Best Training Wheels For Kids [2023]

If you’re in a hurry and just want to find out what the best training wheels for kids is, I’d recommend the Wald W10252 Bicycle Training Wheels.

Transitioning from riding a tricycle to a “big kid” bicycle is a dream-come-true for most children. Learning how to pedal and balance on two wheels takes a lot of practice, and you will need to be your child’s biggest cheerleader during this crucial time in their life.

Choosing the best training wheels for your child’s bike is imperative as they will need all the help they can get.

Here are the training wheels for kids I will be reviewing:

• Wald W10252 Bicycle Training Wheels
• Wald 1216 Bicycle Training Wheels
• MOSHAY Training Wheels for Children’s Bicycle
• M-Wave Bicycle Training Wheels
• Little World Training Wheels
• Macy Training Wheels for Children’s Bicycle
• Bell Spotter Trainer Wheels
• WIOSEIOC Bicycle Training Wheels
• Bell SPOTTER 300 EZ Trainer Training Wheels
• Homeme Mehome Training Wheels
  

Safety First

When your child learns how to ride a bike, there will certainly be many spills and tumbles along the way. Have your child wear a helmet from day one of using their bicycle. They may not be moving fast with their training wheels yet, but communicate the importance of wearing a helmet anytime they are riding on a moving object.

How Old Should My Child Be?

The average age of children learning to ride a bicycle is between 3 – 8. If your child is on the younger end of that age range, you may run into difficulty finding a bike small enough. In order for your child to fit properly on their bike, they should be able to touch the ground with both of their feet at the same time while sitting on the bicycle seat.

How Do Training Wheels Work?

Training wheels provide your child with the opportunity to ride a two-wheel bicycle while preventing them from tipping over while they learn to pedal and balance. 

Do Training Wheels Fit On All Bikes?

The answer is no, as your child’s bike needs to have a rear axle that is long enough to support the training wheels including washers and bolts on either side.

If the rear axle is not long enough to hold the additional hardware, then adding training wheels is not an option for that specific bicycle.

What To Look For

When determining which set of training wheels is best for your child’s bicycle, you will need to find ones that are compatible with the bicycle wheel size. Also, consider if you want training wheels that come with extra support bars, which allow the training wheels to also connect to the frame of the bicycle. 

What You Need To Know About Back-Pedal Breaks

If your child’s bike has a back-pedal brake, then it is important that the wheel maintains constant contact with the ground.

If your training wheels end up being lower than the rear wheel, then this could prevent the back-pedal breaks from doing their job. Keep the training wheels level with the back bicycle tire or slightly higher. 

What Is The Right Height For Training Wheels?

When your child is learning to ride, keep the training wheels level with the rear wheel. Once they have mastered the art of pedaling and steering, you can begin to lift the training wheels to a slightly higher height.  

As they become more confident with riding, keep raising the training wheels higher. This will encourage them to keep their bicycle balanced. If you see that they are becoming frustrated, it’s all right to take a step back and lower the wheels. Some parents will also take off one of the training wheels so there is still the comfort of stability, but the child will need to keep their head in the game to stay upright. 

It is important that you are present and continually give guidance and support or they will learn to rely on the tilting and get used to riding lopsided.

What Happens Next?

Once your child has demonstrated that they are able to ride without depending on the training wheels for balance, you can take them off completely.

Make sure you stay in close proximity with your child once they begin to ride on their own unassisted. There will certainly be a few falls, but keep the atmosphere an encouraging one, and your little rider will catch on quickly. 

Important Terms To Know

If you are unfamiliar with the world of training wheels, some of the product terms may seem confusing. Here are some definitions to keep in mind so you can have an idea of what you are getting with each product.

Rear Axle

The rear axle is the horizontal rod that the back bicycle wheel is attached to. When you install your training wheels, you will need to unscrew the bolts on the rear axle before sliding the training wheels into place.

Bracket

The bracket is the sturdy metal arm that goes from the wheel to the rear axle of the bike. 

Stabilizer/Brace Arms

This metal piece exists to offer more stability to the training wheels. It attaches from the bracket to the rear frame tubes of the bike. 

Frame Adapters

These are small metal pieces with a half circle cut out that can be used to secure the brace arms to the bicycle frame more securely. These are optional.

My training wheels for kids Reviews

I have selected the best training wheels based on their sturdiness, longevity, and ease of use. You will find that each brand has something special to offer, and I have made it easy to see by listing the pros and cons of each product.

