Teaching steering, one hand at a time
Unlock the child handlebar at about ten months so they can hold it while you steer. From about eighteen months let them turn it while you keep a hand on the parent handle and correct gently. Take the parent handle off only when they can pedal and brake on purpose, usually between two and three.
Stage one: holding on
Around ten months. Unlock the child handlebar. They hold it, you steer from behind with the patented 360° system, one hand. They feel involved and learn that the bar is for holding, not chewing.
Stage two: turning, with a safety net
From about eighteen months. Let them turn the handlebar towards things they want. Your hand on the parent handle overrides them without a fight, which is what the steering system is for. Narrate it: "left to the tree, right to the dog."
Stage three: theirs
When they pedal continuously and can stop on purpose, take the parent handle off for the ride out. Put it back on for the tired ride home. Then fold it into the boot.
Two things that help
- Wide, flat paths first. Kerbs and gravel come later.
- Short sessions. Ten minutes of steering practice is plenty at two.
Common questions
At what age can they steer on their own?
Usually between two and three, once they pedal continuously and can brake on purpose.
Does the child handlebar lock?
Yes. Locked in stroller mode, unlocked from trike mode on.
Can I steer with one hand?
Yes, on the spot and in reverse. That is the patented part.
General guidance for parents, not clinical advice. If something worries you, your maternal and child health nurse is the right first call.