To get one of those seats for my bike and ride with my 3 year old on the back?

[SkinittingFluffyBunnyBonnets]

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.rockshorecycles.co.uk/ekmps/shops/rsbikestore/images/child-cycle-seat-max-22kg-%255B3%255D-194-p.jpg&imgrefurl=www.rockshorecycles.co.uk/child-cycle-seat---max-22kg-194-p.asp&usg=_k1XhSxH--c_uhLUuDYi6t-w4y0=&h=555&w=480&sz=37&hl=en&start=141&sig2=KBvfkbt4V-WRTyyEMeoZRQ&zoom=0&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=aPYO_szx8XxahM:&tbnh=133&tbnw=115&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dchild%2Bbike%2Bseat%26start%3D126%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4ACAW_enGB356GB357%26ndsp%3D18%26tbm%3Disch&ei=NsmtTYigH9Gr8AOq1YXzAQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">like this kind of thing

I can't drive and my Mum thinks I''m mad! But I need to get around.

I think it depends on the size and shape of the backpack. THe ones I have seen are not big, but the bulk is carried very low down, so it rubs the childs face

My dd started riding on the back of my bike when she was nearly three and I think it's great!. We once had a bit of a tumble going over a cattle grid when I put my foot down at the wrong place, but it was no major drama - I ended up with a bruise and DD was completely unhurt.

Especially if you can keep away from heavy traffic, they're great!

Good idea unless you intend riding on the same roads as cars, vans, lorries etc ie any road.
bikes and cars don't mix.

I use one for my DS aged 3.5. I have also used a trailer when i had two boys under 5 to get around. Both are fab, trailer better in the winter thouugh as the child is warm and toasty and dry!

Since changing from the trailer to the bike seat then i have bought a basket for the front of the bike to avoid the need for a rucksack in the face of DS. Get the biggest one you can find would be my recommendation!

If you live near York then you are welcome to have my old trailer.

I do think that 3 is too young for a tag-along bike. My eldest has just gone onto one aged 5.

Its a fab and quick way to get around, using a bike. My ds even falls asleep ont he back sometimes....not sure how as it cant be the comfiest...he rests his helmet on my back and nods off if tired!

sixlots well then they can just move over....should I ride on the pavement and knock children and old people over?

thehairybabysmum That's so kind of you to offer...I live in Cheshire though....basket sounds sensible too! I also think DD would not manage on one of those tag alongs....my other DD is 6 though...7 in July...is that too big?

Where I live there are lots of bike paths...we've just had a load of new ones put in...so I can ride almost all the way to town on a bike path. I would not ride on the path though....this is nappy valey and there are kids everywhere...I would be sure to knock one over! It is mostly residential streets with one main road which gets busy at school run and 5.00pm...as I am mostly going to be out and about in between these times I think it will be fine.

DH takes DS2 in a rear seat and DD on a wee ride in front, at the same time (off road), they love it! DH is mad v strong cyclist though

my dad used to have a little saddle type thing on the cross bar in front of him and used to take me on that - i remember him even taking me to school on it so must have used it for quite a long time

i loved it, i felt so safe and secure whizzing along with my dad :)

I want to get a Bakfiets to transport my toddler & baby (when baby comes). Shame they are so expensive

I'm another non-car owning bike user. DD was in a Hamax bike seat until around 4, then we rigged up what we call our 'Frankencycle': a bike seat clamped to the parcel rack, footpegs clamped on the frame near the wheel hub, and a small set of handlebars clamped onto my seat post. Like a tandem, but with no pedals; obviously the rack has to be sturdy enough to take the weight.

She's now a large age 7 (98th percentile child) and is still using this seat. She also uses a trailer bike (could start from age 4 with a very, very trustworthy and biddable child who never falls asleep, but 5 is probably better) and a Follow Me Tandem, which clamps mine and her bikes together. She can ride a bike herself, of course, but we live in a hilly area with no safe roads for her to go solo on.

I'd agree that you'd first need to be a confident bike rider yourself before taking a 3 yr old out - try a bike seat with a large sack of spuds to get used to the weight and balance! You'd have to be comfortable and assertive about road positioning, the sort of rider who doesn't nervously have their seat set too low simply so they can sit in the seat and reach the ground (because by doing so you're getting nowhere near the pedal leverage you'll need to move a child around with you).

