Transporting Young Children

Cycling with babies and young children is easy and enjoyable and small children often find the sensation of cycling and the moving scenery both stimulating and relaxing.

General advice is that babies can be carried on bicycles once they are able to sit up unaided and hold their head up (while wearing a cycle helmet if using – recommended as babies’ heads are delicate). Development rates vary from child to child, so in practise this is usually somewhere between 6 and 12 months. Some health professionals recommend that parents wait until their child is at least 12 months old, especially if cycling on rough surfaces as this causes additional shake and strain on the child’s neck.

Adults carrying young children should also be confident riders themselves and capable of controlling the bike whilst carrying the extra weight.

There are three main options for carrying young children by bicycle:

1. On the body of the rider in a baby backpack or wrap

Allows close contact between the child and the rider and is convenient as the child can be easily carried on foot after getting off the bike. The downside is that the weight can be very tiring for the rider and in case of an accident there is a risk the child might be squashed underneath the adult.

2. Attached to the bicycle in a child seat

Child bike seats usually attach to the rear of the bike, over the back wheel. There are options which attach to the crossbar or between the handlebars, but these are less common in this country and some experts warn that they may be less safe in case of an accident, as the adult is more likely to fall on top of the child. Rear seats come in different designs, including some which recline to provide more head support and allow children to sleep. Whichever design is chosen, the seat should be moulded around the head and sides of the body in high-impact rigid plastic. There should be a sturdy harness/restraint system to prevent the child slipping out and a footguard/restraint system to prevent them getting their feet caught in the back wheel. Check for British Standard BS EN 14344 (approved for children weighing 9-22kg) and expect to pay at least £30.

Child seats are effective and efficient, but some downsides include awkwardness of holding the bike upright while getting the child into the seat, the fact that you cannot see the child while cycling and the difficulties of carrying extra equipment at the same time, as you cannot use a rucksack with a child behind you and the position of the seat on the rear rack makes it difficult to use pannier bags. Always make sure the seat is properly and securely attached.

3. Pulled behind the bicycle in a child trailer

There are many types of child trailer available, which can carry up to two small children or a baby in a car seat. Some trailers convert to a buggy once detached from the bike. Child trailers are stable and comfortable for the child and adult and they allow extra luggage to be carried alongside the child. Children can be carried in cycle trailers virtually from birth (with additional internal attachments) until they are too heavy for you to tow! On the downside, they are relatively expensive, can be heavy to tow and you can’t always see your child as easily as in a seat.

There are no specific safety standards for child trailers, so you should by from a reputable manufacturer and ensure they are CE marked.