Thank you to Chillafish for providing us with a BMXie Balance Bike. All opinions in this blog post are my own and based on personal experiences with the product. This blog post may contain affiliate links.
My youngest 2 children have had the benefit of balance bikes from a young age. I put my baby on his first balance bike before he turned two years old! It took him weeks of practice, but at two years old, he was able to zip around on his balance bike like he’d been riding bikes all his life.
A Balance Bike is definitely the way to go with kids these days. Forget about training wheels. You can and absolutely should skip that stage. A balance bike teaches kids the first and most important thing about riding a bike: balance. The Chillafish BMXie is a wonderful balance bike for kids ages 3 to 5 years old.
The eye-catching thing about the BMXie is the cool design. It’s got a BMX-style frame with a detachable front plate, plus it comes in fun colors along with decorative stickers. My son had fun customizing his bike with the stickers. The BMXie’s real, inflatable rubber tires are a must have feature for my kids. We prefer that because they are just plain better for outdoor riding.
This balance bike has all the features kids need (and all the features they will use). Kids this age don’t need a brake – they simply use their feet to stop. Even if there was a brake – they would use their feet to help them stop, it’s a natural instinct. And totally okay.
I like that the BMXie is lightweight for those times when I have to carry it around or lift it in and out of the back of the car. The seat adjusts to fit your child as they grow – and you don’t even need any tools to do it. It’s got a twisty clamp thing that lets you move the seat up and down. The foot rests are removable, but my kids like having somewhere to keep their feet when they glide.
My husband and I always tell our friends (the ones looking for bikes for toddlers and kids) to pick a balance bike over any training wheels/bike combo. We have seen firsthand just how quickly both of our young boys took off riding with a balance bike. I am not exaggerating when I say you will be astounded and so proud the very first time you watch your child pick their feet up off the ground and glide. “Lift off” is what we call that moment. And it’s awesome!
Riding a balance bike has been my boy’s favorite activity ever since he was a toddler. He has logged many hours going up and down the sidewalk in front of our house. It keeps him active and has done wonders for his motor skills as he has grown into a 3-year-old big kid.
Learn more about Chillafish Balance Bikes at Chillafish.com
WHERE TO BUY:
Chillafish bikes are available at Toys R Us and Amazon.com
Olive Hanby says
Yeah I agree we should do away with training wheels! I had a hard time personally, transitioning from training wheels! Wish this was a thing when I was a kid.
Julie Wood says
What a very cute bike. My nephew is almost at the age where he can ride this bike. I think this is such a cool bike and I wish I had a bike like this for my son when he was younger.
Nicole Dz says
Awesome features, and a awesome cool design, love that It’s got a BMX style frame with a detachable front plate. Love the color range too!
Heather says
This would be perfect for my youngest son! Thanks for the review!