Taking a bike ride with your young toddler or preschooler is risky, because even the slightest fall can cause him injury. The best child bike seat for your child depends on your riding preferences, your biking ability and the ability of the child seat to keep your child safe. When choosing a seat, consider where you plan to ride, how experienced you are when riding, the age of your child and how safe the bike seat will keep your child.
Types
All types of child bike seats allow your child to face forward throughout the ride. The seats that mount on your bike --- available for either front or rear mounting --- support a child between the ages of 1 and 5 years of age. A bike trailer, which consists of a mesh-covered seat inside a buggy that attaches to your bike with a hitching arm, supports up to two children between the ages of 1 and 6 years of age.
Safety
Trailers and bike-mounted child seats have safety issues, but Consumer Reports and American Academy of Pediatricians recommend placing your child in a trailer. A trailer allows your child to ride closer to the ground and allows for better steering control, decreasing her chance of injury if she falls. However, trailers have a low profile and extend out farther than your bike, making them dangerous to use in areas where cars travel.
If you choose to go with a bike-mounted seat, keep your child's safety in mind. The best bike-mounted child seat prevents any of your child extremities from coming in contact with your bikes gears or wheels. Front-mounted seats may provide the best bike-mounted child seat options, because children prefer to ride up front and they do not affect the handling of the bike as much as rear-mounted seats. However, you may have to bow your legs out so your knees do not hit the seat and your child may try to grab the handlebars of your bike. Front- and rear-mounted child seats may require the help of a second person to get your child on and off the bike.
Features
The best child bike seat provides a variety of features that increases the comfort and safety of your child's ride. When shopping for a trailer, look for one that attaches to your bike using a ball-and-socket joint that allows the trailer to stay upright, even if your bike tips over. If you prefer a bike-mounted seat, look for one that has a high back, five-point harness, spoke guards, a padded seat and side protectors. Additional safety features include flags or reflectors that increase the visibility of the child seat.
Considerations
Child bike seats need to meet safety protocols set by the government to maintain the safety of a child placed in them. To ensure the safety and quality of the child bike seat you purchase, look for a label indicating the child bike seat meets the safety standard implemented for all child bike seats produced within the United States, known as the ASTM 1625-00 safety standard. If you chose to purchase a used bike seat for your child, contact the Consumer Reports Safety Commission to ensure no recalls exist for the model you select.
References
- American Academy of Pediatricians; Baby On Board: Keeping Safe on A Bike; June 2010
- International Bicycle Fund: Bicycle, Trailer, Backpack, Child Carrier, Helmet & Bike Safety
- Consumer Reports; Bike Seats vs. Bike Trailers for Children; May 2009
- Consumer Reports; Tips for Buying a Bike-Mounted Seat or Trailer; June 2008
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