If you get a single speed, the gear needs to be fairly low so that your child can help you by putting some power in when you most need it: going uphill. A seatpost hitch is fine, so long as the turn pivot is vertical rather than parallel to the seatpost. Ideally you want some kind of ball joint rather than a universal joint, so that the bicycle (towing bike) and tricycle (trailer cycle) can corner without the bicycle trying to make the tricycle lean – something it can only do with one wheel in the air! Trailer tricycles are a different matter. Balance isn’t a problem, even with two passengers or a heavier load, because the trailer part doesn’t lean-steer. The Doona is a great trike to take your child from first wheels to a proper bike. You start with it in Parent Mode from 10-18 months with sides and a canopy to keep your child safe and protect them from the elements. From 18 to 24 months you use it in Push Mode where the sides come off but the parent control bar remains and your child’s feet go on the foot rest. Pedals are added for Tricycle Mode from 24-30 months and then the control bar comes off and they’re off on their own in Bike Mode from 30-36 months.

Trikes span a huge age range with some suitable from as young as 10 months, but most trikes start at the one year mark. Your bike’s brakes must be good, although you need to apply them progressively rather than suddenly if you’re going down a steep hill, as the trailer cycle can shunt the towing bike.FollowMe Tandem – a Swiss-designed, rear-axle mounted trailer that lets you bring your child’s own bike along so they can ride separately if they wish. It’s mostly made of steel, but only adds 4kg to the bike’s normal weight.

Tag-a-longs with two rear wheels – trailer tricycles, if you like – are heavier and more awkward to store than single wheelers but are much better for heavier loads. A trike is perfect for a one year old! They are just developing their fine motor skills and the freedom that a trike brings can really help to promote their independence.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user NewBabyToys) Our verdictLearning to ride a bike has been a rite of passage for children for generations but until recently they had to wait until they were around five to have the skills to make a start. These days, the best trikes make it possible for little ones to learn at an earlier age, helping them gain the skills needed to pedal and balance before they're old enough to consider a bike. As a result, tricycles are a helpful introduction to the world of cycling and a good alternative to traditional kids' bikes, ride-ons and trusty balance bikes. This is why it’s a bad idea to have a single-wheel trailer cycle for two passengers. Bike handling isn’t just bad, it’s dangerous. You don’t see many two-seaters like this around, but Adams used to make one. With summer just around the corner we’ll all be looking for ways to make the most of warm, dry days and spend as much time as possible outdoors, and heading out for a ride on a trike is a great option for active little ones. Most toddlers are very keen to do things on their own, so choosing the right trike for them - one which allows them to feel in control and safe - can help them to enjoy freedom and gain more independence. But, like children, trikes come in all shapes and sizes and what fits one may not fit another. So you'll want to choose a tricycle that's suitable for your child's age while also thinking about safety and development.

If you’re looking for a trike that you can use instead of the buggy on trips to the park and out and about then the Q Play Rito Star is a great option. From as young as 10 months your child can sit in the comfy seat, put their feet up on the footrests, and enjoy the view while you have full control. We love that the handle on this trike is similar to those on a pushchair so you can comfortably use both hands to push and steer. Make sure the towing bike has a rear mudguard, ideally with a mudflap, otherwise you’ll spray road run-off into the face of your passenger. If there isn’t a mudflap, fit a mountain bike-style down tube guard to the trailer cycle. The trailer cycle itself needs a mudguard too. Lights Mostly, however, it’s because the bike-plus-trailer cycle articulates and you’ve got a weight behind you that can twist, tug and shunt the towing bike at the attachment point. So the better the attachment point is designed, the better the overall handling will be. Finally, we cross-referenced all of the above information to find the best trikes for toddlers that had won the most accolades and recommendations across the board to bring you a selection of the best ones at various price points. We think there’s something here for everyone. About the authorYou can tow a trailer cycle behind a tandem even more easily than you can behind a solo bicycle. It upsets the handling less, because the trailer cycle passenger is a smaller fraction of the weight that’s on the towing bicycle. When it comes to trikes, the Scuttlebug is a firm favourite for toddlers learning to balance and steer. With four designs to choose from – the Butterfly, Beetle, Bumblebee and Grasshopper – the Scuttlebug is a fun, easy-to-manoeuvre ride-on for one-year-olds who are keen to get moving. Alongside providing hours of endless fun, tricycles can be a great alternative to a balance bike, ideal for kids and toddlers who may be a little too young to start learning to ride a bike.

A mirror lets you keep an eye on your passenger and on following traffic, as it does with a child seat. PanniersPoppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing baby and child products for 2 years, with a particular focus on baby essentials, toys and books for toddlers and outdoor play equipment. From potties to paddling pools and bunk beds to bedtime stories, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the best products out there. Toe clips are useful to keep your child’s feet on the pedals. That’s better for balance and for fast pedalling, although it’s not as important as it would be on a tandem. Note that a trailer tricycle may try to twist around the towbar, assuming it’s fixed to a bicycle without the use of a ball joint, so you also need to make sure any bolts between trailer cycle frame and towbar are done up tightly. Useful extras However, while balance bikes teach kids how to balance, trikes help them to master pedalling without ever having to worry about balance, and are a great option for use indoors as well as out. How to choose the best trike