Without further ado, here are my top training wheel picks:

Wald W10252 Bicycle Training Wheels

Designed for single speed bikes, this set of training wheels is a great option as it is durable, easy to install, and will work on most 16 to 20 inch bicycles.

These training wheels require that there be at least 3/8 of an inch of space on either side of the wheel outside of the axle nut. The metal on the brackets is very thick, so take care to measure the amount of space on the rear axle to ensure that this model will fit correctly, especially if you plan to utilize the stabilizers. 

The wheels have a diameter of 5 1/2 inches and are made of plated steel with rubber tires on the outside. 

This set of training wheels comes with frame adapters that are compatible with 0.75-1 inch rear frame tubes. If your bicycle’s rear frame has 1.25 inch tubes, the adapters will not be necessary and the training wheels can be installed without them. 

Keep in mind that if your child’s bike has rear frame tubes that are larger than 1.25 inches, these training wheels will not be compatible. 

The maximum weight capacity for the Wald W10252 Bicycle Training Wheels is 100 pounds.

Wald 1216 Bicycle Training Wheels

These training wheels are the best purchase for bikes with 12 to 16 inch wheels.

While they do not come with an arm brace, this set of training wheels is crafted out of steel and is very durable. The rubber tires make for a noiseless ride, and the grooves in the rubber prevent the wheels from slipping on the ground.

These training wheels are intended for use only on single speed bikes and have a weight capacity of 75 pounds. 

When you open your product, keep in mind to check for the correct size and number of nuts and bolts before you attempt to install the training wheels. With that being said, the ease of installation makes these popular training wheels, and your child will be learning to ride their bike in no time.

This set of training wheels may seem pricey to some since it doesn’t have the added bonus of an arm brace to stabilize the brackets holding the wheels.

MOSHAY Training Wheels for Children’s Bicycle

These training wheels are a huge hit with parents for their durability and ease of installation, and unlike most other brands, they come with a variety of color options.

The MOSHAY Training Wheels have brackets that are built to last. They are designed with a 3mm thickness so you don’t need to worry about them bending from excessive use. The wheels are 5 1/4 inch in diameter and have grooved treads that offer extra stability while your child learns to ride their bike.

These training wheels are compatible with 14 to 20 inch bicycles. However, if your child has a Huffy brand bicycle, these wheels will not fit on Huffy’s short rear axles. 

There are reinforcing clips that you can use to secure the training wheels onto the rear frame of the bicycle. 

You can expect all the parts and hardware to come with the training wheels, but unfortunately, the instructions leave much to be desired.

The weight capacity of this set of training wheels is 100 pounds, but I would suggest that you limit the weight capacity to 80 pounds as the brackets have a tendency to bend if too much pressure is put on them.

M-Wave Bicycle Training Wheels

I have given these training wheels the award for being the best budget purchase.

The strong steel brackets on these training wheels will give your child the stability they need to learn to ride and balance on their bicycle. An added feature of an anti-turn mounting bracket ensures that the wheels will not budge from their set position.

Securing the anti-turn mounting bracket to the frame of the bike is easy, and the product will come with detailed instructions on how to install it. 

These wheels will fit on most 12-20 inch bicycles. Make sure that you have at least 1/2 inch of extra space on either side of the rear axle as the bracket and anti-turn mounting bracket will need the additional room to be secured. 

The wheels are plastic and covered with a thin rubber tire. You may notice that if your child is riding at a fast pace, the wheels might begin to skid on the ground instead of turning as they are supposed to. 

Overall these training wheels work well and would be a great option for your child’s bicycle.

Little World Training Wheels

These training wheels are suitable for bicycles with 14, 16, or 18 inch wheels. The training wheels are made of steel plated metal and rubber and have a diameter of 5 inches.

Keep an eye on the rubber tires as they have the tendency to fray.  If your child is riding on the training wheels for a significant amount of time each day, these may not be the best option.

The steel brackets have an extra stabilizing bar where the metal bends, which ensures that the bracket is sturdy and works properly.

Built to be compatible with most single speed bikes, keep in mind that your child’s bicycle needs to have a horizontal rear-facing fork track end and is not suitable with semi-horizontal or vertical fork track ends. 

You will appreciate the ease of installation with these wheels, and while the weight limit is only 66 pounds, they are built to last and you will be able to utilize them for any future bicycle riders. 

Overall these training wheels by Little World are worth purchasing and will do their job quite effectively.

