Originally Posted by kingston (Post 21179626)

I'd go with coaster brakes for little kids. Don't worry, they'll grow up fast enough.

Originally Posted by pickettt (Post 21179774)

Not right or wrong, but I disagree. I think we all progress faster when we don't have to relearn things. My son started on a freewheel and caliper brake bike just before he was 2 years old. We were able to work on other skills, rather than relearning to brake. It also depends on a kid's aspirations on the bike.

Originally Posted by kingston (Post 21179836)

That's amazing. I have four kids of my own and have lived a block away from an elementary school for the past 15 years so there are lots of young families in our neighborhood, and I can't ever rember seeing a toddler ride any bike at all, let alone one with hand brakes. All four of my kids, who are in their teens and 20's now, had no problem adapting to hand brakes when they outgrew their coaster brake bikes at around 7 or 8. That's more normal in my experience, but you're right that some kids definitely progress faster than others.