Cycling is a popular form of recreation and exercise for many adults. The use of a bicycle baby seat allows parents to continue enjoying this form of exercise. Because there are risks associated with cycling, learn some basic safety rules and cycling precautions. And when purchasing your baby bicycle seat, be sure that it is certified by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to meet their high safety standards.
Weight of Your Child
Before you take your infant cycling, he should demonstrate good head and neck control to comfortably support the weight of his own head along with the added mass of a helmet. Children weighing more than 44 pounds are considered too heavy for a bicycle baby seat. Too much weight can affect your stability and increase the risk of an accident.
Balance
Cycling with a child in a baby bicycle seat can alter your balance. The extra weight of your child will raise your bicycle’s center of gravity. It may take some time to adjust your balance to compensate for these changes. Place an inanimate object that is of similar weight to your child in the baby seat for your first attempt. Take your time adjusting to the changes in stability by practicing until you feel confident in your skills.
Rear Mounted
Rear mounted baby bike seats allow you to place your child behind, seated over the back wheel of the bicycle. A plastic frame that encircles your child’s head, shoulders and neck is available on most rear mounted baby bike seats, offering some extra protection in the event of a fall. Be aware that such features, however, do not prevent all types of injuries to your child. Falls that occur while loading and unloading the child from his seat and asphyxiation from helmet and seat straps are prevalent risks associated with rear mounted baby bicycle seats. Mounting a rearview mirror can improve your supervision.
Front Mounted
Front mounted seats place your child and his excess weight over the front wheel of the bicycle, increasing your stability. Cycling with a child between you and the handle bars does make positioning more uncomfortable and sometimes awkward and unsafe. Do not allow your child to hold objects while in a front bicycle seat because he could drop something into the tire spokes and cause an accident. Front mounted bicycle seats lack a plastic frame making them less safe than the rear mounted seats.
Precautions
Parents should have good cycling skills before attempting to ride with a child mounted on their bicycle. Do not use an infant backpack or sling to carry your child when cycling. There will always be some risk involved with cycling; you can minimize those risks by abiding by traffic laws and cycling safety guidelines. Your child should be securely fastened into his bicycle seat using a sturdy harness and must always be fitted with a bicycle helmet.
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