When your child is finally ready to graduate from his tricycle to a big-kid bike, the options are overwhelming. If you get a bike that's too small or too large, you risk your child's safety. With a tape measure and your child in tow, you can find a bike that's the right height, even if he has a growth spurt in a few weeks.
Measuring Children's Bikes
The bike that is appropriate for your child is dependent on her age, height and maturity. Even if you've measured the height of your own bike, this does not mean you'll be able to accurately measure children's bikes. Bicycles made for children are measured by the wheel size, as opposed to the height of the frame. Although this measurement is known as the wheel diameter, it is not the true diameter measurement of the bicycle wheel. Instead, the wheel diameter is the measurement of the diameter of the rim of the wheel, which is the area just inside the rubber tire.
Bicycle Size
Measure your child's inseam in inches to determine which size bike is correct for him. Take a tape measure and starting at the center of the crotch of your child's pants, measure the length of his leg all the way down to the ground. Use the inseam as a rule of thumb to determine the size bike your child needs. If your child's inseam is 14 to 17 inches, choose a bike that has a wheel diameter of 12 inches. If the inseam is 16 to 20 inches, select a wheel diameter of 14 inches. If the inseam is 18 to 22 inches, choose a wheel diameter of 16 inches. If the inseam is 20 to 24 inches, select a wheel diameter of 18 inches. If the inseam is 22 to 25 inches, choose a wheel diameter of 20 inches. If the inseam is 24 to 28 inches, pick a wheel diameter of 24 inches.
Bike Functions
Children's bikes are designed to grow with them as they transition into an adult bike. A 12-inch bike usually comes with training wheels that can be removed and foot brakes that stop the bike when the child pedals backward. Some 16-inch bikes have foot brakes, while others have hand brakes. Determine at the bike store whether or not your child is old enough for hand brakes. Allow her to pedal at a slow pace with you holding onto her seat. If she is able to quickly squeeze down on the hand brake using only one hand, she is ready for hand brakes. The 20-inch bikes frequently have multiple speeds, while 24-inch bikes are almost identical to adult bicycles.
Growing Into It
If your child is growing, you may be tempted to choose a bike that is larger than the size appropriate for his current inseam. Although you may have to purchase more bikes for your child in the long run, safety must be your No. 1 priority. If you buy a bicycle that is too tall or too complicated for your child, he is more likely to fall or get injured while riding. Even as your child grows up, remind him that he must always wear his helmet, even when he's not riding with a parent.
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