But I love taking the kids out by bike. So good for them; they're getting the Vitamin D even if they're not getting much of the exercise on the back, and they're internalising so much about roads and traffic that will be of benefit once they're driving. And it's lovely having a chat with the back seat driver as you pootle along.

Sounds great that you have lots of cycle paths. I cycle pretty much on roads mostly, but it's still fine.

You will soon get your confidence up, especially if you preactice on the cycle-paths first before you go onto the roads.

I love zooming around with ds2 on the back, chattering away. I would say at 6-7 then ok to ride their own bike on cycle paths but i would prob use a tag along for longer distances or busyish roads.

Iskra....a trailer is a much better option than a Bakefits...more flexible, as you can still use the bike easily without the trailer, plus a trailer has better stability...i.e. it will never fall even if you do. Also those cargo type bikes are v. heavy and not as easy to ride. Trust me that a 3 yr old and a 4 yr old weigh a tonne (they dont stay as toddler/baby for long!)...you dont want any other additional weight!!

Another recommend for the Hamax, I have the reclining one which was great with small DS although now he is bigger not so useful as I don't really want the weight that far back.

I'm also considering getting a new stand for my bike, one of the double-sided ones, to improve stability when loading.

Essential to get a properly fitting helmet for her as well.

Tbh I found the trickiest thing getting used to the way the bike handled with a basket on the front - even with only a lock, purse, keys and small bottle of water that does make a difference to steering if it is handlebar mounted.

DS has been in one (Hamax Kiss) on mine and DH's bikes since he was a year old. Hi vest vest on bike seat, helmets on DS and rider.

Trailers are excellent too. Ours is bright red with a jaunty flag, and cars are unfailingly polite - they wait back and then leave acres of space when passing, much more so than they do with just the bike.

I used to ferry DD about it in - she loved longish trips of up to an hour, and would get supremely settled in with snacks, a blanket, cuddly toy, audiobook player and headphones. They're really much better than a seat if you're planning all-season use. Ours is mostly used now for shopping, so they have years of use in them.

kodokan & thehairybabysmum, do you know if it is possible to carry a baby in a carseat plus a toddler in any trailer? That's the appeal of a cargo bike, it is possible to do it in some of them...

iskra, the widest trailer I've seen is the Croozer model for two kids. My friend has one and takes her 7 and 4 yr olds in it, so it's possible you'd fit in a car seat + toddler.

I LOVE the idea of cargo bikes but wouldn't consider one without electric assist, unless you live somewhere with absolutely no incline and lovely wide bike paths to bimble along. I'm a regular biker and pretty fit, but using one bike with two kids and presumably shopping would floor me.

Electric cargo bikes are pricey, but are a genuine car replacement so not sooooo bad if you think of 'very cheap car' rather than 'flippin' heck, how much for a bike???'

"Not riding on roads with cars and vans and lorries"

Ooh, where are these mythical bicycle only roads?

Iskra Chariot carriers are very good, and whilst you can't put a car seat in, you can put the infant sling in and still have space for another child, if you have a 2 seater.

We have the single seater model, bought it for ds1 when he was about 2. It's currently being used by 17mo ds2 who loves it.

Spend a lot of time in holland and there they usually have one child on the front, one on the back, a dog on a lead trotting alongside and a carrier bag of shopping on the handlebar!

I used one for dd1 when she was about 3 and she loved it!

We used rear bike seats for both dc from about 9 months old to 6 years. It was pretty useful even after they'd learned to ride their own bikes for long day trips, or when we needed to go a bit faster than their little legs could manage. However, where we live there are almost exclusively dedicated bike paths - I wouldn't have been so keen to share the road with lorries.

It took about half an hour to get my balance the first time with a child on the back - I practiced going up and down in a park with DH running along, in case I overbalanced. After that it was a doddle.

If you have two kids who are closer in age, a trailer is probably more advisable, but I liked having the DC up at the same level as me. DD2 was especially conversational on the bike seat.

COCKadoodledooo & kodakan - thank you for getting me to look at bike trailers again! I had ruled them out without actually investigating because I would prefer the kids higher up off the ground (& in front), but since it looks like there are baby options for the trailers & the price is right, I think I might well reconsider.