We have been thinking of ways to exercise as a family, as we think it is a good way to spend quality time together. Previously, when we wanted to take walks in the park, I would simply put Noah in the carrier, and off we would go. However, as Noah is heavier now, I sometimes get backaches from carrying Noah in the carrier for extended periods of time. Our stroller isn’t really suited for jogging in the park, so we had to find a different mode of transport for the little man.
When we came across the Smart Trike Dream, it seemed like a good fit for our family. I like that it is so versatile, ‘growing’ together with the child, with its four different stages.
Noah is currently enjoying the luxury of the Smart Trike Dream Stage 1, which comes with full back support (extremely important for tiny growing spines), washable padded seat cover (in case of diaper malfunctions), seat belt with shoulder pads (for a more comfortable ride), and safety bar (to prevent active kids from falling out). There is also a footrest for him to rest his feet, instead of dangling or dragging them along the ground. This can be folded up when he is old enough to use the pedals.
Noah in his spiffy new ride!
Close-up of the footrest and folded up pedals
The Smart Trike Dream has so many great features that I love, so excuse me while I gush about them. Let’s start from the top, shall we?
The Dream “Touch-SteeringTM” parent handle allows me to steer the Smart Trike comfortably, even with one hand! It is adjustable, which means it can be raised (or lowered, in my case) to your preferred height. The parent handle is also extremely sturdy, so when Noah is holding the handle bar clutch and steering it, I can simply exert more force to maneuver it in the direction I want. This enhanced steering comfort is made possible by the patented swivel wheel in front.
Perfect height for me!
Whenever we go for walks in the park, I dig up my only pair of three-quarters with pockets, and proceed to stuff the pockets with all sorts of things like my handphone, a pack of tissue paper, a pack of wet wipes, and some money to buy ice-cream for emergencies. As a result, my already huge bum is accentuated, and I end up looking like I have oddly-shaped hips. When I saw the parent bag on the Smart Trike Dream, I was impressed that the designers actually thought of it! I think they must be parents too, because they know just how useful that bag is. It is large enough for all the items I usually carry, and is roomy enough for more.
Close-up of the parent handle and parent bag
The Dream sunshade is adjustable and detachable, and supposedly provides a minimum of 30% UV protection. I don’t know how this is actually measured, but I do know that the sunshade is pretty big, and I can’t even see Noah when I’m walking behind him. I guess it shields the top of his (bald) head from the sun quite well, though I do try to apply some sunblock on his head, just in case.
Peekaboo!
For young children like Noah, the ride can get a little boring at times, which is why I thought the toy phone was quite an inspired addition to the Smart Trike Dream. It’s connected to its holder by a cord, so you don’t have to worry about your little one dropping it along the way. The bottle holder in front comes in handy for water breaks, though I wish there was an extra one for my bottle too.
Close-up of the handle bar clutch, toy phone, and bottle holder
At the back of the Smart Trike Dream is a removable tipping basket, and the parent foot brake is located beneath it. Even though we don’t have trouble reaching the brake, I think we might choose to remove the tipping basket, as we haven’t actually used it yet. The foot brake is a good safety feature, and is especially useful when you want to park your child somewhere to take a photo, and you don’t want him rolling away while you do so. (We used it a couple of times during this particular excursion, so that we could get some solo shots of Noah in the Smart Trike Dream.)
Close-up of tipping basket and parent foot brake
What makes the Smart Trike Dream a smooth ride for kids? Its wheels, of course! The front wheel has built-in suspension (sounds like a car, right?) and all its wheels are shock absorbing, so you and your child can go ahead and conquer whatever bumpy pavements there might be in the park.
Taking a break after conquering the rocky path
As I mentioned earlier, the Smart Trike Dream has four different stages, and is suitable for children aged from 10 to 36 months old. Its various components can be removed at different stages, to suit the child’s developmental needs. I think it is quite a good investment, especially since it can be used a tricycle when Noah is older, simply by folding in the footrest, and extending the non-slip pedals.
The four stages
Thrilled to be out and about in the Smart Trike Dream
The only issue we have with the Smart Trike Dream is that we had difficulties putting it into our car when we wanted to bring it along with us to the park. Our sedan’s boot isn’t big enough for it, and we didn’t want to dismantle it just for the car ride. This probably won’t be a problem for those of you with a larger car boot, or if you only plan to use it around your neighbourhood. We’ve since learnt from our experience, and are only using it in the nearby park instead. I think we will only attempt to bring it out in the car again when Noah is ready to ride it without the parent handle.
Playing with mummy after his ‘photoshoot’
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The Smart Trike Dream is priced at $329, and is available at all Isetan, Mothercare, Mums & Babes, Kiddy Palace and Baby Kingdom outlets.
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Disclosure: I received a showroom model of Smart Trike Dream for this review. All opinions are my own.
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