Recreational & Family - Is a bike seat better for an infant than a trailer ?

My daugther is almost 4 months. I was thinking of getting a bike seat in a couple months once she's old enough to hold up her head. My thought was that I'd start with the bike seat and then maybe graduate to a trailer when she becomes too heavy for the bike seat.

Is this correct or could I start her off in the trailer ? I don't know why but for an infant I feel like I would be more comfortable having her right behind me rather than in a trailer. I would add that I would be riding regular roads most of the time and not necessarily bike paths.

Thanks !! :D

Joe

IMHO:
Your daughter needs to be able to hold her head AND a helmet in a seat that offers no shock absorption.
Bike seats position a child in a less reclined position than a trailer, therefore putting more of the force from a jolt on her spine.
Bike trailers signal WATCH OUT FOR A CHILD more than bike seats do.
You can strap your daughter’s infant car seat into a trailer providing a reclined fully supported position.
There is room for a diaper bag in a trailer

IMHO:
Your daughter needs to be able to hold her head AND a helmet in a seat that offers no shock absorption.
Bike seats position a child in a less reclined position than a trailer, therefore putting more of the force from a jolt on her spine.
Bike trailers signal WATCH OUT FOR A CHILD more than bike seats do.
You can strap your daughter’s infant car seat into a trailer providing a reclined fully supported position.
There is room for a diaper bag in a trailer

Yes, I guess that makes sense. Do most trailers allow you to strap in a child car seat? Is that a pretty standard thing ?
I'll have to look into it some more.

Thanks for the advice !! :D

I had a Kettler child seat that was suspended from the seat tube so it had good shock absorbtion. Wreaked havoc on the bike's paint and decals though.

I used a child seat until we had another child then I had to get a bike trailer. Careful or you'll find yourself in the same situation. :)

Suggest doing a search since this has been discussed before. Everyone has their opinions on which is better. I prefer a trailer.

However, couple of things for sure. Make sure you kid has a helmet AND can keep his/her head steady. Despite how smooth it looks, bike rides in a seat or trailer can get REALLY bumpy, especially for a toddler.

My local LBS suggested I use the hard styrofoam insulation on the floor of a trailer so that I could put my son's car seat into the trailer. I just don't think that he could wear a helmet while sitting in his car seat, would it offer enough room behind his head? Or does he need a helmet while in his car seat?

My local LBS suggested I use the hard styrofoam insulation on the floor of a trailer so that I could put my son's car seat into the trailer. I just don't think that he could wear a helmet while sitting in his car seat, would it offer enough room behind his head? Or does he need a helmet while in his car seat?

Don't remember the exact age, but I believe all people under the age of 18 in California must wear a bicyle helment. It's the law here, and it's been referenced before in one of the threads.

Remember that your car is pretty (give or take) safe if you're buckled in and it rolls over. Can you say the same if the bike trailer rolls over? A lot of this has to do w/ how much risk a parent is willing to take on behalf of his/her child. For me, the risks aren't worth it. I'm overly cautious.

The child is pretty damn safe in a well made trailer if it rolls over. Only if you buckle the child in properly. The trailer should have a rollcage to protect the little ones.

Careful with helmet selection. You need one with a smooth back, not pointed. A pointed helmet will injure your child because of the seatback.

Never put an infant in an infant carrier into a trailer. No trailer is made to safely accomidate an infant carrier. Only use a trailer when the child is old enough to sit up on his/her own.

The child is pretty damn safe in a well made trailer if it rolls over. Only if you buckle the child in properly. The trailer should have a rollcage to protect the little ones.

I agree. I meant to say that it wasn't safe w/ a carrier...

With the child in a seat on the back of the bike, the bike handles funny. There is not as much traction on the front tire. It is harder to get on and off the bike unless it is a ladies frame. Giving you a greater chance of dropping the bike.

You have to balance the bike when you get on and off, and when you put the child in and out. If that bike falls over with the child in it, it's like crack the whip with the child’s head on the side of the seat when it hits the ground.

If you are pulling a trailer and the bike falls over nothing happens to the trailer, it remains upright.
Plus you can carry your "support gear". You can even go shopping.

The trailer does give a caution sign to other cyclist and drivers sometimes.

