Scoot Along

If you read our recent post on balance bikes, you'll know that Hype Baby is quite caught up in the pedalless revolution. There are many new versions to choose from and one of the coolest we've stumbled upon is the Skipper Balance Scooter, based on the Vespa model. This funky little mover features rubber wheels, a lacquer finish and comes in racy red, hot pink, baby blue or black. And for extra retro appeal, you can even add a furry seat cover to pad your teeny one's tush. Get these stylish wheels at the Skipper Toys web site.

The wheel deal

Unless you’ve been nowhere near a park this summer, you’ve probably spotted the cool 2-year-olds whizzing around on those funky wooden bikes they push with their feet (look mum, no pedals!) These learner bikes are excellent training for the real thing as they teach young kids how to balance without the need for stabilizers.

Balance bikes are quickly overtaking tricycles in the wheelie market and trendy mamas and papas are splashing out large chunks of change for top brands like Skuut, Puky and the hugely popular LikeaBike – check out a site like Run Bikes for more options. But if you hunt around you can find cheaper and equally attractive versions to set your toddler rolling. Target was selling a LikeaBike knockoff at $50 and over in the UK, you can pick up a Sesame Street balance bike like this cute Elmo Bike at The Kids Window for $59.99. Suitable from ages 2-5.