In between using a balance bike and learning how to master a two-wheeler lies the cherished tricycle stage, where kids can test their boundaries and feel more independent. The first step in selecting the best tricycle for your child is to make sure the sizing is correct based on your child&#;s height&#;they need to be able to reach and move the pedals easily. Tricycles are generally well-balanced, but you still need to be careful that they aren&#;t top heavy. My kids once had a trike that was so tall and compact it easily tipped over. Needless to say, that didn&#;t last very long in our home.
The best tricycles get kids comfortable with pedaling before they graduating to two-wheeled bikes.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: RetailersProduct descriptions may include suggested ages for riders, but a child&#;s tricycle readiness varies depending on their developmental abilities, says Lois Lee, M.D., chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics&#; Council on Injury, Violence and Poison Prevention. &#;Children generally have the necessary motor skills and coordination between the ages of 3 and 4 years old for a traditional tricycle with pedals,&#; she says. &#;Children this age must always be supervised when riding a tricycle.&#; She advises that you buy a helmet at the same time as a tricycle, and that kids should ride with adult supervision. The AAP recommends that kids wear close-toed shoes when they ride.
Read on for the best tricycles.
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The 12-inch Roadster Tricycle from Schwinn is what I think of when I hear the word tricycle. The bright red paint (other colors are available), shiny chrome details, retro fenders, fluttering fabric tassels, hollow-sounding handlebar bell and rear wooden deck contribute to the vintage appeal. The Schwinn Roadster Tricycle earns our top spot due to its all-around quality construction, curb appeal and potential for fun.
It has an easily adjustable sculpted seat with five lock-in positions. This not only allows the trike to grow with your child, but makes it flexible to share among siblings and friends. The wide rear deck is also fun for playdates, as friends hitching a ride can hold the built-in handle at the top of the seat. The cutout is also helpful to adults who might have to carry the trike or redirect little drivers who haven&#;t mastered turning yet.
Schwinn has been making bikes for 129 years, and the company&#;s expertise shows with its attention to detail. A heavy-duty steel frame gives it heft, adding to its total weight of just about 20 pounds. Even though it's made of metal, there are no sharp edges to worry about. It has a wide, 21-inch wheelbase and low center of gravity that keep it stable, even as kids take turns. The air-filled rubber tires provide a smooth ride, and the grippy handles and pedals give kids a solid grasp for better control.
The trike is suggested for 2 to 4 year olds, but to make sure kids can reach the pedals, the manufacturer recommends a child&#;s minimum measurement from the lower back to the floor is at least 18 inches. Assembly is straightforward.
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We like this trike for toddlers because it can handle their busy little lives. It&#;s often a game of go, go, go, whether they are playing inside or outside. Toddlers seems to want it all, and the Kriddo Kids Tricycle gives that to them.
We appreciate the trike&#;s versatility over various terrains. It handles carpet, grass, pavement and wooden floors all with ease. The shock-absorbent wheels make for a quiet ride, which is especially nice if kids are riding around indoors. The wheels are also designed to not damage floors, but are made of plastic rather than rubber, so they may drag on sudden stops and wear down. Safe indoor use is appreciated on rainy days and when kids refuse to get off their trike and come inside when it gets dark.
The low, angled seat back includes a cutout for easy carrying. Front and back storage baskets let kids bring along favorite stuffed animals, toys or snacks. They&#;re also helpful for holding items for parents when they need to free up their hands to help. The ride is designed for kids 18 months to 2 years old, but it is recommended that kids have a height of at least 30 to 40 inches.
It's straightforward to assemble. This tricycle has a strong carbon steel frame and solid rear beam connecting the two back wheels for support. The stable triangle structure with an 18-inch wheelbase creates balance to prevent rollovers. The overall weight is about 10 pounds. Soft safety grips on the handlebars provide comfort and allow for easy steering. The trike is available in a variety of nontoxic matte paint colors.
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How cool can a kid be to say that his first ride was a Harley when he gets older? The sleek black-and-orange design of the Harley-Davidson Tough Trike from Fisher-Price features the motorcycle maker&#;s signature flames on the side. Ride this to the playground, and kids may command immediate respect. Constructed in plastic, the trike weighs less than 10 pounds and isn&#;t too cumbersome to carry if your tot gets tired. The all-plastic construction also won&#;t have you worried about leaving it outside overnight in a rainstorm if you forget to put it away.
