Quick guide on choosing the best baby carrier for bikes

If you are a fit mom or a person who naturally enjoys cycling, I am sure you've thought of taking your child along on a ride with you and sharing those beautiful moments outside and catching some fresh air all at the same time. Now bonding and mommy time isn't limited only to activities at home, you can equally enjoy some quality time with your little one by taking them on a ride on your bike. But to safely do that, you've literally got only three options and that is for your child to sit behind your saddle, to sit on the top tube or to get a trailer.

Either way, you just want your toddler to be safe and comfortable. Even though riding a bike is considered healthy and therapeutic, it is also important to not overexert yourself and your child's health by making sure he or she are of the right age and milestone to ride on a bike with you. 

When is the right age for baby's to ride a bike on a baby carrier with parents? Well, this answer depends on the child, the type of baby carrier you are using and where the carrier is being mounted on. The most important thing is for the child to have the neck strength to hold on for at 2 minutes or more as a gauge you should bring your baby out on a bike.

For baby carriers, if it is a child trailer, a child from preferably1 to the age of 6 can successfully ride on it with no problem for as long as all safety measures have been taken.

Trailers are lightweight buggies made with a framework of hollow aluminum tubes. The body of the trailer is made from nylon fabric. They have two wheels, and a nylon rain/wind cover with see-through side windows. Some have mosquito style netting covers for warmer days. Towing the trailer is via an aluminum towbar attached with a large hitch that fits between the rear stays of the bike, or by a quick release skewer hitch for bikes without standard rear stays.

When the child carrier is mounted behind a saddle, then he or she can seat on a traditional dutch child seats front and rear but preferably around the age of 2 to 5 years. The seat is made from steel or aluminum ribs and offers little roll-over protection for a child.

The front-mounted seat, that sits on the top tube so the child is between your arms is favorite amongst parents, it gives you full access to your baby while you are riding. Giving you a total view of your baby gives peace of mind. It’s easy to set up and kids love riding bikes from that angle. A front-mounted child bike seat is installed at the front of the adult’s bicycle over the top tub and just behind the handlebars. Depending on the brand, it attaches to either the headset or the seatpost. A standard front-mounted seat has a harness to keep a child safely strapped in and these are appropriate for older babies and toddlers (ages 1-3).

The following are a list of some of our favorite front mounted bike seats for toddlers:

The Bellelli Pulcino front bike seat for children weighing up to 15 kg (33 lbs.). It is child-safe and made of a non-toxic certified plastic frame. This beautiful seat is lightweight, solid and washable. Wide ventilation slots on back and shoulders help to keep your child comfortable. The seat includes soft, removable and washable seat pad with a childproof buckle, with the double safety system. Only one hand is needed to fasten and release it. The seat has high sideboards to increase child support and containment.

Give your little one a ride they won’t forget with the Orion. This front-mounted child bike seat let you keep your child close while enjoying a fun bicycle ride. It comes equipped with a unique mounting system that allows the child bike seat to attach to the head tube of the bicycle. It has an innovative installation system that makes attaching and detaching the child bike seat to the bicycle frame quick and simple, with an adjustable footrest that lets the Orion grow with your child. A built-in suspension system gives your child a fun and easygoing ride, no matter the terrain. 

A front mounted seat is ideal for boosting the confidence of smaller children. Fits to quill style stems, and the unique shock-absorbing construction for excellent comfort without the need for a complex suspension system. With the adjustable padded 5-point harness, your child is quickly and easily secured with the childproof safety buckle. Everytime is a perfect fit even when your child grows, thanks to adjustable footrests and foot straps.

This baby carrier is easy to clean and to keep dry due to the seat water-repellent materials but vented for comfort on hot days. It is designed and tested for children from 9 months to 3 years old. 

This bike seat is designed and tested for children from 9 months to 3 years old, up to 33lbs. It has a universal quick release bracket, fitting both normal and ahead stems, and also allows the seat to mount/dismount from the bike in seconds. This bike is ideal for bike rides with your little one especially if you live in a bike friendly area. The single-hand adjustable foot straps and footrests allow for convenience and flexibility as the child grows.

This bicycle front seat allows you to keep an eye on your child and the road. It has a thickly padded handrail that provides superior comfort. The all-around handrail equipped with a button makes it quick to release and lock, very convenient and safe. The pedals offer a safety rest for your child's feet. Your child can grow along with this adorable bike seats because it has all safety measures in place to make sure your child and you have a successful bike riding. The sturdy aluminum alloy tube can bear a maximum weight of 25kg (55lbs).

Some people are uncomfortable with having a child seat in the front rear of the bike while taking a bicycle ride. If you prefer having your little one securely seating at the rear end of the bike, then this is perfectly okay. There are a lot of cute rear bike seats that are functional and secure to facilitate your bike rides.

