A baby or child riding with an adult on a bicycle requires a child safety seat for protection. MayoClinic.com cautions parents to select a size- and age-appropriate safety seat for all trips to avoid head injuries and the risk of hydrocephalus, a type of brain injury. The clinic reminds adults to read the safety standards for the seat and adjust the straps so that the child restraint works properly.
Child's Age and Companion Equipment
Children under the age of 1 year should never ride in a child bicycle seat. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute reports, "Nobody recommends taking a child less than 1 year old on a bicycle." Most children over 1 year old should also wear a helmet while riding in the bicycle seat. The Internal Bicycle Fund recommends consulting your pediatrician to select a helmet that is the correct weight and fit for your child. The child should not strain to hold the weight of the helmet and the helmet should match the space allowed so the child's head can turn easily while seated in the carrier.
General Seat Requirements
The Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation recommends that bicycle riders purchase seats meeting the American Society for Testing and Materials safety standards. Although not federally mandated, the seat will feature a sticker if it meets the standards. You should match the seat with the bicycle so that any sharp or exposed edges on the bicycle don't come into contact with the child when he is placed in the seat. The seat should also have padding to match the child's back and bottom for a comfortable ride.
Seats designed for smaller and younger children should incorporate padded sides near the head, according to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, so the child's head doesn't hit against the side of the seat after falling asleep. Younger children require neck support. The seat should incorporate a headrest so the child's neck has the necessary support if she becomes tired while riding.
Foot and Leg Protection
Injuries to children riding in child seats include feet caught in the bicycle spokes and breaks and sprains when they can extend their legs out from the seat while riding. Selecting a seat with a foot support or barrier shelf for the child's feet to rest on eliminates the first problem. The seat also needs a restraint to keep the child's legs close to the seat, however, so that injury doesn't result when the child's legs reach out to push off or touch items as the bicycle passes. Seats with framed leg slots keep the child's legs firmly enclosed to prevent side extension.
Keep Up With Recalls
Not all child bicycle seats offer the same safety protection. In fact, some seats create dangerous conditions due to faulty design or manufacturing problems. Other seats are sold as transportation for toys, according to the Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issues recalls for bicycle child seats through the Office of Information and Public Affairs. You can research these releases on the commission's website (see Resources). Consult the recall list when borrowing or purchasing pre-owned seats.
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