With an affordable price combined with great quality, not to mention super lightweight, we think the Vitus Nippy is the best balance bike to buy in 2023. Mumsnetters warn against spending lots on a balance bike as they're used for a relatively short time, and the Nippy hits the sweet spot between performance, quality and price.

But as kids get older and their frames get wider, the narrow bars can become problematic. For example, take a look at the difference in the arm position of another three-year-old tester on two different balance bikes below. The woom 1 on the left has a 16″ wide handlebar while the Strider on the right has a 13 3/8″ handlebar.

Key features

They can be used from as young as 18 months and teach toddlers how to balance and move on a bike without the added complication of using the pedals. They’ll also build their confidence and learn bike control which will make the transition to a full pedal bike almost seamless when they’re older. What to consider when buying a balance bike

My eldest (3) loves his Strider Balance Bike - it is the 'sport' version and is very light, although not the lightest on the market. It was a good price given it came with two seat posts to extend its lifespan. He's had no problem with the unrestricted handlebars and I doubt would use the brake offered on competitor brands (certainly not when he first had it aged 2). As my balance biker is getting older and bolder I would love for her to have something more than just her feet to stop her, especially since this bike gets moving. I would also love the ability to have her practice the handbrake before she gets to a pedal bike and using feet to stop are not an option. For the price point, I think this should be a feature. No steering limiter It’s ok: we’re not going to start advocating chamois shorts for five-year-olds. But it’s worth knowing that the ideal balance bike saddle isn’t necessarily the same as a pedal bike saddle. The body resting on it will be putting quite a lot of weight through the centre of the saddle, so these are ideally shaped in a ‘scoop’ shape. However, your child probably won’t be out for three-hour jaunts like many parents – so don’t panic too much about this. 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…).To prevent a potential issue, Hornit offers a shorter seat post free of charge to AIRO customers. In future models, the AIRO will likely come with a shorter seat post, but for now, you will need to reach out and request one.