DS terrified by child bike seat

[MistsandMellowMilady]

We were so excited all of us getting ready to go out today but DS (autistic) would not go in it. He was so scared or angry (not sure which) that he made himself sick

He loved the seat before it was attached to the bike and has been out in a bike trailer and enjoys it. Maybe that was the crux of it, that we were getting him to do something unexpected, or maybe he was thinking that perhaps he was expected to stay on the bike by himself.

It's so hard when you have to guess and can't explain, or reason with a child.

We've now shown him some you-tube videos of children and babies using the seats, and tomorrow DH is going to give one of DS' toys an outing in it for him to see.

The bike DH has now isn't suitable for a trailer and it has to be him pulling it or meltdown so if nothing works I don't know what we're going to do. DS can't or won't ride a bike or trike.

Does anyone else have any experience of this, an insight I might not have thought of, or tips? Thank you.

Have you got another child to show DS how to use it? If not, can you 'borrow' one?

Our DS (ASD) is an only so we borrow his tame cousins to do such things. We find it motivates him to try a bit.

He may be fearful as it is higher up than a trailer.

Perhaps its the bike itself he is worried about?

My ds will not get on a bike, even his own with stabilisers.

He hates anything where both feet leave the ground and the object moves, we have the same problem with escalators, swings and car journeys make him sick.

Its to do with the vestibular sense. Sensory difficulties with ASD children is quite common.

Sorry just read he will go in a trailer and enjoys it.

Could it be he feels more 'grounded' in a trailer. Does the bike seat, have somewhere for him to put his feet?

My son does not understand gravity but in his case it would work in his favour (no fear) but I wondered if showing ds how it stays on might help, and as the others say getting another child to demonstrate its use. Perhaps he just did not realise it was going up on the bike, and had a different expectation.

Thanks We have had success and it was a good learning experience for us too.

Hadn't thought of the the vestibular thing, it makes perfect sense. DS had a phase of being hysterical on swings too for a while. The trailer was also more enclosed as well as more grounded so must have been better for him.

We've spent all day on it, the tame cousin was busy so - baby steps. A toy monkey, Igglepiggle and Buzz Lightyear have all had a go, watched the films again, let DS just sit on it with a drink and snack watching T.V while we held it and wheeled it around the kitchen.

Strangely he still wasn't sure until DH got going outside and then he was fine.

I'm a bit that we just expected him to be happy doing a new and nerve-wracking thing with no preparation or thought going into it but it's also made me less fearful or the grand plans I have for breaking down visits to the hairdresser and the dentist in a similar way.

Thanks again!

Dd1 wont go near a bike because its not stabble (could tip over or she could fall off).
Maybe its because he doesn't feel he will be safe?

Yes it was a big ask thinking about it, a bit like me being plonked high up on a horse with nothing to hold onto. I wouldn't like that