Health Tip: Is Your Child Ready for a Tricycle?

A tricycle is good exercise for a growing toddler, and can foster a sense of independence. But it can also injure the child if he or she is too young to ride.

The American Academy of Pediatrics mentions these guidelines for getting your toddler on a tricycle:

• Make sure the child is physically capable of riding a tricycle. Typically, the child should be about 3 years old.
• Choose a tricycle with large wheels that sits low to the ground. This type is less likely to fall over.
• Make sure your child wears a properly fitting helmet each time he or she rides.
• Let your child ride the tricycle only in a safe area -- never around cars, in driveways or by a swimming pool.