Can a child trailer hold an infant car seat?
 

I am usually a runner but would like to start biking more with my kids (ages 2yr and 6 mo). My pediatrician said that my 6 mo should be fine in a trailer as long as she is in a car seat. However, I am having trouble figuring out one that will work. I've been looking at the Burley D'lite, Chariot Cougar 2, and Croozer 535 mainly because they also convert to jogging stroller which seems a good idea for my running (that will still be my primary activity with the kids - everyday). I checked out the croozer today and couldn't fit both kids with the car seat - does anyone know of a trailer big enough for a car seat and toddler? Otherwise based on some of the other threads it sounds like I might need to wait on the biking until youngest is 1. Anyone know if you can still run with a convertible trailer before they are 1 - I ran with my first in a jogging stroller before she was 1...

:crash::crash::crash::crash::crash::crash:


I wouldn't try.

Yes, you can run with them in the convertible trailer before one year. Some pediatricians say to wait until six months, but the Chariot, at least, gives a much smoother ride than most jogging strollers. There are special infant inserts available from Chariot for running with very young ones.

My 8 month old rides in a trailer just fine. All of my kids have started riding at about 6 months. As long as they can sit up and you take it easy, they will be fine.

Does your 8 month old wear a helmet? If so, how did you find one small enough to fit. That is our other most recent problem, we can't seem to find a helmet to fit her.

I put my baby in a carseat in the trailer and put a toddler seat on my bike for the two year old. It is the best solution I have found

As xeney recommended, try Chariot with an infant sling instead of a car seat:
http://www.bicycletrailers.com/Chariot-Infant-Sling.pro

We just picked up the Specialized Small Fry helmet for our 7 month old. It is light weight, has decent ventilation, is highly adjustable (inner form fit so it adjusts quickly while on child), and easy contour in back for sitting in trailer.

Thanks, I hadn't thought of that. What kind of trailer did you find to work with the infant car seat?

My brother was able to keep his son in his car seat (the kind that snaps in & out of a base with the big handle on it) in his Schwinn trailer. We took out the sling seat from the trailer and put in a base of foam and pillows to support the car seat in a correct position, as well as strapped it in place so it would'n't scoot around. It worked great. Granted, we were cruising on only state trails (paved) for short distances (about 10 miles) but my nephew was happy as can be.

I thought most states had a law that a child must be 12 months old to ride in a trailer?! Is this not true? I hope it isn't. My baby is almost 9 months and I am slowly marking the calendar until 1 year to take the guy riding with me...

SonatainFSharp, You should check with your state and local laws regarding the carrying of children with your bike. State law where I live specifically states the following. I suspect that most states are in the same arena as this.

1. If you carry children or other passengers inside an enclosed trailer or other device that will adequately restrain them and protect their heads in a crash, they need not wear helmets.

2. You may not carry any child between the ages of 1 to 4, or weighing 40 pounds or less, anywhere on a single-passenger bike except in a baby seat attached to the bike. The child must be able to sit upright in the seat and must be held in the seat by a harness or seatbelt. Their hands and feet must be out of reach of the wheel spokes.

3. You may not carry any child under the age of 1 on your bike, even in a baby seat; this does not preclude carrying them in a trailer.

I had a Burley Cub trailer that had a plastic tub bottom and was designed to carry 2 kids. The infant car seat fit into the trailer in the reverse position, like in a car, and the straps held it firmly in place. There was plenty of room to carry additional supplies in the rear and the cover had both a mesh and plastic cover. The whole thing folded and came apart so it fit in the back hatch of an Acura Integra.

Our daughter was just 3 weeks old on her first ride and she rode with me all that winter, well bundled, and seemed to really enjoy the rides. She's 8yo now, rides her own bike or with the tag-along so I sold the trailer last summer to a local couple that have done the same thing with the car seat. That is the only way I would recommend putting an infant in a trailer. When the child gets big enough there is a very good strap system to keep them secure. BTW, we have several roads close by that are closed in the winter that we could ride without traffic and many low traffic roads in the summer. I never felt comfortable with the trailer on a busy road. It just wasn't worth the risk to me.