Firsts: Learning To Ride A Balance Bike

I know all children are different, but mine are like chalk and cheese, they really are. When I think back to when Little G was 2, she seemed so grown up. It probably had something to do with the fact she started speaking at 8 months and so by the time she was 2 she had the vocabulary of a 4 year old. LJ on the other hand is just such a baby, I swear she could be mistaken for a 9 month old sometimes! In the last few weeks though, her speech has come on leaps and bounds and along with it so has her confidence in other areas- she is suddenly growing up before my very eyes.

She has been watching her big sister on her bike for a while now, cycling around to Granny’s house or to the park and I have seen her looking, longing to have a go herself. I hadn’t even considered getting her a bike, I guess you just get stuck in a habit don’t you? She has always been in the buggy and so that is the routine we are in. Until now..

When Asda got in touch and asked whether we would like to get involved in their #WheelieCreative campaign it was like the fog lifted and I realised how much I had been babying her. Soon we will have a new baby and she will have to walk a lot more – a bike would be a great idea to get her moving!

In my day, bikes had pedals and you had stabilisers until you were that bit older. These days people are raving about balance bikes aren’t they? I’ll be honest, I used to be very skeptical but I have seen a few kids riding them to and from nursery and they are so confident – it is great!

LJ was so excited watching me put the bike together, it only took a few minutes and then it was ready to use. There are lots of different sized bikes available on the George website but hers is suitable from 18 months – I wish I had got her one sooner! She was a little unsure at first but left to her own devises (apparently what you should do at first) she was happy going at the rate of a snail around the living room. It has been a couple of weeks now and she is loving it! She is still at the walk along stage but as time goes on she will gain more confidence and have a go at gliding.

Last weekend we took the girls on a gorgeous walk to some bluebell woods and there was a little grassy area to ride bikes. Little G was off like a shot and LJ was happy following on behind. I think seeing her sister whizz around motivates her to keep trying until she can do the same!

Little G did come back though, she wanted to join in with LJ’s game of vets (our theme for the #WheelieCreative campaign). Doesn’t she look cute dressed up as Doc McStuffins? She adores animals and it wouldn’t surprise me if she grows up to be a vet of some sort! Until now she will have to make do with dress up and her adorable little vet kit. The amount of cuddly animals they have between them they will be kept busy enough!

I will keep you updated on her balance bike journey, hopefully she will have made it past the walk-along stage before the baby is born!

Have you ever tried a balance bike for your little one?