Do you use a front or rear baby seat on your bike? What do you recommend?

[clartymare]

I'm trying to sort out a baby seat and can't decide which to go for. I'm quite short - DS is 20 months ish and I'm worried I won't be able to reach over him easily, that it will seem like he's in the way and distract me therefore making it unsafe. I'm also a bit concerned if we have a front-on prang that he'll take the brunt (he'll be in a helmet and probably screaming about the fact he hates the helmet seeing as he hates hats!)

I was going to go for a rear rack seat but my worries there are that I won't be able to see him easily or comfort him if he doesn't like it at first and I've heard it's quite tricky balance wise.

What do you use? What do you like about it? I've been to a few bike shops but can't try the seats on the bikes, have to order and then I can't return once they've been fixed on so I'm trying to really think about it before buying.
Thank you!

I have a rear seat for DS who’s two. Balance can be a bit tricky when starting off but after a while you get the hang of it. Worst thing is the uneven weight distribution, going up slopes if you’re not careful the front wheel lifts off the ground and it’s quite hard to get the bike balanced again. Likewise sharp turns are a definite no-no unless you want to wind up on the ground!

That said the seat comes up quite high on the sides so the one time I did drop the bike with DS in the seat he was fine. Scared by the drop but unhurt because he was protected by the seat. My seat was about £40 from Halfords and for £12 we got a second mounting so the seat could be switched between my bike and DH’s