Child bicycle seats

[katewilson13]

Has anyone used a front loading (i.e. a seat on the front of a bike) bike seat for a child? My local bike shop says that they are too dangerous (child's legs can get caught in the wheel and weight of the bike will be adversely affected). However, I much prefer the idea of my child being on the front rather than on the back where I can't see him. Anyone got any experience they can share? Any brands to recommend/avoid? Very many thanks.

I have one, I love it. But I have a model, the Centric Safe Haven (aka the Wee Ride now, I think?), that has straps, head rest, etc etc.

How old is your child?

I gather front seats aren't considered safe any more, and I'd be dubious about those tiny ones without straps (although I do know quite a few parents who use them without problems).

I've looked into getting one of the Leco top tube little seats -- they do have straps, NQC, though not very serious-looking ones. In my case it foundered on having an odd-shaped top tube (bike is an elderly Marin Larkspur). Lots of people say they've used them without problems, but agree they look a bit insecure. I did hear one (first-hand) horror story about the child's foot coming loose from the footrest and getting stuck in the spokes, catapulting parent and child forward over hte handlebars. They weren't seriously injured, but did get taken to hospital in an ambulance.

I think the moulded plastic front-fitting seats with a proper set of straps and footrests should be all right, but only suitable for smaller children, whereas rear-mounted ones can go up to three or four. I have a rear-mounted Hamax (an older model, had it for about 10 years, now on its third passenger!) and I love it.

My front seat is good to 40lbs I think. 18kg?

At any rate, DS2 is stuck on it until I can trust him to peddle, and not fall off! Certainly DS1 was on it when he was three.