Before recommending the best balance bikes for toddlers we spent time searching through our Mumsnet forums to find the balance bikes that come most highly recommended by the parents in our community. Expert guidance

For parents to feel safe allowing their children riding a wooden balance bike, they need to feel that the manufacturers have met certain standards. Enjoy your toddler's first bike ride inside or out, with the Giraffe Balance Bike. Sturdy and stable, this three-wheel bicycle ensures fun and safety at the same time. Sleek and incredibly lightweight, the Hornit AIRO is super portable and easy to carry when your child wants to take a break from riding. With air-filled tyres for a smoother ride and contoured foot rests for comfy freewheeling your toddler will be away in no time with this balance bike. Brakes or no brakes? The higher-spec balance bikes tend to have brakes, scaled down to child size, either on both wheels or just on the rear wheel. Budget bikes tend not to have them. Opinion is divided on what's best: balance bikes can be stopped perfectly well with feet but some argue that it's good to learn about braking before you venture on to a bike with pedals – and better for your shoe leather. We'd say that, roughly speaking, a child probably doesn't have the hand/eye coordination for using brakes until about 2.5 to 3.5 years. In addition, the lightweight PP Plastic frame ensures stability and durability, while being light enough for little ones to carry around themselves.

Designed with small children in mind, the comfortable saddle will fit any small child and the cushioned handlebars ensure easy grasping

Vitus Nippy weighs just under a Strider and is a third of the price. We had a heavy balance bike and made no progress, swapped it for a Vitus Nippy and my son was doing huge ramps in the skate park the same day, and road a bike with pedals without needing any practice once he'd outgrown the Nippy. He absolutely loved that thing, even more than his pedal bike tbh." (Recommended by Mumsnetter user33323) Our verdict Giving your child a balance bike will encourage them to find their stability, work and strengthen their muscles, opening up a whole new realm for their imagination. The even better news is that many of these products are adjustable now, able to stay with your child longer and grow with them.We have a Hornit balance bike for DS and he absolutely adores it. I do too because it’s super super light for when I inevitably have to end up carrying it sometimes.” (Loved by Mumsnet user Rainallnight) Our verdict However, many balance bikes do offer rear brakes, which could be helpful as kids develop into speedy riders much later on. This could also go a long way to aiding their confidence and also protecting their shoes. Size: Cycling UK advises that your child should be able to sit comfortably on the balance bike, knees slightly bent and feet flat on the floor. 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.

Age range: 18 months (with an inside leg of 30.5cm) to five years (with an inside leg of 50.8cm) | Weight: 2.9kg | Wheel size: 12 inch | Tyres: EVA polymer What we love But which balance bike is best? There are lots of different options out there from cheap and cheerful to high-spec and built-to-last. If you only have one child and know that you’ll only need a balance bike for a short time then a cheaper option might be best, but if you have more than one child it can be worth investing in something pricier that can be passed from child to child. A lot of balance bikes also have great resale value so that’s worth keeping in mind too.

8. Best quality balance bike: Frog Bikes Tadpole

Age range: 18 months - 4 years | Weight: Not stated | Wheel size: 12 inch | Tyres: Airless What we love