I have a newborn baby, he's less than a week old! My first child, a baby boy was born last Sunday the 24th. I'm already back to my 20 mile round trip commute, so yes you can commute if you are the father of a baby. I have to admit I have been pretty dang tired, having a child has proven to be a very dramatic change to my sleep schedule. I love my son but I am as grateful as ever to have my chance at a some fresh air twice a day. My bike commute really doesn't take much longer than driving so I'm not taking much time from my family. Like the OP I'm looking forward to him getting big enough to accompany me on some outdoor adventures!

Congrats!

Good thread here. Lots of good advice. I'm going to start commuting by bike, probably next week, just need to finish getting the bike ready, and my wife and I are expecting our first in May. So hopefully I will be able to keep it up. Especially since we are going down to one income, so saving $150 a month would help

When my kids were born, first a son, then twin girls, I didn't find much time for cycling. I took up beer instead. I tried to keep the calories in balance, where I'd burn 1000 on a ride, I'd take in 1000 instead.

Mom will be grateful too to do some things that she might like while you find time to mind your son for a couple of hours/day..

Good advice, I will head it!

I've got a 8 and 4 year old. Wife takes the 4 year old to day care most days and my son and I ride to school. We recently moved, but before the move I would ride my daughter to day care in the trailer and leave the trailer at the daycare. She was about one when I started her in the trailer. I'm going to pick up a tag-along this week and start getting her use to riding on that so we can all commute to school next year when she starts kindergarten.
I find that I do have to drive a few more days now than before we had kids, but that's mostly to get home early when my son has early sports practice. I made it clear when we started talking about having kids, moving and other major life choices that my bike commuting is something that is important to me so any major plans we make need to take that into account. I don't ride every day but I still get plenty of bike time.

Congrats! But yes it is bad, you cannot put the commute burden all on your wife. You have equal or greater responsibility for childcare moving ahead because your wife has essentially all the load, no matter how hard you think you are trying, until the kid hits 3rd party childcare. Even when you think you are doing it your wife will have a mental burden of wondering if you are doing it right.

Not to say you can't shuttle the kid by bike, we certainly did. Trailers, child seats, trailabikes. I took both my kids to their daycares/preschools by trailer and trailabike until they started K. And I could take the kids off my wife's hands by taking them for 3 hr rides/naps in the trailer. And that does entail choosing a daycare by whether you can fit it into your bike commute. But people do choose daycares based on how they fit into their car commutes so it's not too different.

There is a rule of thumb that infants shouldn't ride in a trailer until they can have the core and upper body strength to sit up by themselves and hold their head up (w/ a helmet on it) for the length of the ride. So there is a gap there between the age daycares will take infants and the age they meet those strength criteria that a bike is not an easily defensible transportation choice.

ps-> I was late getting out the door today so missed a chance to commute w/ my 11 yr old going to middle school, he was going to be late so couldn't wait for me to pump up my tires. The kids get faster than you quickly! I will ride home w/ the 8 yr old from her after school thing this evening though.

That is cool. I want one!!!!

I've got two boys' 1yr and 3.5yrs. Sometimes I have to drive the older one to daycare, but as the weather gets warmer, I will use my copilot and bike him. I don't commute by bike as often, but I still do the majority of the time. I don't get to run as much as I used to because being a papa is a full time commitment, but my bike commute only takes minutes more than driving, so I don't think i will have to give it up anytime soon.

This is the greatest video I've ever seen! That woman is a BADASS! Anyone know if you can buy that trail a bike attachment thing she has her daughter's bike hooked up with? I'd love to get something like that for my kid, so he can ride, or get towed, depending on his energy level.

We now have a 19-month old son. I bike him around in a bike trailer, when we have the time. I also commute to work 5 days a week by bicycle. I try to find time to road or cross ride on the weekends, but to be honest, he's at such a fun stage I'd rather be there for when he wakes up. I feel a bit guilty, as I was a pretty avid roadie. But, I can't complain that I still get to ride 5 days a week, at a minimum.

I also haven't driver regularly since 2002, had to drop him at our friend's/sitter for a few months. Ugh, I truly hate dealing with angry, lawless motorists. Thank goodness we now have a nanny come to us and I can ride from home to my office. I think all of his schools will be within walking/cycling distance too. I honestly thank my luck every single day that I can ride a bicycle almost everywhere.

^I agree with this. you will always get push back. a guy you eat lunch with is outweighed by the wife's request every time/ day. Listen to her. she might be tired with the baby. So you will have to adjust your schedule for the new demands of having an infant.

I think you should wait at least a year or more before the baby can support his head and the weight of his/ her head before you put them in a bike/ trailer. You do not want to damage the neck and development. They are developing super fast the first bit and you don't want to hinder that.

I think timing is the biggest thing. over an hour riding vs a half an hour total. Your wife will need your help with the baby especially that first bit before the baby sleeps through the night. (it all depends on your kid) both of mine were pretty early.

winter riding always adds time to the commute that is a big factor already in my opinion.

I would encourage you to talk with her before you assume that you are just bike commuting like normal. Communicate early and often.. helps the relationship not struggle. and your wife to love you more


I started a new job in a new building downtown and had to rethink and retool for my bike commute. It took a bit but I am establishing a new routine.

Your co-worker is just jealous. It sounds like the difference between driving and biking is leaving 20 minutes earlier in the morning and getting home 20 minutes later in the evening. Less than an hour per day. Everyone deserves some time to do what they enjoy. You'll almost certainly have less free time on the weekends or after work with the new addition to the family. You have to go to work. Might as well make the most of your morning/evening commute by getting some exercise and saving the planet.