Some U. S. states and localities have laws on the books that set the minimum age at 1 year. It’s true that age 1 is not the agreed-upon cutoff date worldwide. In some nations, 9 months or 6 months is the expert-recommended cutoff. [4] X Research source In other countries, it’s common to see even younger newborns ride along in basket-style carriers. [5] X Research source Your best bet is to talk to your pediatrician about when it’s safe for your specific child to ride with you on a bike.
To play it safe, wait until your child is at least 1 year old and able to sit upright unsupported. For an extra dose of safety, get an okay from your pediatrician. Never put a child in an upright or slightly reclined seat if they can’t securely hold their head up and control its movement, no matter their age. The risk for head and neck injury is too great.
Choose a model that has a solid structural roll cage to protect your child in the event the trailer tips over. Trailers that attach at your bike’s rear axle, as opposed to a higher spot like your seat, are less susceptible to tipping over. While adequate ventilation is important, make sure the trailer has a solid front screen to protect your child from debris kicked up by your rear tire. Especially if you’re riding with a young child who can’t easily sit straight up and keep their head steady, make sure they can ride reclined with their head supported to the sides and back. Some trailers allow for the installation of an infant car seat. Always ride with the high-visibility flag and pole attached. Ride with low air pressure in the trailer’s tires to reduce the amount of rattling and bouncing—it’s a bumpier ride in the trailer than you’ll experience on the bike!
Because they aren’t positioned near the ground or directly over a wheel, front-mount seats offer a less bumpy ride than rear-mount seats or trailers. The seat must have back, neck, and head support, a 5-point harness, and leg stirrups with holding straps to prevent your child’s feet from touching the front wheel spokes. Do not use a front-mount seat if your child cannot keep their head up and steady while wearing a helmet. It’s not safe to keep riding if your child falls asleep and their head starts bobbing along with the bumps. It’s possible that you might slam into your child during a frontal crash.
Because the seat is directly over the rear wheel, your child will experience a much bumpier ride than you. A rear-mount seat affects your center of gravity more than does a front-mount seat, which may make it harder for you to maintain your balance during turns. Even though your baby is close by, you can’t easily see them. This makes it hard to recognize if they’ve fallen asleep, at which point you should stop biking in order to protect their drooping head and neck. As with a front-mount seat, make sure any rear-mount seat has back, neck, and head support, a five-point harness, and rigid stirrups to protect your child’s legs from the rear wheel’s spokes.
The younger your child, the more important it is to provide a supportive and protective seat for them. Make sure your cargo bike can be fitted with a proper child seat. Consult with your pediatrician before choosing or using a cargo bike. While they can be useful and multi-functional, cargo bikes are bigger, heavier, more difficult to store, and more expensive. A “box bike” like the Bakfiets can start at around $2,000 USD, with an electric model costing at least twice as much. Cargo bikes provide a different riding experience because of their size and weight, but a well-designed cargo bike should be stable and fairly easy to maneuver. This is an advantage over trying to turn a standard bike into a cargo (or baby-carrying) bike.
Don’t use a helmet with visible signs of wear or damage, or one that has made impact with the ground or bike frame during a crash (even if it has no signs of damage).
The weight of the helmet may prevent your child from being able to hold their head up and keep it steady. The strap on the helmet may present a strangulation hazard. The helmet may offer limited protection in the event of a bike crash. These helmets don’t undergo the same type of safety testing as youth bike helmets.
