Child bike seats give you the option of bringing along a young toddler or preschool-age child on a bike ride. You mount the seats to the front or rear of the bicycle and secure the child with a harness. If you don't think you can support the extra weight of a child seat, consider alternative methods of biking with your child, including bike trailers.
Safety
The best child bike seat will meet all safety requirements. Look for brands that have been labeled that they meet ASTM 1625-00 standards in the United States. The seat should also be far enough away from the wheels to prevent your child's foot from getting caught in the spokes. Avoid used models since they may have been involved in a crash without your knowledge. Features that you'll want include a five-point safety harness and lap bear to ensure that the child remains in the seat. Even with these features, your child should still wear a helmet while riding.
iBert Safe-T Child Bicycle Seat
You may want to consider a front-mounted child bike seat for your child. The Galt website and the International Bicycle Fund both recommend the iBert Safe-T Child Bicycle Seat. This seat is set apart from other versions due to the large amount of leg room that the child has while riding. It does not require any tools to assemble and attaches to your bike's handlebars. The contoured design and interior padding also keeps the child comfy during rides.
Considerations
A child bike seat should be forward facing, whether or not it is mounted to the front or rear of the bicycle. The benefit of the forward facing types is that the child can look at the scenery instead of facing your back. Also, rear-mounted types may create instability when riding and if the child moves, it may throw off your center of gravity.
Topeak Child Bike Seat
If you do decide to go with a rear-mounted child bike seat, you may want to consider the Galt website-recommended Topeak Child Bike Seat. It includes an aluminum rack that is placed over the rear tires to support the bicycle seat. Additional features include steel spring suspension, padded safety bar, safety harness, reflectors and adjustable foot rests.
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