Born To Ride

Ever since the weather warmed up, Laurel’s gone bonkers over her big kid trike (a generous hand me down from her cousin). It’s heart breakingly cute to see those little legs pedaling away, and the steering handle makes for easy-on-the-back work for parents. Laurel’s Charton trike isn't readily available online anymore, but the Kiddi-o Supertrike 4 by Kettler ($79.99 at ToysRUs.com) is comparable, has received enthusiastic user reviews, and is nearly half the price of other Kettler models on the market. Similar to Laurel’s trike, the Kiddi-o has a low center of gravity, limited turning radius, and wide wheelbase to prevent tippage. The back "trunk" is great for loading, dumping, and storing.