Tricycle Injuries Mean Trip to the ER for Thousands of Toddlers

It’s a rite of passage, when a little tyke gets his or her new tricycle. But how many parents are aware they may be prematurely buying a tricycle for their toddler?

According to a study at Medical College of Georgia and Emory University, tricycles were responsible for more than 9,000 injuries that resulted in trips to the emergency room in 2012 and 2013. Two-year-olds were the age group most frequently suffering tricycle injuries.

A small percentage of children had to be hospitalized with serious trauma including head injury, fractures, and organ damage.

Pediatricians: Wait Until a Child Turns 3 to buy a Tricycle

It’s no surprise that the American Academy of Pediatrics is advising parents to wait until their children are three years old to introduce them to a tricycle. By then a child will have the balance and coordination they need to master their new three-wheeler.

The Academy also recommends that parents look for tricycles that are low to the ground and have big wheels, which are less likely to tip over.

And no matter the age or the size of the bike, children should always wear a helmet when they go for a ride.