baby seat for bikes

[emmagee]

Has anyone got any recommendations for seats for very small babies i.e. under a year? My toddler has a seat on the back but I am looking for something to go in the front for a newborn? Has anybody got any experience of cycling with a tiny? How about the trailers?

All info gratefully received

[zebra]

We strapped a carseat into a cycle trailer, used that until DD was about 6 months. So we went out with DD in the carseat in trailer, and her big brother (age 2-2.5yo) in a rear seat as normal -- all hauled by DH. Wedged DD side-by-side into trailer with her big brother, on an improvised booster seat made up of terry nappies, from about 8 months. Worked ok as long as roads are quite smooth (didn't work off-road in Spain!). Had to watch for the 2 of them fighting, too, but that came down partly to the small age gap.

There is a Dutch contraption that sits like a carseat on a rear pannier rack to carry a newborn baby in. I don't even know where in UK you could buy one, I will hunt for it if you want. Although I think the trailer option is a bit safer, anyway (plus, you can carry a nappy bag in the trailer ). Ebay is a good place to buy 2nd-hand trailers if price is an issue. Burleigh is usually cited as the best make.

[Ronny]

The Dutch contraption fits a car seat in - I think it only works with a maxi-cosi though and goes on the back. I put ds1 on a front mounted seat from about 10 months he moved to the back when ds2 sat well enough, about 8 months. Bobike seems to have an english site, but I can't open it. The Bobike mini fits on the handlebars, the baby justs needs to be able to sit well enough that they're not floppy. Bobike.nl has pictures but no prices. Every one cycles here (Holland) with kids on their bikes, Bobike is one the most commen makes.

[zebra]

Bobike is probably the product I was thinking of...Seems very nifty!
DH reckons that having a baby on front of bike and a toddler on back of bike would be too unstable. Trailers are hard work to tow, but they are very stable, at least.

[emmagee]

Thanks all I will investigate...

I have always been a bit concerned about using the trailers on the road as they are so low and seem vulnerable in traffic, I know in Holland you have loads of cycle tracks but here it's a different story

[Ronny]

The cycle paths make it a lot easier, drivers here are very aware of cyclists, not least because if you hit a cyclist you are always liable for the damage no matter what the cyclist was doing. As far a being stable, it really depends on the bike.