Ever thought about cycling to get your baby to sleep?
Then you might want to consider cycling with your child. Of course, your kid could be too young for their own little bike, but have you considered how to attach child seat to bike?
A cycle ride in the outdoors can be marvelous after a stressful day, and for your child too. Not all of us have the luxury of having someone around to take care of our little ones, and some children hate car rides or simply don’t fall asleep easily.
So here’s the deal.
How old before baby can ride in a bike seat? If they’re too young for their own little bike, or you want to take long distance rides and get some healthy exercise in, then taking your child with you on your bike is a solid idea. But, for that, you need to find the best child bike seat for road bikes
Before you go ahead and install a bike child seat, and take your kid for a ride, you want to make sure they’re old enough to handle the trip well without harming them. But what age is best for taking your child on a bike? And what are the age or height restrictions?
Let’s check this out.
Benefits of taking your child when cycling
If you’ve never cycled on your bike with child seat, you might be worrying about such things as safety and the impact it could have on your young child, with good reason. However, let me share with you the advantages of using a baby bike seat and taking your kid with you.
Fight car culture
Many families have realized that using their car to go everywhere is having serious impacts on the environment, and on themselves. Make the switch to using a bike for local travel and you’ll not only be doing your bit for the environment, but your child is going to love it. All you need is a bike, and a child seat for bike!
Healthy exercise
Start introducing your children young to healthy habits such as exercise and they’re bound to keep it going well into their later years. Taking them with you when you cycle is a perfect way of starting their cycling journey together in a safe way, until they’re old enough for their own bike.
De-stress with your baby
Many moms and dads have so much on their hands that quality time spent with their children gets pushed to the side. If you’re struggling to keep up with everything, a short bike ride around the park can not only do wonders for you, but can help you spend time with your child. It can also help nervous babies who struggle to sleep, helping them doze off so you can have some me-time.
Here are a couple of restrictions and safety issues to consider before jumping on your bike:
What are the restrictions if I want to take my child bike riding?
As busy parents, many of us choose to travel via road bikes whether that’s for commuting or for leisurely riding through the local park. And although it may not be long, leaving our child at home just isn’t an option. Plus it could do them a world of good to get some fresh air in a bike ride.
Ever wondered how long you have to wait or how old can a baby ride in a bike seat? We are here to answer this question in the most informative yet precise ways ever. There are many suggestions online as to when you can start taking your baby with you on a bike but who do we follow? Not all babies are of the same height and weight.
Let’s take a look at some commonly asked questions.
How old does a baby need to be to go in a bike seat?
The general rule, is that a child must be at least 9 months old to start riding in the child seat on a bike. This is because the child has learned to balance his/her head on their own. Weight is not a factor looked after enough, so make sure the baby is secure in the bike seat for child as well. If you want to play on the safe side, many moms opt to wait until their baby is 1 years old. Why is that?
The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) says that a baby around 12 months old develops enough neck strength to support the weight of a helmet. It also prevents their head from bobbing when cycling over rough roads with bumps,
How tall should my child be before going on a bike seat?
Generally, there is no height requirement for a baby, but it is better to make sure that the back of the seat is tall enough. This is not just important for posture and comfort, but also for security. Look for a seat that has an adjustable height so you can change the height of the back according to your needs.
What’s the maximum weight support for a child seat?
Most seats go up to 30lbs. Some even go to 34lbs and you are covered since most babies fall below that mark. So, your seat is more than capable of withstanding the weight of your baby and supporting it. One important message to take out of this is to make sure the seat passes all EN standards and is certified by TUV or ASTM safety.
What if my child doesn’t fit in the bike seat?
This question often surfaces and needs a good solution. If your child does not fit the baby seat, the best way around it is to ditch the seat and go for a tag-along or a tow bar. Tag along bikes fasten to the adult bike frame and you can sit your child on it. It has pedals also for your child to engage with. However, there is no harness for them so avoid long rides. Tow bars can also help by connecting the child’s bike and your bike with a bar that attaches to the bike frame.
Should I use a trailer or a front-mounted child seat?
Once your child is old enough, you need to decide what kind of child bike seat you need. Some people prefer to use younger children or babies over one year in a front mounted seat. This helps them be at the front of the bike, where they are close to mom or dad, and feel safe as well as get a great view of the ride. If you’re not used to biking with your child, you may feel safer having him up front where you can keep an eye on them.
Types of bike child seats:
Much like a car seat, you can find a few different kinds of bike seats for children depending on their age and height, as well as your needs.
Bike trailer
Bike trailers are perfect for older children that no longer fit into the regular bike seat. A bicycle trailer is like a separate compartment on wheels that you can simply attach to the rear wheel or top tube of your bike. Older kids are kept safe and is just like a trailer in tow.
This may not be the ideal solution for young babies or for going on nature trails that are very bumpy or narrow paths, as the bike trailer is quite big. This one is a personal favorite, but some parents may decide to just get their child a little bike for themselves at this point.
Front mounted seats
These are seats that are attached to the bikes seat post, and function like child bike seats. You can also use them for young infants over 1 year old, and can be a good way to get your child used to cycling whilst feeling safe next to you. You will need to check the maximum child weight as bicycle child seats will have restrictions. At the very least the baby bike seat should rise above your child’s head.
Rear child bike seat
A rear mounted seat is often attached to the rear rack, and is perfect for young children. Bear in mind when using rear seats that children can get more nervous, and it may put you off balance slightly due to having the weight there. If you own a cargo bike then a baby bike seat will fit just perfectly. You can also get good features on a rear seat such as adjustable footrests
Final Thoughts
Finding the perfect bicycle child seat is no easy task.
Much like a car seat, child bike seats have safety involved, so choose wisely. Of course, were not talking about a seat for your car but one for your cargo bike. A child bike seat needs to fit your child perfectly.
Baby bike seats come in all shapes and sizes, but that doesn’t mean they will all work. No matter whether you choose front seats or a rack mounted back seat to support your child, just make sure you make the right decision in terms of weight capacity, selecting the exact age that’s best for you, and a lightweight helmet for safety.
Your choice of bike is important too, if you own a balance bike or prefer cargo bikes, then make sure your rear mounted seat attaches properly onto your bike.
Recreational cyclists and avid cyclists may also want to consider shoulder straps and a safety harness for bumpy rides, always ensuring that their child does not exceed the maximum weight and that everything is safety certified. Once you have this out of the way, you can make the most of those family cycling adventures by picking out the best bike seat options for your own bikes.
So, have you tried cycling with your baby before?
