my poor kid broke his collarbone! question included.

[H2OChick]

Not even three weeks since we took the training wheels off... he took a fall today and wound up with a broken clavicle. I'm so sad for him.

Here's my question: He was riding a small bike with VERY small wheels (maybe 12 in?). I think the frame size is right for him, but with the wheels being so small, he'd wind up turning very tight circles. He had several other near misses and a few other falls while riding this way (tight circles) and despite our admonitions he continued to do it (he IS a 3 1/2 year old...) So my husband thinks we need to put him on a bike with bigger wheels. We've got one, and he can ride it, but to me it looks big. What are your thoughts and opinions on this? I'm just not sure which one would be safer?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Elvish Legion]

Well I'm no parent *shivers at the thought* But I would say if he is comfortable on the bigger wheeled bike go for it, but I would think about those training wheels again..

Elvish

[jeff williams]

I'd have to say training wheels inhibiting the developement of any 'real' ballance.
Trike to bike.

The wheels get bent and the kids ride them as rollers without body weight correctly centered.

-hope your childs recovery is smooth, nasty fall.

We did a to the beach road run today, first one..all ggod...good. 'wipes sweat'.

Ride on grass in the backyard..3.5 is pretty advanced motor skills...but not 'cycling' age. :)

Learn to fall first.
Take care.

[phinney]

I've got a 3 1/2 year old daughter but she has no interest in riding her bike :( .

If the bike looks too big it probably is. Maybe your husband could fashion a steering stop on the smaller bike so your son can't turn it so sharply. Those 12" bikes do have very aggressive geometry.

I've never heard of a child so young breaking a collarbone so easily. Is the little fellow getting plenty of milk?

[foehn]

I've got a 3 1/2 year old daughter but she has no interest in riding her bike :( .

If the bike looks too big it probably is. Maybe your husband could fashion a steering stop on the smaller bike so your son can't turn it so sharply. Those 12" bikes do have very aggressive geometry.

I've never heard of a child so young breaking a collarbone so easily. Is the little fellow getting plenty of milk?

It happens--my middle daughter was so large (11lbs, 10 oz) that she broke her collarbone at birth(she wasn't dropped! ). If you fall on it right, it can break.

I say put the trainers back on because at 3-1/2 years old, he just won't remember NOT to turn sharply. Tell him you have to watch out for him and that soon you will be confidant that he will be steering properly and the trainers will come back off. Also, have him practice catching himself with a leg should he start to tip.

[MasterSezFaster]

Not even three weeks since we took the training wheels off... he took a fall today and wound up with a broken clavicle. I'm so sad for him.

Here's my question: He was riding a small bike with VERY small wheels (maybe 12 in?). I think the frame size is right for him, but with the wheels being so small, he'd wind up turning very tight circles. He had several other near misses and a few other falls while riding this way (tight circles) and despite our admonitions he continued to do it (he IS a 3 1/2 year old...) So my husband thinks we need to put him on a bike with bigger wheels. We've got one, and he can ride it, but to me it looks big. What are your thoughts and opinions on this? I'm just not sure which one would be safer?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.


The larger wheels wont keep him from trying to ride tight circles. Just give him a higher platform to fall from. Is he able to do the circles with out falling most of the time or does he fall every time? If he is falling all of the time then I would discourage the circles until he has better ballance. Otherwise I would let him keep at it.

As phinney said, may be put some type of steering stop so he can not turn as tight.

Just remember he is going to fall. That is what kids do. This fall just happend to end up with more consequences then the regular scrapes and bruises. When I was groing up I had friends that had trips to the er and casts on every year and others that made it out of childhood with only scratches even though we all fell equally as much. Just be sure he wears a proper fitting helmet. If he is going to break a bone when he falls there is not much you can do. It happens and it is hard to watch but that is part of the learning process.

My little girl is two next month and she has already had her first fall from a bike. One of the local kids left his bike out so she jumped off her trike and walked over to it and sat on it. Usually she just sits there. Well, this time she sat on the seat, put her feet on the pedals and off she went. Made it about 15ft then fell over. Ripped her hand open. She then stood up and wanted to give it a go once again. If there were not blood all over I would have let her try again but it needed cleaning (she was pissed she could not get back on :D ).

:beer:

[DCCommuter]

I'm sorry to hear about your son's injury.

There are kids bikes that have a thing called a "Safety headset" manufactured by Neco I believe. It prevents the kid from turning the handlebars more than 65 degrees in either direction, which prevents the tight circles which often lead to crashes.

I don't know if they can be retrofitted. The only bike I know that has one is this one:
http://www.funonebikes.com/bike.html

[H2OChick]

I never thought about restricting the handlebars... that's an interesting idea. The 12" wheels are pretty darn small, but I think the 16" (next one up) is just a bit big still.

As far as falls go - he doesn't fall a lot. He's got incredible balance and he's just naturally agile. One of those kids who climbs and jumps and likes taking risks. He started riding a razor scooter when he was less than 2 1/2. I call him danger-boy. He ALWAYS wears a helmet, so at least we've got that going for us... I'll look into the safety headset idea. THANK YOU!

[mtnbiker66]

I never thought about restricting the handlebars... that's an interesting idea. The 12" wheels are pretty darn small, but I think the 16" (next one up) is just a bit big still.

As far as falls go - he doesn't fall a lot. He's got incredible balance and he's just naturally agile. One of those kids who climbs and jumps and likes taking risks. He started riding a razor scooter when he was less than 2 1/2. I call him danger-boy. He ALWAYS wears a helmet, so at least we've got that going for us... I'll look into the safety headset idea. THANK YOU!

I feel for you,I have one of those boys. Took training wheels off at 4,crashed and got up mor than I can remember. One day my wife found him with his bike at the top of the slide becuse he "saw it on the X games". My advice is this, teach him how to do things the right way.How to fall,how to roll with the crash.I rode BMX street and skateboard vert so when I ride with my son I teach him the correct way to do things.The way I see it he's gonna do them anyway.We just don't tell his mom everything. :D Just pad the little lad up and try to make it as safe as possible.
http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/2821/street109jq.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

[arboc!]

nothing is going to keep him from falling except practice.... just make sure hes always in the habit of wearing a helmet, and any other pads you see fit. elbow and knee pads may be a good thing to have.

[atbman]

16" is too big for 3.5 years.

Agre that steering restriction mightbe useful, but then he could fall because he is leaning too far and can't turn the bike enough to compensate. Devil and deap blue sea choice, i'm afraid.

On the other hand, broken collar bones at that age are pretty rare - it may have happened because he is agile and quick enough to have put his hand down - classic cyclist's injury.

[PoorBehavior]

My boy is 3 1/2 as well and he is always asking me to take his training wheels off. I was just about to do it when I read this thread. He has the balance and coordination to ride, I just feel he is a bit too young, so I was also going to lower the seat all the way so that he was closer to the ground and would be able to glide or ride and still be able to put his feet down if he needed too. After reading this thread I am thinking that just because I think he can do it is not a good reason to let him do it. It is not going to stunt his development to wait until next summer before he is on two wheels.

[peterbarson]

It's often said that "It's a miracle boys ever grow to be men".
they take so many risks, and it's hard to know the limit of coddling they can have before they end up as baket cases.

3 1/2 is pretty young for a bike but the good news is he doesn't have very far to fall.

Both of my son's went training wheel less in their 5th year. One of my aquaintences just tought her son @ 7, and a boy my kids hang out with has no interest in learning and he's 8.
Congrats and having a future bold name in X-Games living in your home. Good Luck, by stock in Band-Aid.