i asked a similar question… I got a Puky … No regrets

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/balance-bike-puky

I think the Puky bikes are fantastic, they can progress to putting their feet up on the platform. Our boy was on a Pukylino at 12 months, Puky LRM at 18months, LR1 at 2.5 and onto a pedal bike before he was three.

Can’t recommend an LRM enough, and it comes in PINK! 8)

We had a Zoom for both of ours, the eldest went straight to a “normal” with out stabilisers within 30’s of jumping on it.
The daughter not so much, but she is lazy and stubborn….

The Zoom seemed to be a good little thing, lasted our two well the brake also came in handy for the transition to a “normal” bike.

Cheers, Steve

I got my daughter a very cheap Push N Go. It’s light and she loves it. Downsides are the minimum seat height and lack of brake. As soon as she got on her Islabike pedal bike she got the hang of the brakes but is still sussing out pedalling (she was 3 in Feb). I didn’t think the lack of brake would be an issue on a balance bike but it’s hilly where we live and she likes to go fast and at faster than adult running pace it isn’t easy to slow yourself down with your feet when you have legs that short!