Read the instructions with each product and do not put a too young child in a bike seat or a trailer.
Or I will find Oxford, ride my bike over there and tell you to cut it out !! :)

I might need a ride back...

I might be hungry....

I think a 6 month old kid is to young for either a bike seat or trailer.

I think a 6 month old kid is to young for either a bike seat or trailer.


Yes, I'm beginning to think of maybe waiting til next year...then my youngest will be 15 months or so....
Easier to fit for a helmet then too.
Glad I posted though, definitely will just go for the trailer instead of starting with the bike seat.
Thanks folks !

With the child in a seat on the back of the bike, the bike handles funny. There is not as much traction on the front tire. It is harder to get on and off the bike unless it is a ladies frame. Giving you a greater chance of dropping the bike.

You have to balance the bike when you get on and off, and when you put the child in and out. If that bike falls over with the child in it, it's like crack the whip with the child’s head on the side of the seat when it hits the ground.

If you are pulling a trailer and the bike falls over nothing happens to the trailer, it remains upright.
Plus you can carry your "support gear". You can even go shopping.

The trailer does give a caution sign to other cyclist and drivers sometimes.

Read the instructions with each product and do not put a too young child in a bike seat or a trailer.
Or I will find Oxford, ride my bike over there and tell you to cut it out !! :)

I might need a ride back...

I might be hungry....

You're more than welcome to come and visit.....and help change diapers & wash bottles..... :D

You're more than welcome to come and visit.....and help change diapers & wash bottles..... :D


I'm fully trained, ..... :) :)


A spare baby bottle brush makes a good bike bottle brush. I even have my own brush.

Think of the trailer as "weight training"

Having tried both, the trailer wins, hands down. Check with your pediatrician about the proper agr to start riding, though. Ours insisted on one year.

In addition to the above points, kids love trailers.

Paul

I'm fully trained, ..... :) :)


A spare baby bottle brush makes a good bike bottle brush. I even have my own brush.

Think of the trailer as "weight training"

....and the sleep deprivation is training for ? :eek:

....and the sleep deprivation is training for ? :eek:

:lol: :lol:


24 mtb racing , and RAAM (All the way across America.without stopping.)

In another year you'll be able to ride without sleep at all :(

:lol: :lol:


24 mtb racing , and RAAM (All the way across America.without stopping.)

In another year you'll be able to ride without sleep at all :(

I already seem to be working without sleep....
In fact I'm probably dreaming right now that I've created this thread.. ;)

I think a 6 month old kid is to young for either a bike seat or trailer.
Kool Stop has changed their minimum age to 18 months from 12 months.

Kool Stop has changed their minimum age to 18 months from 12 months.


Is 12 months the new "general consensus" for when you can safely start an infant in a trailer ???
I swear I heard or read somewhere that people were doing it at 6 or 7 months.... :rolleyes:

I put my son in a child seat at 9 months, but just for short rides. He soon grew too big for it and I put him in a trailer around 11 months. He later grew onto a trailercycle at 3 years. He's now 6 and grew too big for the trailercycle, but he is large for his age.(5'0" and 90#)

My wife and I are expecting another son in two months. Time to start all over again.

I put my son in a child seat at 9 months, but just for short rides. He soon grew too big for it and I put him in a trailer around 11 months. He later grew onto a trailercycle at 3 years. He's now 6 and grew too big for the trailercycle, but he is large for his age.(5'0" and 90#)

My wife and I are expecting another son in two months. Time to start all over again.

What the heck are you feeding that kid ????? :eek: :eek:
You don't live near a nuclear power plant do you ?? ;)

He's now 6 and grew too big for the trailercycle, but he is large for his age.(5'0" and 90#)



Goodness. I wasn't that big until I was 13.

Goodness. I wasn't that big until I was 13.
We have no clue other then genitics. I'm 5'7", his mother is 5'8", but he has two grandmothers over 6'. He has been tested for giagantism, and that was negitive. He is just big. His size has caused problems, as I can't get him on a soccer team. (I can't discuss pending litigation aganist the YMCA) He shreds pretty good on a skateboard.(Damn neighbor's kids) At least he likes one outside activity.

BTW: I was 5'7" at 13, just like I am at 32.