The trike has a 9-inch front wheel, and the back wheels are thick with a rugged tread, helping it to tackle dirt or uneven ground. A wide 18-inch wheelbase also provides stability. This comes in handy for trips through the park and for any off-roading (dirt paths) kids may want to do. The trike has a stationary seat that is long enough to move up or back for comfort, depending on the child&#;s size. Below the seat is a hidden compartment to stash away snacks, small toys, and the random twigs, rocks and leaves some kids like to collect along their travels.
Large foot pedals and easy-to-grab handles make the trike easy to power and control for the recommended 2 to 5 years olds. The total length of the vehicle is 28 inches. Parents appreciate the easy assembly.
We chose this as our favorite affordable tricycle because it comes in well below the price of other trikes. The cost savings gained by using plastic also make it a lightweight and durable.
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When I was cleaning out my garage recently, my teen son got concerned when he thought I gave away his old big wheels, claiming it was a &#;core memory of his childhood.&#; Thinking about him racing down our driveway and slamming on the brakes before hitting the fence, testing his boundaries, it&#;s honestly one of my core memories, too.
It&#;s difficult to get any closer to the ground on a trike than with the classic Radio Flyer Big Flyer Sport. To help keep kids more visible, it comes with a removable red racing pennant to mark your child&#;s whereabouts.
The roughly 25-inch wheelbase and thick, sturdy rear wheels keep the chopper-style ride stable. The oversized 16-inch front wheel is thinner and contributes to easy navigation. Made mostly of plastic, the trike weighs about 10 pounds, so it&#;s easy to pick up and redirect kids when necessary. The smooth plastic wheels on the back do drift a bit when slamming on the brakes, but that seems to be half the fun. The comfortable chrome handlebars turn down at the ends, which are finished in black grips for better control.
There is a contoured, low seatback that easily pops in and out of three different positions, allowing the trike to grow with your child. Recommended for ages 3 to 7 years old, we think this trike best suits the middle and older end of that range. The seat-to-handle range is 20 inches to 22 inches; the seat-to-pedal range is 24 inches to 28 inches. Powering a recumbent bike takes effort, and even in the most forward position, some kids will have to fully extend their legs.
We love this bike for its classic style, sleek red design and the safety flag that comes with it. It also makes a loud rumble on pavement, which helps people know someone is coming down the street.
Nordstrom
The Bentley 6-in-1 Stroller/Trike may is pricey, but when you consider the number of years you can use it, we think it's worth it. Starting at 6 months, you can push the item as a stroller with the seat facing either frontward or backward. Adjustable footrests grow with the child until they are ready to lose the safety bar and ride it like a trike without control of the pedals or steering.
The big jump comes around 3 years old. Just add the pedals when their feet can reach, remove the tall backrest, give them control of the handlebars and watch them takeoff. The trike can last until kids are 5 years old or more.
A design collaboration with Bentley Motor Company, the convertible trike was modeled after the Bentley Continental GT&#;the wheels are mini replicas. It delivers on the brand&#;s promise of luxury, with elements that include a solid metal frame, padded seat and leatherette trim. It is available in nine classic colors.
The rubber tires are air-filled for a smooth ride over different types of terrain. The front wheel measures 12 inches and the back ones are 10 inches each; the trike has a stable wheelbase of 20 inches. Fenders help manage any dirt and water that may kick up, and anti-slip pedals keep little feet from slipping off. The recommended child height is 27 to 44 inches. The complete weight is over 35 pounds, however once the canopy and other stroller parts are removed for the trike configuration, it is less hefty. Detailed online videos aid in the required assembly.
Celebrity moms Kylie Jenner and Tori Spelling are fans of this luxury tricycle stroller. We like it because of its high-quality construction, versatility and sleek style. The fact that you don&#;t have to shop for ride-on replacements for five years is an added bonus in the busy world of child-rearing.
