To ride my bike with toddler in baby carrier

[Sunflower1985]

I'm umming and aahing about this.

I tried to get a proper child seat for my bike as I want to ride with my near 2yo to the shops or get the train and go on adventures. But as my bike has suspension it turns out I can't get one that fits.

WIBU to put him in his baby carrier (with helmet) and ride like that? Apparently it's common in the Netherlands but I've never seen anyone in the uk do it.

Fwiw I'm a competent cycler and would stick to cycle paths, quiet roads.

Thank you.

[Artandco]

I don't understand why you can't get a bike seat as suspension? There's loads of varieties, just get one that does work with suspension.

[DonkeyOaty]

Can you link to the baby carrier, I am having a moment and can't quite picture what you mean

[Methe]

Imagine falling off your bike and landing heavily on your child.

Then ask yourself if ywbu.

[Artandco]

You need to get one that fits either to panniers on back or at the front

[Blamenargles]

You shouldn't do anything with a sling or carrier that you couldn't do while carrying at child.
So bike riding is a no I'm afraid

[Artandco]

Like this

www.tredz.co.uk/.Beto-Deluxe-Rack-Fit-Seat-2009-Reclining-Childseat_19629.htm?sku=27695&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=AdwordsProductAds&utm_campaign=Adwords&gclid=CL2Ekrbav8YCFSrpwgodPV0AJw#

[backwardpossom]

I'd be scared of falling off and landing with my full bodyweight on my DC. I'm an experienced, competent cyclist, too.

YABU, in my opinion. What about one of those trailers instead?

[ShootTheMoon]

I'm a confident cyclist who uses baby carriers but I wouldn't use them together.

In a seat, if you fall, or blow a tyre, or get hit, there is some measure of protection for the child. In a carrier, your weight could cause injury or crush injury, and there's only fabric over your toddler. Plus, I don't understand how your child could comfortably wear a helmet - it would hit you in the back or front.

I'd strongly recommend against this. Find a seat that works or buy a trailer or a cheap town bike that will work. I was under the impression - but have never checked - that it is illegal to do this in the UK anyway.

[Methe]

I don't understand those trailers at all. Putting your most treasured possession at car wheel height and dragging it round the roads in this country is utter maddness.

If you can't get a properly fitter child seat to fit your bike then you buy a new bike. Or walk.

[ShootTheMoon]

totalwomenscycling.com/lifestyle/everything-need-know-cycling-baby-30129/#uqAQpuMVY8LOHbXO.97

[Blamenargles]

shootthemoon I thought it was illegal too but haven't checked.

[zoemaguire]

Get a bobike seat that sits between the handlebars? Or keep researching, there are dozens of options out there, one will fit your bike if you keep looking. Don't use a carrier, it's a nuts idea. (Confident cyclist and toddler carrier here too, but not at the same time.)

[Sunflower1985]

Thanks for quick replies.

I took my bike into halfords and they said there's nothing that would work. I liked the idea of a trailer, but would that work on the train?

An web search seemed to have lots of advice about babies (age limits) but nothing on toddlers.

It's a hybrid bike - does anyone have one and have found a solution?

[ShootTheMoon]

According to this it's illegal to carry a passenger unless the bike has been safely modified for a second person - so a baby carrier would be illegal in my understanding.

[babybat]

Is your bike a full-suspension mountain bike, rather than just front suspension? I think it's be better to look for an inexpensive (possibly second hand) hybrid bike that is compatible with a front or rear bike seat rather than using a carrier or sling. You should be able to pick up a decent hybrid for under £200 and it would be much safer.

[zoemaguire]

Methe that is my instinctive reaction too. But trailers, the good ones, are effectively cages. They have rollbars. If they get hit by a car,they will most likely bounce out of the way. Objectively, they are far safer than having your child up at height on the back of the bike, protected only by a plastic seat and a thin helmet.

Disclaimer: i'm not objective. I sold our trailer after two weeks and now use a normal seat!!!

[Ubik1]

The Netherlands is set up for cycling safely.

The uk is not

Please don't do this. At the very least use a proper child seat.

And yes I also get the shivers seeing toddlers being pulled along in those trailers in busy city traffic.

In Copenhagen they have proper seperated cycle lanes and are very sensible. It's great seeing little ones eating their sandwiches in a sturdy little trailers knowing they are safe.

In the uk I have seen parents with children in flimsy, even home made, trailers in among traffic at busy junctions and it turns my stomach.

[ASettlerOfCatan]

DO NOT DO IT. Babywearing consultants (trained to know the safety of carrying) unanimously say NO it is NOT SAFE.

[maccapacwac]

Try a weeride front bike seat, I have a hybrid and it fits. I would imagine I have suspension too, thought most bikes do? With weeride you buy a bar That fits above the crossbar and attach the seat to it. I love mine and the weight is more easily balanced than with a back bike seat.

[zoemaguire]

Halfords won't have a clue. Look at specialist online shops, send a picture of your bike setup, they'll find a solution! bobike.com

[Sunflower1985]

It's got front and rear suspension. Dawes 501 discovery. Halfords said the suspension prevent use of front mounted ones and it's too long in the back for rear ones.

Alas not enough ££ for a new bike.

I've always had this dream of going on family bike rides. May have to wait until he can ride his own!

[yellowsnownoteatwillyou]

I know what you mean about the suspension. I had to buy a different bike than I wanted due to no baby seat would fit, you can get a seat that fits on the front thou. But my legs are too long so it wouldn't work.
People do do it in holland but it's set up for cycling with bike lanes and it's flat but I wouldn't do it here.

[Methe]

It's not only the risk of being squashed by a car. These trailers are at exactly the same height at car exhausts. I do not get it at all.

I used a proper seat with my ds and even with that and the proper safety gear I was very wary of riding on the roads and used to cycle on the pavement where possible.

People in this country have very little respect for cyclists and our cycling network is appalling.