Recreational & Family - What age to start them in a trailer

My son was born in March, so he is getting close to 9 months old now. I was told that a kid under the age of 12 months should not ride in a trailer, obviously because of issues with neck strength and such. That really isn't an issue since we are entering into the cold months and I've parked the bike for the season now. I was going to buy a new trailer in the spring, but I also have been scanning kijiji and such for a good quality used one. I was pretty picky in my selection and I decided not to purchase quite a few because of little issues I didn't like about them. Finally the other day I saw an Instep Turbo Trailer on kijiji and went to go look at it. My hopes weren't high, but when I saw it I noticed that it had all the things I wanted and had been used very little. I promptly bought it on the spot. When I got it home and was folding it up for winter storage I noticed a list of safety rules printed on the seat bottom. One of them was that no children under 18 months should ride in it. I was a little disappointed becuase it will be next fall almost before he is that age. So I'm wondering if it's safe to have him ride in it when he is around 14 months old (probably when I will start cycling again)? What would the reasoning be behind the 18 month old rule? I just don't want to endanger my child, I'd rather wait if it is unsafe. I should point out that he is very strong for his age, and I imagine by 14 months he will be a lot stronger.

My first child started at 4 months. I put him in his car seat in a burley trailer. My second started at 3.5 months in the same trailer (new car seat). No issues yet. After 1 year old and sitting up I removed child #1 from the car seat, he graduated to the regular burley seat (and his first helmet).

I can't imagine why they are saying 18 months, except for extreme lawyer CYA. But, I am not a professional, just a parent.

The answer is more a developmental stage rather then a hard age number. When the child can sit upright on his/her own, you can start. Putting an infant in a trailer, even with a car seat, isn't a good idea. The car seat was designed for a car's belt system, while the trailer's belts are for a child sitting up.

Start with short rides until the little one is comfortable in the trailer. You may need to use a towel behind the child's back to keep the helmet from pushing his head down.

We started a daily 20-km round-trip commute to daycare at one year old.

It was sometimes greatly enjoyed, but often slept through.

a lot has been written about this subject in this same forum; check out a good majority of the various arguments at: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=386672 (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=386672)

as for our family, i unofficially started my daughter out in the trailer/jogger at 4.5mos; she was harnessed snugly in a baby sling that utilized the trailer's rather formidable seat belt system; road vibration was dampened by a combination of suspension (it really works!), the sling, and her giant squishy outfits---it seems no less or more severe than our rather rickety old car---but she's a lot happier in the trailer than the car, and frankly, so am i. but i am sure my practice is the bane of the crazy mommy-day-care-cult across the street. ymmv.