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The Madd Gear Drift Trike is for advanced tricyclists. Billed as a BMX-style drifting trike, this adventurous ride will speak to older kids looking to push the boundaries. It combines a durable 16-inch front wheel covered in a treaded rubber tire with two super-hard fat-tread rear wheels. After excessive drifting, the rear wheels can be removed and replaced if they wear out.
Soft, textured grips on the handlebars help riders hold tight, and the pedals also have grips for better control. While riding on pavement, just squeeze the direct-pull V brake to stop the front tire and spin out from the rear. Get up enough speed, and kids can even hit a 360. The scraping sound while drifting adds to the overall dramatic effect.
Madd Gear is a family-owned company that draws from their own kids&#; active lifestyles. Assembly is quick, and there is a five-way adjustable bucket seat. Moving the low-back seat requires fiddling with nuts and bolts to find the best fit, but the process isn&#;t too involved. The total length of the assembled product is 42 inches. The trike has a strong, durable hi-tensile steel frame with a sturdy wheelbase that is over 27 inches wide. The total weight of the trike is 26 pounds. Safety features include covered spokes on the front wheel and a bright green visibility flag that sticks up in the rear. Three other color combinations are also available.
This trike is recommended for kids ages 5 to 10, though I suspect daredevil tweens might find it hard to outgrow. We like this drift trike because it allows kids to stay kids and have fun outdoors, even when they&#;re getting older.
For more information, please visit ChiSure.
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The Droyd Romper looks like a simple toy, but it has a lot of power behind it. Recommended for children 3 years old and up, this electric trike has a parental speed control system that lets guardians choose between 3 m.p.h. or 6 m.p.h. The trike also has a safety control for smooth launches.
The center console is where parents insert a key to select their desired speed. An adjacent ignition button powers on the vehicle, and an LED display indicates the current battery level. To start moving, there is an acceleration button that extends from the grippy handlebar. Simply press it to get up to speed.
Built to resemble a big wheel, the all-plastic, red-and-white body contains a 24-volt lithium-ion battery and a brushed DC motor, bringing the total weight to about 20 pounds. The trike can ride for up to 3 miles or approximately 45 minutes. The battery takes five hours to reach a complete charge.
The large front wheel features motion-activated multicolored LED lights, great for street style and safety. There are also automatic multicolored tail lights. Instead of pedals, kids rest their feet on metal pegs extending from the large front wheel. Like other low-riding big wheels, the trike comes with an adjustable-height safety flag to keep track of kids.
Assembly takes some effort but is relatively straightforward, and the seat can be manually adjusted into one of three positions. The total length of the trike is about 25 inches. The roughly 23-inch wheelbase provides stability around turns.
Even though kids don&#;t get any exercise from pedaling with this electric trike, we like that it still teaches balance and steering. It also helps little kids keep up on family bike rides.
The Forbes Vetted team researches and reports on a variety of kids and baby gear, including strollers, bikes, hoverboards and bike helmets. Our writers and editors know all about kids on the go.
We took into account the features our expert suggested, then researched products that included many of them. We compared attributes and looked for fashion and function. We also considered our own past experiences, read online reviews and spoke to other parents to narrow down our picks.
Watching your child pedal away for the first time can be a bit nerve-wracking. It&#;s a big leap in their journey toward independence. Parents and older children can ride together, however one adult should always walk alongside younger children on tricycles, Dr. Lee says.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also suggests wearing closed-toe shoes to avoid foot injuries and sticking to a safe area that is devoid of potential dangers such as cars and swimming pools.
Finding a trike with safety features and that are easy to use can help parents and kids adjust to this new phase. Here are some important factors to consider when looking for a tricycle.
Lee advises choosing a trike that is sturdy and low to the ground with larger wheels. Large wheels help keep trikes grounded over rough terrain.
A wide wheelbase also aids in creating this stability. Look for a trike that is not top-heavy. One that is closer to the ground and has a low center of gravity protects kids from falling over, especially around turns.
The ease of riding a trike is reflected in its weight. While heavier steel-based models provide added stability, lighter plastic ones require less energy to power. When kids get tired or bored, or new riders have had enough for the day, there&#;s also a likelihood you may end up having to carry the trike. A handle cutout on the seat is a welcome feature in this instance.