The following are a list of some of our favorite bike rides in the market:

This rear seating child bike carrier is extremely comfortable for a child of 9 months to 4 years of age. It is designed with comfortable fabric and extra cushioning to give your child a stress-free experience. It takes 20 minutes to assemble and have it mounted in your bike. Even though the seat is a bit bulky in size compare to most child bike seat, the secure belts ensure your child is securely fitted and safe for bumpy rides. It is money-saving cause it actually grows along with your child.

The seat is very lightweight and comfortable for kids to sit in. It is sturdy and safe when biking. It has the protective belt and the handlebar to keep the child safe in the seat. And the best part of this bike carrier is that it's not difficult to attach once you understand how it needs to be set. It has back and foot adjustment options to keep foot safe and comfy. The shoulder harness has multiple height adjustments for superior comfort and protection. The adjustable height of seat backrest ensures the comfort of children's sitting.

The Hamax Caress child bike seat is one of the best bike seats out there. The only rear child bike seat that enables single-handed adjustment of every feature so that you can always leave one hand on the bike for stability and safety. It has a childproof safety buckle with adjustable straps, recline, backrest, footrests, and foot straps. The bike seats grow with your child, fitting children from 9 months (approx. age when the child can hold head upright without support) to approximately 6 years old (up to 48.5 pounds/22 kilograms).

The back rest with attached non-slip, rubber-padded shoulder straps easily glides up or down to accommodate varied heights. The foot rests offer 10 height options with easy slide and click adjustment and quick-fasten/release foot straps.

Enjoy safe family bonding and bring your favorite little toddler along for every bike ride with the deluxe child seat for an adult bike, from Schwinn. This child bike seat is loaded up with safety features to keep them secure and having a blast, giggling and smiling while you enjoy casual family jaunts on the local path. Assembly is easy and painless with the use of a screwdriver, and the durable polypropylene-constructed bike seat mounts directly to the rear of the bike frame.

The child seat is vented to prevent wind drag, and your little one will appreciate the custom comfort padding that supports their back and the air-cushioned pad that lines the seat. The quick-release 3-point harness (must be worn at all times!), leg restraints and padded cross bar offer added safety, while the adjustable footwells and removable headrest provide even more comfort for your little rider. 

The bike seat is extremely comfortable and secure for every bike ride with your little one. The bike carrier is fully installed with child-friendly features and security measures to protect your child. The footrest supports your child's leg and avoids any restriction or restraint in that area. This seat is extremely sturdy, easy to assemble directly onto the bike.

The trailer is the safest and most exciting carrier to have your child come with you on bike rides. It is comfortable, sturdy and spacious to accommodate your child and his favorite things.

There are a lot of trailers out there but only the best should be for your little one, with that said, let's take a look at some of the best available child bike trailers out there:

The tow behind bike trailer is a universal bike coupler that fits most bicycle rear wheels, 5-point safety harnesses, included safety flag for extra visibility. The 16 inch molded wheels with air filled/pneumatic tires for performance and style. 

It fits in the back of small cars or in your storage closet. No family member gets left behind when this trailer is involved. This comfortable two-seater features padding and support for little passengers and a 2-in-1 bug shield/weather screen canopy to ensure every ride is cozy even when the elements won't cooperate. The collapsible folding frame and quick release wheels provide subcompact storage for your next bike ride or vacation.

Take your loved ones with you everywhere with this Schwinn Joyrider Double Bicycle Trailer which features aluminum/steel frame construction for a safer, lightweight ride. This trailer is a 2-in-1 canopy which includes a bug screen and a weather shield, so you can protect your little passengers from weather that won’t cooperate. 

It’s 20-inch quick release wheels and folding frame makes preparing for your next adventure and storing your trailer both hassle-free. Included is a Schwinn Universal Coupler making it easy to attach the trailer to just about any bicycle out there. It grows with your child and saves you from spending a lot of money to be able to carry your little ones along on a beautiful bike ride.

Creating memories with your child is extremely important, especially at a very young age cause that's when kids are most adventurous and curious. The child bike carrier is a tool to help facilitate and provide your toddler with the safety and comfort he or she deserves to take a ride on a bike with you. Always make sure the bike carrier is age appropriate and has all the requirements and safety measures needed to accommodate your little one.

Always ride carefully and remember that even though the seat promise to provide safety, the rider is also responsible and a major determinant and how safe and successful the bike ride becomes.

When your child grows up, consider getting a three or two-wheelers so also kickstart his or her bike adventures with you. Below are the related articles on three-wheelers, scooters to get! 
 

• Best toddler tricycle from toddler ages to 5: Safety guide
• The Best Toddler 3 Wheel Scooter that's Trending Right Now
• The Best Toddler Balance Bike to Kickstart Two Wheels
• Top 10 Baby and Toddler Helmets for Riding Safety