Bicycle Seats

L.,

We have the co-polot and love it. My son has been riding in it since he was 1. We went to a local bike shop and got him fitted for a helmet - no problem. Now he is three and he still loves to ride behind mom or dad. While I have not used a trailer, I have friends that have. Some have liked it and others not. One of our friends daughters refused to go in the trailer after she was really mobile because she couldn't see anything since she was so low to the ground. We have never had that problem with the co-pilot.

Hi L.,
I know some parents always feel there is an age limit to when you should ride with the kids, I on the other hand didn't feel that way. As soon as I was able to get the OK from my doc, I was back on my bike (about 8 weeks post c-section both times.) I learned from having my first that the bike trailers are GREAT. I REFUSE to use or suggest ANYONE use a co-piolet chair on their bike. If something should happen to you or the bike and the bike goes down, you can jump off, the baby can't. That's just a risk I am not willing to take.
With the trailer though, they make them double occpancy, and the one I got was big enough to fit my 2 year old and the baby's car seat. I just strapped in the car seat with the harnest that my oldest used just like I would have strapped the car seat into the car. Of course I was careful on bumpy areas and things of that nature. while they both were really little (not able to control their head yet), I also used one of those padded head surrounding things in the seat as well to protect their heads from bopping around during the ride.
It's great to get back out there and have fun riding again. Don't let the kids age stop you, just make arrangements to bring them along.

ALSO, I know this is only one mom's oppinion, but PLEASE DO NOT trust your child to a co-piolet seat. YES they may seem the cheaper and easiest way to go, but they are also the most dangerious if for some reason you need to get out of dangers way. At least with a trailer, they are large enough for drivers and others to see, they have plenty of room for the children, and most of all, if something happens to you on the bike (it tips over, busts a wheel, etc.) the trailer will stay upright even if the bike is laying flat on it's side!!

It is my understanding that the youngest age to put a child on any type of seat is 1 year old. In fact, I don't believe they make helmets for children any younger than that. It's almost impossible to find a helmet for my daughter and she's almost 2. The youngest I can find near me is for 3 years and younger. The reason they say 1 year or older is a child's neck isn't strong enough to support a helmet and hold their head up until this age. Also, in a trailer I don't know if you've noticed but there is a lot of bouncing around. The risk is too high for shaken baby syndrome before this age. I know I won't be using any kind of child seat or trailer before 1 year old.

L., We are avid bike riders with three kids and we waited until each was 1 to ride with them. I am pretty sure that all bike seats recommend age 1 and I would guess trailers are the same. That probably seems like forever to wait since you are ready to ride now! :)

I have the trailer, love it! It says they have to be 18 months(we put a helmet on our 12month old and he was fine)...I have 5 kids and I loved that it fit 2 and they were well secured. Have fun!

I would wait at least a year before I put the younger one in a bicycle seat - at least. The neck muscles are not strong enough to take the jarring from a bike ride, or support a helmet, even if he is sitting up well. God forbid you go over a bump on a bike. If you want to start biking again, leave the little ones at home.

Each trailer or bike will have a reccomendation. I got a trailer for my daughter and it seems like she could ride in it as soon as she can hold herself up in it. They have five point harnesses but not a lot of other support. At 12 months old she loves it.