Recreational & Family - Babies and bikes--Burly trailer, rack seat, or front seats?

I have a two month old. I am used to biking everywhere, and would like to take her with me as soon as possible and in the safest way possible. At what age is it possible to bring little ones on two wheels? When I was kid my dad had a seat on a rack above the back wheel. I've still seen those around. I've also seen seats that attach to the top tube. And of course, there are the trailers.

Thoughts? Experiences? Resources?

Thanks in advance!

I also posted this in Safety. Sorry if that's bad form--I'm a newbie!

Hi,
here my 2 cents:
- I started cycling with my son when he was 3 month: I strapped him in his car set and then strapped the car seat in a big, sturdy trailer (wike).
- As soon as he was old enough to sit without help for 20 minutes I started to take him on short rides in a front-mounted bobike mini... with him getting stronger the rides expended...
- with 2 1/2 he started to be too big for the front, so off he went to the back in his bobike maxi...
- Now he's nearly 6 and sometimes rides on the bobike junior (he outgrew the maxi at about 4.5) or our xtracycle or the bak fiets or even his own bike!

Just to summarize:
You can start with a car seat in a trailer, move to a front seat and from there the commuting world is your oyster! Just make sure to get a good infant helmet and use your parent instinct ("If it feels safe to you...")

Seats I came across: Bobike (my fave! front & back), Ibert (front), Weeride (front), Topeak (back)

SUPER helful! Thanks!!!

Three months is the youngest I've heard anyone try, and that makes sense to me. I'll be home with the baby starting September (when she'll be 3-4 months old) and I didn't want to be stuck in a car the whole time!

Thanks again.

When my little one was a couple months old I purchased the Burley d'Lite (http://www.burley.com/products/child/dlite.cfm). My wife did research on helmets and found that our state prohibits children under the age of one year to be on a bicycle in any fashion. I would check with the local laws to find out what your state allows. I have heard of many others starting before this. I waited until he was about 10 months. He had pretty good neck control then and I felt pretty safe. To get around the neck control, as suggested, you can use the infant carrier. Again, we stayed a way from that due to legal reasons. He is just over 20 months now and still enjoys the trailer.

I prefer the trailer because I feel more stable and he has a lot more room to play. He has his toys, snacks, drinks and books with him. In the back we have plenty of room to store the diaper bag and other accessories we wish to bring.

Just my opinion and way of doing it. Hope it helps.

Similar here except I ignore stupid laws (as should everyone) and logged lots of wonderful miles with my under 1 year old daughter in NY. Run the tires good and soft to improve the ride for the little tyke.

If you're only going to have one child of trailering age I'd suggest getting a smaller trailer like a Burley Solo. They pull much, much easier than the full size trailers and are also more convenient to maneuver, store, etc. I have both and can't recommend the Solo enough if it meets your capacity needs. The infant car seat I used to use fit in mine nice and snug. I'll part with our D'lite trailer soon as the kids are getting bigger but I'm keeping the Solo for utility use.

I started my daughter, who was large for her size, in the bobike mini around 10 months. In hindsight, I could have started a little earlier.

She's still in it at 17 months and strongly prefers it to the trailer my wife uses to carry her in. My wife doesn't feel comfortable carrying her ON the bike though.

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I didn't carry her before that, though I wouldn't have a problem doing so. The dutch have all kinds of ways to do this safely, but I decided it was too much hassle and money to setup for such a short time.

I'm sure others here will voice strong opposition to riding with them before the arbitrary 1-year date.

I'm sure others here will voice strong opposition to riding with them before the arbitrary 1-year date.

There are of course many opinions on this. I say know the law just to know it but it comes down to your preference and what you feel comfortable with. I have seen the infant carrier with a 3-4 month old in a trailer. It looks pretty secure to me.

We have two grandbabies, ages 4 months and 7 months. For Father's Day, my wife bought me an Instep trailer. I have ridden the 7 month a few times (about a mile each time), but last week was the first time I put both in the trailer at the same time. They seemed very contented as I rode them around in my yard for 20-25 minutes. The 4 month old went to sleep.
At that young age, they don't seem real excited while riding, but the 7 month old, when she is carried by the trailer, often reaches for it and grunts!

I have a ten month old daughter that loves to go for rides. I put her in her car seat and then strap that into a Burly d'Lite. There is plenty of room for the seat, toys, diaper bag, camera, etc..... I like the Burly because of it's stability and extra space for all our stuff.

When our oldest outgrew the trailer and also started going to K in the opposite direction of the daycare he went to w/ his sister, the Burley Encore started looking pretty big around her and I wondered about a rear seat, but never pulled the trigger both because it seemed easier to keep swapping the trailer between bikes and also because I never put much thought into how I might carry panniers of work stuff along w/ the bike seat, along w/ her daycare supplies.