sure she would take to one yet
We bought my daughter a balance bike last Christmas, she was 2 and 4 months, also not physically confident. She’s been on it about 3 times! Just doesn’t get it at all! We bought her a push bike with stabilisers for her birthday in August and that was much more successful so I’d say wait for the balance bike.
We bought our not physically confident daughter a balance bike for her second birthday and she’s loved it, admittedly she was painfully slow on it to start with but by two and a half she was flying and I was having to run to keep up! I think the key is making sure it’s light weight and not too big (feet should be flat on the floor). Mine and friends experience suggests you will end up carrying it yourself a fair amount which is another good arguement for going light weight. We got a puky, as previously mentioned, £20 on gumtree and it’s been brilliant.
Personally I wouldn’t. I’d save balance Bike for third year. Good presents for second birthdays was more Duplo, playmobil (the proper kind not 1-2-3) and a sandpit water tray for the garden
Elle’s birthday is January too so I feel your pain – we also do big presents to cover both rather than plastic tat. Like Natalie says below I think we’re going to go scooter for now, then bike next year xxx
My daughter got a balance bike at 2 and basically walked along with it, but another 6 months later and I can hardly keep up! Born in early part of year so we have same dilemma each year too – my brother has taken to giving her a small gift at the time and some outdoor toys in the summer when they’re actually needed. Works very well – perhaps one of your relatives might be happy to do same and buy balance bike at 2.5?
O god I wish I had read this 2 days ago. We have just bought a Micro balance bike thinking it would be lightweight and the seat goes up and down. It was in the sale on their website. But was wondering if anyone had used one and if they are any good? I hadn’t heard of the Isla bikes :'( He’s 14 months now and we live in the country so we thought it would be more useful up in the woods.
Jess I’m sure you could return if you wanted too? Although lightweight with a movable seat sounds great 🙂 I think if it’s actually going to have some serious playing with, then it needs to be hardy, with some of the prettier ones I’d feel awful about Elle using them, which is totally not the point!!!! xxx
Oh my word, I had no idea how expensive scooters were! My wee boy got 2 trikes for his first birthday and isn’t interested in either of them, or any other sit and ride toys so I think a balance bike is out for a while yet. He’s fascinated by scooters when he sees other kids on them though so had thought about that but unless I can find a cheaper alternative it’ll be a no go.
I got one from Boots (free with my points!) for my wee boy’s second birthday because he always seemed to be interested in other kids on theirs – http://www.boots.com/little-tikes-lean-to-turn-scooter-orange-10210727
He just sits on it at the moment!
Have a look on eBay – there’s always loads. We have just bought my eldest boy (2 and a bit) a micro scooter for Christmas … £16 instead of £95!!!!
Girls I’m on this! Definitely going to try to hunt down a second hand one over the next few weeks xxx
I’ve not got kids but I do have a rose pink adult Bobbin Bicycle, complete with artificial roses around the dutch style handlebars! I rode it one mile to work everyday for several years and I had so many comments, usually compliments. Often from little girls saying ‘mummy look at that bike!!!!’. It is a little girl’s dream and I have had so much pleasure from it. Although I’ve moved further away and use my hybrid now, I can’t bear to part with it.
Bunny this totally sounds like a little girl’s dream!!! I might have to get a matching one to Elle’s…xxx
Strider bike every time. Best thing I ever bought my daughter (2nd birthday). It’s the gift that keeps on giving. My daughter not only learnt to pedal within 12 months but she and I both made friends for life through the Strider community and made some magical memories Strider cup racing #proudmommy
We got a balance bike from Decathalon, looks lovely but is also nice and light too. They do good accessories including a handy strap for carrying it over your shoulder once the toddler has had enough after approximately 10 mins in our case just now!