Redtoys Mini-Cruiser Lightweight Balance Bike

Two point two kilos, and sized for a smaller child — saddle starts at 32cm, so feet reach the ground from the day it arrives.

That matters more than it sounds. A child whose toes barely touch spends the whole time bracing instead of balancing. Get the height right and they push off, glide, and find the balance point themselves — usually a good while before anyone expected them to.

Fibreglass-reinforced nylon rather than metal, so it can be left out in the rain without rusting. Seat adjusts from 32 to 41cm as they grow. Three year warranty on the structural parts.

Green. For ages 2-5.