Best seats for babies on bikes

[TheReluctantBride]

I have a new job and will be cycling to work. I'd like to get a seat for my one year old so I can pick him up from nursery. Can I get a seat so he is up front between my arms? Or does it have to be on the back? How safe are they?

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MNHQ

I had one of these. It was important for me to have the baby in front of me. Meant I could keep an eye on them and it's better for weight distribution. You're not dragging them.

I say had. I still have it. Tall 3.6yo ds still goes in it.

We had a wee ride for a bit but my husband didn't like how his knees had to turn out. Then he put our chap on the back.

Try a wee ride first if you can

I had a weeride for my daughter between the ages of 10 months and about 3 (when she couldn't get into it anymore). I enjoyed having her between my arms: it felt safer and I could talk to her (now she has a back seat she just ignores me). It was also super easy to put on and take off. The big con is that it you have to cycle in a slightly bow legged fashion. It was fine for a relatively short run (about 2 miles each way) but I think if you were going much further it might be rather uncomfortable.

I have since had two rear seats for her (first one was pinched). The pros of both have been that they easily come off (so that I can use the pannier rack for pannier bags and/or cycle without a great big bike seat). They are both extremely sturdy. The cons are that both are quite large and slightly reduce visibility. They also alter the eight distribution on the bike which is fine once you get used to it. I used to find with the weeride that the weight distribution was fine unless my daughter fell asleep as a lack of tone makes the bike a bit wobbly. My two rear seats have been:
www.decathlon.co.uk/bclip-steppy-baby-bike-seat-grey-blue-id_8241147.html
www.evanscycles.com/products/topeak/babysitter-ii-child-seat-rack-disc-brake-ec050365
I prefer the topeak one (although it's massively more expensive). It's lighter and less inflexible feeling.
Good luck--some of my happiest memories with my daughter are taking her to nursery on my bike.

DS1 did many many miles in the Co-Pilot Taxi (rear bike seat). If they're on the back, your body helps protect them from wind and rain.

We have one of these rideweehoo.com/

'tis fab but your little one may be a bit teeny in it. Would highly recommend it for when he's a little bigger.

Also have a wee ride - love it. But share the 'bow-legged' comments that others have made!

A reclining seat is really handy with a baby, they nod off so easily & are a lot more comfy if it reclines. Otherwise I'd go for the cheapest one in Argos.

I bought a bike a few months ago and got a Hamax baby seat fitted on it www.hamax.com/child-bike-seat/classic-collection/siesta
I'd not cycled for a few years but have loved getting out and about with my 11mo. It did take a few trips to get used to the balance but now I'm fine, and my little girl has fallen asleep in it a few times so must find it comfy! Can't wait until summer to get out more

We've had a bobike mini (on the front) and a Hamax something or other on the back.
I loved the bobike when they were wee: you can see what they're getting up to, talk to them, stop them taking helmets/shoes etc. off. It's lovely.
BUT no good for sleeping (DS did fall asleep in it once and I had to get off and walk - I couldn't cycle safely with him asleep), and best for shorter (sub2-3 mile) journeys. Also my children outgrew the bobike around about 2.
The back seat is practical but I don't love it in the way I loved the bobike. I don't like not being able to use a pannier as usual; I can't see DS leaning out to see something; he once took off his helmet and dropped it in the road. Etc. Etc.

I have a wee ride and love it. I do cycle slightly splayed but adjusted v quickly, so I'm much less splayed that when I started and barely notice. I cycle 4-5miles each way, only have toddler in the seat for ten mins of that. Partner uses a trailer on his bike and loves it (he just does the nursery run then takes it off for his commute)

We had a weeride for dd from 12 months till three years. We biked for miles and we also went off road with it. You do adjust very quickly to the cycling style.

I've just bought a trailer for my 2dc they are on sale in Halford Atm £79 online. I have no idea how good it is as I have just finished attaching it to my bike. Off our for our first ride in the morning!

Thank you all, have managed to get a weeride on eBay for £36 to give it a go.
Next big question - cycle helmets! Where do I go to get one for DS? Can I try them on in Halfords?

It's quite hard finding a tiny one- we have a specialized toddler helmet (the smaller size) which we got from a local independent, which fit from about 9 months. We have a Hamax sleepy on the back of a hybrid (the 'baby bike') which we're very happy with.

I have had a hamax and a we ride. I would get a wee ride for a little one because Ds fell asleep in the hamax and was leaning on my back! Was very difficult to cycle like that. I got a helmet for dd from toys r us, the only place I found that did one small enough

Go to a local independant bike shop. They won't have to push their brand and will take the time to find the right fitting helmet for you.