Children who are too young to ride a bike can still travel on one. Affixing a child bike seat to a regular bike allows active parents to invite their little one on a two-wheeled adventure, but they shouldn't necessarily place all of their trust in their own bike riding skills. Having a well-equipped child bike seat and taking preventative actions are equally important when it comes to riding with precious cargo.
Certification
No independent organization certifies child bike seats. However, the American Society for Testing and Materials has created a set of standards for bicycle-mounted child seats so bike seat manufacturers can test to them voluntarily. If a product meets those standards, its manufacturer will certify that the product is sufficient. The Consumers Union advises parents purchase rear-mounted seats that have met all standards set by the ATSM.
Age Restrictions
Children under age 1 should not ride in a bike-mounted child seat because they may not be physically capable of handling gravitational forces they will be exposed to when riding in one. Also, according to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, most children under age 1 can't properly hold up their heads with the added weight of a bike safety helmet. Parents should only allow their child to sit in a bike seat when that child is at least 1 and capable of holding his head up while wearing a helmet.
Skill Level
Bike riding parents should consider their biking abilities before they purchase a bike seat for their child. According to the Consumers Union, a biking novice may tire out while operating a rear-mounted seat but would have an easier time navigating with a front-mounted bike seat. All riders, regardless of skill, should purchase a well-fitting helmet for a child passenger.
Other Considerations
Although most 1-year-olds have developed enough to hold their heads up while wearing a helmet, an upright-sitting baby is likely to fall asleep while sitting in a child carrier. When this happens, her head can fall forward, bob around and potentially cause injury to her neck. It is therefore a wise decision for the bike riding parent to stop and wait out the child's nap before continuing on a bumpy bike ride.
Shopping Tips
Bike riding parents should invest in a child bike seats that are compatible with their bikes. For example, some bike-mounted seats don't adequately fit on bikes that have oversized tubes. To assess whether the seat is a match, parents should examine the child bike seat in person, determine whether the child fits in the seat, and take the seat for a test ride with some added weight (e.g. a bowling ball as opposed to the actual child) within the store. Parents should also keep the receipt in their possession in case the seat turns out to be problematic after it is at home.
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