Recreational & Family - How cold is TOO cold for the little fella in a trailer?

OK, I'm prety psyched. The Bruce is six months old and sit's up like a champ! I got the go-ahead from my wife to get whatever child-transporting bicycle device that I want and take the boy out. I have decided on a trailer for several reasons. My question is this though: if he's bundled up in his warm pants and parka and hat and hood, how cold can it be out and not be TOO cold for him. I know that he would be out of the worst of the elements in the plastic cover of the trailer (one thing I like about it over a kid-seat) but his little face would still be un-covered! Any advice from other cold-weather cycling parents would be greatly appreciated!

When I asked this exact same question to the pediatrician, the answer I got was, "as long as he has enough clothing as if you are taking him to the playground, and he is protected from the wind, he will be alright". Of course, the higher boss doesn't let me take him out during winter but the above answer was as official as I can get.

.... "as long as he has enough clothing as if you are taking him to the playground, and he is protected from the wind, he will be alright"....

That pretty much sums it up. For as long as you think he would be be okay to play outside in the cold is about how long you can go in a trailer. You can go typically go a bit longer because they are protected from the elements to some extent. But they are not moving around much. You can pack blankets and pillow around them to help insulate. It helps to put a blanket or pillow under their feet because those floors are cold (although he probably won't be reaching the floor for awhile.

OK, I'm prety psyched. The Bruce is six months old and sit's up like a champ! I got the go-ahead from my wife to get whatever child-transporting bicycle device that I want and take the boy out. I have decided on a trailer for several reasons. My question is this though: if he's bundled up in his warm pants and parka and hat and hood, how cold can it be out and not be TOO cold for him. I know that he would be out of the worst of the elements in the plastic cover of the trailer (one thing I like about it over a kid-seat) but his little face would still be un-covered! Any advice from other cold-weather cycling parents would be greatly appreciated!

Some would say there's no such thing as too cold if you're properly prepared. You need to decide what you're comfortable with. However, there are car-free families with children who ride in all kinds of weather towing their children in trailers on in child seats. Here's a link to one blog by a young couple in Colorado who are car-free. They have a trailer and child seats that they built for their longtail cargo bike. They've winterized both (they came up with a very creative insulated "yurt for the children's seats on the longtail bike.
http://longwalktogreen.blogspot.com/2009/03/chariot-for-all-seasons.html
http://longwalktogreen.blogspot.com/2008/12/bicycle-yurt.html
http://longwalktogreen.blogspot.com/2008/12/more-yurt-pictures.html

Good luck. Have fun with your little one (they grow up fast).

My kids are pre-trailer (late 20s), but I live down the street from a pediatrician who's an obsessed cyclist and fitness Nazi (good guy, but obsessed...). His kids are high school age now, and he's had them out on bikes, skis and snowshoes since they could walk. Until the developers effed up the neighborhood, we had access to miles of hiking trails just two or three minutes from his house. Many times, I've been hammering along on my mountain or road bike in temps in the 20s or even lower, all proud of myself, and he and his wife passed with the kids wedged into the trailers, bundled up to suit the weather. He says as long as their hands are warm and their noses and ears don't freeze, they'll be fine.