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Original poster

Does anyone cycle with a baby in a bike seat?

37 replies

VividDreams · 01/06/2020 21:01

I love cycling and when my baby is old enough I will get him cycling too. But I miss going out on my bike now and I was thinking it will be years yet until I can go again. I then saw a man cycle with his baby ok a rear seat carrier and lightbulb went off. However, it does look a bit terrifying and wondered if anyone uses one and can give me some tips. My baby is six months old and I understand most seats carry babies from 9 months but you can get younger more reclined seats for six month old babies. Any information would be helpful.

OP posts:
IndecentFeminist · 01/06/2020 21:03

Inside a weeride with mine, I prefer them in front of me. Not sure they'll go as young as you're looking though.

Original poster
VividDreams · 01/06/2020 21:06

Do they sit facing you when in front? I'm happy to wait until he is older for a seat. I just would love to get back into cycling and it would be great if he could join me Smile

OP posts:
MeanMrMustardSeed · 01/06/2020 21:06

We use a trailer. I had a rear bike seat but I didn’t like the centre of gravity being so high. We went for the trailer with a high spec roll cage. It’s amazing to be out on the bike again!

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Pinkblueberry · 01/06/2020 21:08

No information I’m afraid - I’ve never seen anyone with a baby that young on a bike, and I come from a country that is very cycle friendly. I would be absolutely terrified - do they even make helmets for children that young? I really don’t see how that can be safe. My tip would be not to do it.

Penny31 · 01/06/2020 21:10

Mine is 18 months, we use a wee ride too. She absolutely loves it!

Saz12 · 01/06/2020 21:15

I do t know re; the age of yours, but was talked out of a front seat due to the much greater risk - if you brake sharply your weight is thrown forwards into them. If behind you then they can’t be shunted forward due to the safety straps, and it does t matter ;to their safety) if you are.

FirstTimeClaim · 01/06/2020 21:20

Official guidance (or at least a couple of years back) was no babies on bikes until 12 months, irrespective of the seat. It’s safer to hang on just one more summer, OP.

We got our trailer when our youngest was about 18 months and it’s brilliant, I must say quite easily because DH tows it and not me

Jenjenn · 01/06/2020 21:25

Not sure about smaller baby sorry but just in case it is helpful, we had a bobike front seat and it was great. It also came with a windscreen and a little (nonfunctional) steering handle for baby and dd used to love it so much! One negative though, I am quite short and struggled to reach the handlebars around the front seat iyswim? It was not an issue for dh who is a bit taller.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 01/06/2020 21:30

Good bike trailers are fine for very young babies. Easier to cycle with and safer as they have roll cage etc (and won't tip over if you do). Many also convert into strollers

Bert2e · 01/06/2020 21:41

Have a look at s Bobike Mini! I don't like the idea of a trailer as they just seem so vulnerable to traffic.

Original poster
VividDreams · 02/06/2020 07:10

Thank you so much for ones input. Looking into it I think I'm definitely going to wait until 12 months. I would only cycle with him off road and will make sure he has a helmet to fit etc. I don't think my mountain bike will support a front seat which must mean I'll need a new bike too 😁

OP posts:
IndecentFeminist · 02/06/2020 07:10

No, the weerides face forward

Original poster
VividDreams · 02/06/2020 07:11

Everyone's*

OP posts:
Wtfdidwedo · 02/06/2020 07:13

Join the Family Cycling UK page on Facebook. Loads of crazy setups there for families of all sorts and very knowledgeable. Also Cycle Sprogs is a good start. We've recently got back into cycling using a trailer with our two preschoolers.

Choice4567 · 02/06/2020 07:14

I looked into it at about 9 months but all the information I read convinced me to wait until baby was 12 months. She now sits in a bike seat behind me and loves it. I did the same with her older sibling

SkyPieRat · 02/06/2020 07:16

I’ve never seen anyone with a baby that young on a bike
I have but they've always had the baby in a sling or equivalent Shock

I know people who've used both. Those who did short rides around the city had them in a bike seat, the ones who did longer trips opted for a trailer. There's a recommendation about minimum age due to shaking.

MinesAPintOfTea · 02/06/2020 07:24

We used Trailer with a rollcage as well. For starters, a bike seat left us with nowhere to put panniers for the daily commute. DS loved it - used to shout faster on the way in to nursery and go to sleep on the way home. One advantage of the trailer was it was easy to swap between bikes once we bought a second tow point.

Nearly all the route was dedicated cycleway though.

megletthesecond · 02/06/2020 07:28

A family near us have a Weeride. Their toddler looks delighted going down the street on the front of the bike. Much more fun than looking at a parents back.

MinnieMountain · 02/06/2020 07:30

The guidance I can find says once the baby can sit up unaided.

We used a non-reclining Hamax from when DS was 8 months old (autumn born). In retrospect I'd get one that reclines as he tended to fall asleep in it. Otherwise we all loved it. It was reassuring that he was high up, so more visible.

LittleMissRedHat · 02/06/2020 07:32

Another vote for the Weeride, utterly brilliant invention!

Doveyouknow · 02/06/2020 07:47

We just have a seat on the back of the bike. I think the kids used it from about a year old. They loved it and there were no problems buying them helmets. Trailers are good if you have more than one.

BikeRunSki · 02/06/2020 07:49

I cycled off road (Sustrans routes and easy routes at trail centres, not downhill mountain biking!) with DS in a Hamax Kiss seat from about 9 months. We got a trailer when he was 6 months old but he was really a bit small for it. The trailer was fantastic when we had 2 little ones though, and once DS got too big for his seat.

I rarely rode with a baby in traffic, and had a big orange flag when I did.

Top tip for using a baby bike seat - be extra careful and extra bendy not to kick the baby in the face when you get in and off.

My dc always wore helmets in the trailer and seat.

A seat won’t work on a full sus mtb. If you get a trailer, check that the clamp does not get in the way of the braking system, we had some issues with disc brakes, but there
was an adapter kit available. I’d recommend a Burley or Thule trailer, for build quality and weight.

Check out Cyclesprog too (DD is the face of “Bikes for 6 year old girls”)

sunrainwind · 02/06/2020 07:53

We had a wee ride on the front of the bike and a trailer behind. They started going in the trailer at around 6/7 months - once they could sit well. Only quiet, gentle cycles really though.

TheBeastReleased · 02/06/2020 07:55

I had my baby on a front bike seat from about 7 months. It was an OKbaby seat that we ordered online. Think it's an Italian make. My baby loved it, and it was great to be able to get out and about on the bike again.

It is very different riding the bike with the seat on, the steering feels more sensitive because there is more weight over the front wheel but it's easy to get used to.

We've now got a bike trailer from Halfords for him because he grew too big for the front seat. I wouldn't want to ride it on the road though because it feels very wide and low. It's great for bike trails though and we're lucky we've got so many locally.

PineappleUpsideDownCake · 02/06/2020 07:55

We had a wee ride too.

I felt MUCH happier having them in frint han a back bike seat as I could see them. What if they were quiet, but scared or had slipped etc. I loved being able to talk to them at the frontnand share the journey . It took a bit of getting used to though. And sadly they dont remember it! But I have some lovely memories!