From what age did you put your baby on a bike seat?

[Eliffant]

Hi,

Thinking a bit ahead as baby is only 6 months, but how old did you start putting your baby in a bike seat to cycle around? I've seen 9 months and 1 year as minimums. How do you know when they're ready?

And also do you have recommendations for a bike seat? We think we want a rear seat rather than one that sits in front of you as we think that would affect the handling of the bike.

TIA

From when they could hold their head up and sit on their own.

This. My partner preferred the front seat for our 4year when he was younger. But i also recommend getting a trailer if you’re doing long cycles then that way baby can play with toys too

Thanks. I'm not sure I like the idea of a trailer - we won't be on the road much but I'd be worried about someone in a car not noticing the trailer. It would be nice if baby could go on the bike before the end of summer!

1 year here but I whip round a lot on the bike. Thule yepp are a good brand but expensive. But we love ours.

Around 9 months when they had decent head/neck stability. Used a Yepp Mini on the front until around 18 months then switched to a Yepp Maxi on the back. My bike has a step through frame and relatively swept back handlebars; I found the front seat affected the handling less than a chunky toddler on the back of the bike!

In hindsight I wouldn't go for a seat behind me, but a seat in front. Eldest used to try to hang off to the side to see where we were going, very unsafe. Would screw head round as much as she could and throw herself about to try and see.

Another vote for a trailer. We had the Burley Solo. We got the 'baby snuggler' insert. We were doing fairly long rides from 5 months (both partner and I are cyclists). The trailer was ace. It sheltered my son from the elements (sun as much as rain!). We were able to stash the picnic, toys, nappies, spare clothes (for us!) in it. So it was ideal for family days out in the saddle. I had an adapter so I could use it with my mountain bike, also worked on the quick release on my road bike. The handling on it was great - fine on rough trails, also awesome when descending at speed down mountainous hairpin bends. I used it up until last summer - son was 6!! One of the best bits of cycling kit. As my son got a bit older it enabled me to transport his balance bike, then first peddle bike, so he could 'ride' with us.

I can also highly recommend an up front seat once kiddo is older. From 2.5. We had a kids ride shotgun, but the Mac ride is just as good. Used that for mountain bike (and road!) rides until he was 5.5. It really doesn't negatively impact the handling of the bike at all (I comfortably did some blue runs, and partner red). It's lovely having them between your arms, you can both chat away to each other. It's lovely. I really miss that! Although it's lovely that he can now ride next to me.

When they fitted the seat, and the helmet! I think it was about a year.

I live in Cambridge so I’m fairly sure some babies go home from hospital on a bike! There are car seat adaptors for bakfiets, but ours were in a trailer from about 9 months, with appropriate insert.

I think it was about 6 months. I live in a city where everyone cycles a lot. I absolutely hate the trailers. I think it can be very difficult for drivers to see them properly.

I would also add I agree with no trailers but I have seen an accident where a scooter clipped one and the whole thing rolled and that put me right off.

Thanks everyone, maybe we'll try a front seat after all. Coincidentally this is in the latest cycling UK magazine too

Can't remember where I read it but when I researched some years ago statistically trailers came out safer. They have a built in roll cage which probably helps.
Front seats also affect the handling less than back seats.
I think ours went in one from around 9 months. From 2 ish the shotgun type seats are really useful.

Also with trailers you can get inserts for when babies are younger

if you have a double one you can also install the car seat. We done that with the youngest a few times

Back seats definitely affect handling! I’m a short light woman, and I essentially decided not to cycle with DS because I couldn’t manage the bike with him on the back (I also can’t manage Boris bikes due to the weight).

Front seats were out as I have a XS bike frame and basically couldn’t see over DS’s head, or fit my arms around him. And we live in a second floor flat, so the trailer was out. So he just got a balance bike very young, and we cycled together.

DS was/is insanely jealous of all of his friends whose parents owned bakfiets.