Macy Training Wheels for Children’s Bicycle

These training wheels are designed to fit even the smallest of bicycles. Their ability to be compatible with bikes from 12 to 20 inches makes them very popular and versatile.

The metal brackets have a 3mm thickness and the wheels are 5.12 inches in diameter, offering your child the stability and security they deserve.  The wheels are designed to be anti-slip and wear-resistant, which add to the longevity of this product.

If you plan to use these training wheels on a 20-inch bicycle, be prepared to keep a close eye on your child as the metal brackets are prone to bending when placed at the maximum wheel height. 

Check that the bolts on the outside of the brackets are on tightly before and after each use as they may begin to loosen causing the wheels to fall off.

These training wheels come with all the hardware needed to install, and it will take you no time at all to have these attached to your child’s bicycle.

Bell Spotter Trainer Wheels

These training wheels win two awards for being cost-effective and unique in design! With these trainer wheels from Bell Spotter, you need only flip the wheels up when your rider wants to test their balance.

They fit bicycles with 12 to 20 inch wheels. However, when they are used with 20 inch tires, they end up being very high off the ground, which makes them practically unusable for young riders. These training wheels are meant to be 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch off the ground when installed correctly. 

The downside to these training wheels is that the weight capacity has a maximum of 50 pounds. 

When you remove your product from the packaging, make certain you have every nut and bolt accounted for before you begin assembly. With that being said, if all pieces are present, assembly is very quick and effortless.

WIOSEIOC Bicycle Training Wheels

If having training wheels made out of plastic is okay in your book, then these are a fabulous choice for your child’s bike.

The high-quality plastic brackets are attached to rubber wheels that offer a wider than average width of 1.18 inches thick. The wide rubber wheels provide extra stability and will reduce the likelihood that your child’s bike will tip over. The wheels are also anti-slip and noise-free, producing a safe and relaxing experience for children and parents alike. 

These training wheels are designed to be compatible with bicycles that have 12 to 20-inch wheels. However, the brackets are prone to bending if used on a 20 inch bicycle tire. I would suggest that you use these training wheels only on 12-18 inch bicycles. 

Not only can you expect to find every piece needed for easy installation, but the WIOSEIOC Training Wheels also come with a bell for the bike’s handlebars and a free wrench to aid you in your quick assembly of the product

These training wheels come with a 2-year customer satisfaction guarantee.

Bell SPOTTER 300 EZ Trainer Training Wheels

These training wheels have a coiled steel rod instead of the traditional flat bracket used by most brands.

The spiraled bracket flexes slightly under pressure, which allows the bicycle to lean into turns. This feature helps your rider learn how to lean when they turn their bike. 

The wheels are made of plastic and are prone to wearing down faster than wheels made of metal. Keep an eye on the integrity of the wheels to ensure that they don’t break down while your child is riding. The red knobs on the outside of the wheels may pop off when in use and can be glued back if preferred. 

 If you have a young and inexperienced rider on your hands, I would not use these training wheels at first as they cause a feeling of uneasiness since they tend to bend when the bicycle is making a turn. This is a wonderful feature for older children who are used to the feeling of a bicycle. In fact, the way the training wheels cause the bike to lean mimics how it will feel to ride without any training wheels! Your child may learn to balance their bicycle more quickly if they are using these training wheels versus a brand with a standard steel bracket, as those do not allow you to experience the leaning sensation while making turns.

These training wheels will fit on bicycles with 12 to 20 inch wheels and are very easy to install.

Homeme Mehome Training Wheels

These training wheels will fit bicycles with 12 to 20 inch wheels.. The grooves in the training wheels are designed to make them anti-slip and resistant to wearing down.

The brackets are created with steel, but the wheels are made out of plastic with a rubber-tire attached to the outside. The wheels are small with a diameter of only 4.33 inches. Due to the small nature of the wheels, I would not recommend using these for a large 20 inch bicycle as it may tip over easily. 

If your child’s bicycle has back pedal breaks, there is a  possibility that the axle will be too short to accommodate these training wheels. 

Homeme Mehome Training Wheels come with a 90-day money-back satisfaction guarantee, so make sure to give them a try as soon as they are delivered to make sure they are a good fit for your child’s bike. 

These training wheels are easy to install and come with detailed instructions to assist you with assembly.

My Final Thoughts On Training Wheels

When searching for the best training wheels, it is clear that the Wald W10252 Bicycle Training Wheels is the winner.

They are not only easy to install and made with durable materials, but they also come with stabilizing bars that provide the safest training wheel experience a child could have.