Bump in the trunk

[som3blok3]

Mrs 'som3blok3' and I are expecting our third (and final) child, found out last week that it's a boy, woohoo!!

Anyways, as cycling has been so kind to me in the last 18 months, my wife is wanting to get into pedal power as soon as possible after he's born (due Sept 4th).

So I was wondering what the earliest/best/safest age for bike seats, trailers etc is. Never been a fan of trailers, but all the early horror stories seem to have been just that and ammounted to nothing.

We were having a chat whilst on a walk around Virginia Water yesterday, watching lots of fellow bike lovers riding past us when I said; 'I know, I'll ask the guys on CC, so much knowledge there, somebody will have some good advice'........

 

[BentMikey]

They'll need to be able to sit, and sit strongly, before you can put them in a bike trailer or bike seat normally. Before then it's still possible, but will involve using a car seat, or so I've read. We didn't bother with either of our boys, and just waited till they were old enough and I was comfortable with them in the trailer. At 9 months or so, I was happy for shorter smooth surface rides.

http://www.londonskaters.com/cycling/article-child-trailer-safety.htm

 

[funnymummy]

I bought a bike seat for #2, ready for him to pop into once I was upto riding again (I had an emergency C/S, so was laid up for several months) By the time he was able to use it I was preggers with #3 (NOT planned)
So I bought a trailer, #2 was 14 months & able to sit in it & I bought a Baby Seat for #3

 

[Rouge Penguin]

My son went in the trailer from about 11 months, he's a strong one though. As long as they can really support their own head (think of the lateral forces), they should be fine.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

Congrats by the way.

 

[coffeejo]

Congratulations

 

[ianrauk]

They need to be able to support their head before you can use a seat or trailer.
My boy was 9 months for his first trip in the trailer.

He absolutely loves it.

It also does amaze me how much more room motorists give a kiddie trailer.

He even has his own private number plate

 

[GrumpyGregry]

one of our local yummy mummies has a buggy that converts into a bike and vice versa. I think it is called a Tagger or somesuch.

 

[quassleberry]

Mine were both over 2 when I had to take them on a bike.
Would it be possible to take them in the baby slings/ carriers etc until they can hold their head strongly?

Both mine went in them whilst I walked dogs & shopped. I even did housework (hoovering was interesting, had to be careful not to tip them out of the rucksack type) whilst they went off to sleep then I could lay them down.

 

[Arch]

one of our local yummy mummies has a buggy that converts into a bike and vice versa. I think it is called a Tagger or somesuch.

Taga

There is also a similar thing called the Zigo

But for a newborn you'll need a car seat to support them - it can be strapped into pretty much any child trailer.

My colleague has a nihola and his little girl went in the front in a car seat from weeks old. And mostly sleeps, and is a very happy baby.

There is the babybike baby seat that fits on a bike, but I think it might be more cumbersome, and put the centre of gravity up high. Trailers will last for years of use, and can be used for shopping once the little 'un has grown out of it.