I'm putting my daughters balance bike together and at first glance it looked relatively easy. However, the handle bars do not seem to want to fit into the frame. I have embedded a YouTube video on how it is supposed to go, but step 1 does not go seamlessly like the video shows. It almost looks like the handle bar stem is too big for the frame. Has anyone put put one of these together before?

Got any photos of what you're looking at? I see how it's supposed to work but it'll be hard for others to help without knowing what areas are causing interference for you.

Loosen screw at top of stem.

This is probably it. Also make sure there's not a piece of cardboard or foam wedged in there from shipping.

The frame of the bike was clearly made at 4:30 on a Friday. I used a Dremel to grind the connection point and I have officially saved Christmas.

Atta boy. She's gonna love it and it will make for a good story for years to come. These days, assembly mods by a handy dad are the norm on the night before Christmas. I was just re centering drilling and tapping holes on a jacked up fixture this afternoon.

FWIW we put both our kids on coasters when they were toddlers on the suggestion of a friend who was a professional cyclist. I had never even heard of them. They took to them quickly and when it was time for real bikes there were no wrecks or training wheel stresses, they just started peddling and off they went. They are 9 and 12 now and we were on our bikes today! Merry Christmas, hope you have a great day tomorrow!

Great job Dad, Merry Christmas!