* Do not push your child to ride a 2-wheeled bicycle until he is ready, at about age 5 or 6. Consider the child`s coordination and desire to learn to ride. Stay with support wheels on both sides until your child is older and more experienced.
* Take your child with you when you shop for the bike, so that he can try it out. The value of a properly sized bike far outweighs the value of surprising your child with a new bike.
* Buy a bike that is the right size, not one your child has to "grow into." Oversized bikes are especially dangerous.
Test the bicycle for proper fit:
* Sitting on the seat with hands on the handlebar, your child must be able to place the balls of both feet on the ground.
* Straddling the centre bar, your child should be able to stand with both feet flat on the ground with about a 1-inch clearance between the crotch and the bar.
* When buying a bike with hand brakes for an older child, make sure that the child can comfortably grasp the brakes and apply sufficient pressure to stop the bike. A helmet should be standard equipment.