Child bike seat or bike trailer?????????

[Oooggs]

DH is a keen cyclist and wants to be able to transport DS (8 months) by bicycle. We have looked at the child bike seats (front and rear facing) and trailers on the internet. Anyone have any comments or recommendations on either or both?

We bought a raleigh trailer (new) off ebay for about £75. Its great ! Be warned they say they're only for 18 months and up, but we've added padding and straps and think its pretty safe. Also some people use them with baby car seats strapped in. The advantage in my view is that you can hang toys etc around them to keep them amused, you can easily keep the wind and the rain and the sun off, and you also have baggage space to carry all the baby bags with you. You don't notice you're pulling it THAT much, only uphill and getting started, then once you're going it sort of gives you momentum. Dd is as happy in it as she is in her pushchair. Oh, we used it from 8 months btw.

Hi ooooogs,
weve just got dd (6months) a bike seat.(forward facing) She loves it and can give you my opinion if it helps.
One which would recline I think would be better as we have to time it just right or she falls asleep and we have to get off and carry her.. However your ds is 8 months and may be sleeping less so this may not be an issue.
With a trailer it has a rain cover - obvious advantage.
But she is very light on the seat but I dont know how this would compare to a trailer - shes so light i have to keep checking she hasnt fallen out!!!

Hi,
i have a rhode gear child seat, the reclining one which i feel isnt as strong as the non reclining one, that felt much more sturdy, but i would recommend either and would'nt be without mine, ds has used it from 8 months no problem, i always make sure he's got his helmet on and he loves it.

We have got a forward facing seat which does just fine. DS has been in it 3 months now, he is a year next week.
I'm really scared of the trailers as I think that car drivers don't see them very easily.
I think it depends where you live and what sort of cycling you want to do. We take DS to and from childminderand sometimes to the park. He doesn't walk yet so we can't take him out and about much, we need a buggy too.
We are in London, so traffic can be a pain which is why i don't like the trailer option.
DS loves the bike rides.