Trike with parent handle - which is best?

[mim1]

We're considering getting our nearly 2 yo ds a Trike with a parent handle for Christmas and I'm keen to hear your thoughts about them. I'm a little overwhelmed by the huge range of them and I don't know which one is best and if any are particularly bad.

Has anyone got one? Do you love it? Hate it? Did you use the parent handle much? What about the sunshade - some of them look pretty flimsy and not worth it.

All comments appreciated. Thanks.

[2bunnies]

We bought 2 Be Bop trikes for our twins 2nd birthday, we have not looked after them very well, they have been left in the rain and sun and have faded a little but no rust and still work really well.
We did buy them at the time from Early learning Centre but I'm not sure if they still have them.
We used the handles for a short amount of time but they where 2 when they got them so pretty soon they where zooming about on their own.

[mim1]

thanks.

anyone else got any thoughts?

[Chunkydunks]

I like the smart trike.

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51bpITKbfFL._SL500_AA280_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mookie-Smart-Trike-Steer-Grow/dp/B000F6W8YU&usg=__V-n9VtYTOCBqkwLT-bmRc7LgJCU=&h=280&w=280&sz=18&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=eIDk3RYVyL5D9M:&tbnh=114&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsmart%2Btrike%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26cl ient%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26sa%3DN

[biscotti]

He is going up to a bike with training wheels at christmas. He is 2.

We're doing this too (same age as Shed's little man, give or take a couple of weeks).
We have a Step 2 car with a push handle, it's nice and sturdy but no pedals though.

[peanutbutter&jelly]

We've bought our DS the Smart Trike Leonardo DX for his birthday next year (ok, so he was only a few months old when we bought it... but it was a layby and 30% off!).
Its got a full metal framework, which was important to us... plus if you don't like the sun shade, you could always chuck a hat on him and some sunscreen :D

http://www.e-broucek.cz/images/sklady/OF-126DX_i.jpg

[mummy2Luca]

We've bought our DS the Smart Trike Leonardo DX for his birthday next year (ok, so he was only a few months old when we bought it... but it was a layby and 30% off!).
Its got a full metal framework, which was important to us... plus if you don't like the sun shade, you could always chuck a hat on him and some sunscreen :D

http://www.e-broucek.cz/images/sklady/OF-126DX_i.jpg

Where did you get this smart bike from? How much was it? Just looking and it looks really good. Do you think it would get much use with us living in a unit?:fingerscrossed:

[KaM]

Id go for something that has foot rests and maybe one where the parent handle can also steer . maybe the sort that also locks the pedals so as not to hurt their feet if they arent pedalling yet

[Seacretsquirrel]

We have the smart trike too (just the basic one though) it is good in that it has heaps of options from littlies to bikers!!!
My only real drama with it is that DD gets distracted by things and turns to look turning the handlebars and thus the parent handle so she steers us off course - Each walk is a constant battle for steering.
It does have the sunshade ect but that is only used with the baby mode once you take off the waist support thingo all those extra bits go.

Good luck with it. You may find it doesn't matter too much having a steerable parent handle at 2 as they my start to peddle in the not too distant future!

Oh and the smart trike has plastic wheels too which are useless on anything other than grass and clear paths. (we are so going to distroy ours as we have lots of rocks around)

[jesse07]

http://www.e-broucek.cz/images/sklady/OF-126DX_i.jpg

Target have one similar to this on sale at the moment. Its in their christmas toy catalogue which u can find on the website.http://www.target.com.au/attarget/toysale/outdoor_toys/smart_trike.htm
i'm also interested in buying one for my DS for christmas, hes 1. I havent decided yet because we live in a very slopey area and I'm not into the idea of having to push him up some fairly steep hills...

[jessica]

DD2 now 17months is very determined to ride her big sisters 2 wheeler (training wheels) bike. She puts on the helmet and tries to climb on and I end up pushing her around - of course occassionally her little fat feet get caught in the pedals! Would love to buy the smart trike (taa for the link to the target site!) but $120 seems a lot if money - how old was your child when they rode a two wheeler (with training wheels of course!) - our Kmart two wheeler only costs about $40 and is great!

P.S Keep in my mind stubborn DD2 is STILL not walking! She climbs, dances and jumps/bounces on the tramp but refuses to walk - lazy little so and so:D

[PandP]

Hey :wave:

I brought the Loenardo trike from Target which seems to be the same as the one in the target link.

Honestly, I agree Catriona the tyres are plastic with just a strip of rubber so useless for me on rough surfaces. Ours is only 6 months old and we have also had some breakages like the little foot rests snapped. And, we also get steered way off course by little Mr Independant.

Depends on your requirements but I really wish I had purchased the eurotrike which is more expensive but I think would be more sturdy.

Good Luck. I hope you are happy with your purchase!!

[mim1]

Yeah, we went to Target & ToysRUs and looked at them and decided against them. The wheels were small and plastic and the frames might be metal but there's a lot of plastic attached to the frame. Realistically we didn't think it would get much use.