In order to reach the pedals, kids need long enough legs. While many manufacturers label products with age recommendations, dig deeper in the specs to find out the distance from seat to pedal, or if they have any specific height stats. Adjustable seat positions help kids to grow with the trike, but make sure the closest position is close enough. If your toddler is still too small for a tricycle, you may want to consider a balance bike or a scooter.
When my son first got his big wheel, he was just able to touch the pedals and quickly grew into it. But it was frustrating for him to want to ride fast when his feet keep slipping off the pedals. There&#;s nothing worse than a fun new toy you can&#;t enjoy immediately.
We also like the slightly pricier yet more-durable INFANS Kids Tricycle . The Schwinn Roadster Tricycle is a stylish low-rider model for bigger kids. And the Angeles MyRider Midi is an upgrade that will likely outlast the rest.
We considered more than 50 of today&#;s most popular tricycles. And along with several dozen kids (between the ages of 1 and 7), we test-drove 21 models. In the end, we think families with toddlers should get the Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll &#;N Trike . This lower-cost, convertible tricycle is loaded with extras, and it offers significantly more versatility than its competitors.
The world of tricycles is wild and weird, with hundreds of options ranging from convertible 4-in-1s to fancy drifters to trikes that become balance bikes.
This stylish trike is best suited for kids age 3 and up. At that age, they can tear up the road on this more-stable modern take on the Big Wheel.
This trike is slightly sturdier than our top pick, and it&#;s a bit easier to steer. It has the same four configurations as our top pick, but the harness isn&#;t as simple to use.
This versatile trike will grow with your child, converting from a stroller alternative to a big-kid trike they can steer on their own. It comes packed with accessories and has an easy-to-use harness.
Features like a bell, a storage basket, a cupholder, and bright paint color appeal to little kids. If kids like their trikes, they&#;ll want to ride them!
We looked for trikes that grow with a child and are made well enough to be passed down to younger siblings or friends.
This versatile trike will grow with your child, converting from a stroller alternative to a big-kid trike they can steer on their own. It comes packed with accessories and has an easy-to-use harness.
$85
fromTarget
During our most recent round of testing, the Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll &#;N Trike was our favorite tricycle in the bunch. It has four configurations, to take kids from ages 1 to 5. And it offers well-thought-out accessories&#;including a wide and adjustable parent handle&#;and a sturdy frame that prevents tipping. Our kids loved to ride this trike on many types of terrain, and Radio Flyer has a solid, two-year warranty program. This model is also a bit less expensive than most of the other options we tried. That means this trike has more plastic features, but it also means it&#;s lightweight&#;a solid bonus for kids who want to take corners with speed.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTThis trike is slightly sturdier than our top pick, and it&#;s a bit easier to steer. It has the same four configurations as our top pick, but the harness isn&#;t as simple to use.
$100
fromAmazon
The INFANS Kids Tricycle is similar to our top pick, but it offers added durability and has a higher price tag. This trike is a solid option if you can&#;t find the Radio Flyer, or if you want a trike with sturdier hardware. The INFANS trike weighs 20 pounds, whereas the Radio Flyer is 16, so it&#;s a bit harder for little kids to ride the INFANS trike by themselves. We also liked the pedal covers of the Radio Flyer&#;s stroller configuration better than the foot pegs on the INFANS trike. But this trike is well made, and it&#;s quick to build and convert.
Larger and heavier than many other trikes we tested, the shiny, metal Schwinn Roadster Tricycle has a low-rider style, with chrome handlebars, festive tassels, a loud bell, and a wooden platform in the back (for an admiring friend to hitch a ride on). Beyond the glitz, we found that the Roadster provides a smooth, stable ride, especially compared with similar low riders made of plastic. Due to its size and weight (17½ pounds), this trike is better balanced than our top pick in independent trike mode, even on fast turns. Its steel construction is durable, and it has air-filled tires.
An Angeles MyRider Midi Tricycle is often the trike a kid rides at school and usually pedals confidently for the first time, and it&#;s generally a higher-quality model. Despite its 21-pound weight, we found that the smooth-riding MyRider Midi was easy to start and pedal, and it&#;s extremely stable. The large banana seat can hold a child up to 70 pounds, so it remains fun for bigger kids after they&#;ve outgrown our other picks.
For more information, please visit children tricycle manufacturer.