guys - just installed and rode the first time with my 25 lb child on my Trek FX2 and Yepp maxi rear child seat. However, the only thing my kid likes to do when in motion is sleep! Now, she didn't have much neck support and I could see she was trying different positions but was never comfortable and letting out small cries. Is there an accessory I can use to support her better?

Also, has anybody tried the Thule Ride Along and does that 20 degree of recline allow babies to sleep?

Thanks

Anybody?

Bumpp

I have an 11 month old and I am somewhat new to cycling. I have always ridden bikes, but never much on the road or gravel trails. I just moved to Pittsburgh and purchased a 2018 Trek Fx3 disc. I was excited that the Great Allegheny Passage is 100 feet from our door and I purchased a bike for the wife, myself, helmets, trailer, etc.

I found a used Burley Bee that had only been used once and thought we were on our way. Wrong....I found my 11 month old to be too short. His helmet doesn't reach the helmet pocket so his head/neck is pushed forward. He absolutely hated it and wouldn't stop crying.

Discouraged, I started looking into the rear child seats. I went ahead and purchased a Thule Ridealong on amazon for $200. The seat gets here tomorrow and i hope this solves the problem as I am about $2,000 into this with all the bikes, trailer, helmets and other miscellaneous gear. I will likely be able to recoup the $150-200 for the Burley Bee, but if my son doesn't like the Thule Ridealong i am afraid I wasted a lot of money. Well, my bike shouldn't be a waste as it is my only means of transportation, but the wife's bike, gear and all the baby stuff may be a waste....

Anyway, sorry for the long rant, but i will be sure to at least follow up with this thread by this weekend. I hope to ride tomorrow, but i am not counting on it.

Ken

Honestly, for very young children, the best seats are front-mounted seats like the iBert, Yepp Mini, and Bobike Mini that have a sleeping surface option for them to slump onto, plus since they are visible in front of you, you can simply reach down and adjust their head to a slightly better position. Also, I think they're less likely to fall asleep in the first place in a front-mounted seat, since they're more engaged with you and the landscape. I can't speak specifically to the Ride Along, but a reclining option does seem like it would be good.

I looked at the front mount seats but it looked to me like there was no support for their head/neck. All the photos I saw of kids on these front mount seats looked like they had to hold their heads up at all times. I'm addition, the riding position looked really cramped for a hybrid bike. It seems as though beach cruiser style bikes work well wit the front mounted seat.

Btw, I sat my son in the thule just to adjust the seat and he didn't fuss, but I didn't have his helmet on. However, there looks like there is plenty of room behind his head for the helmet to fit comfortably. I'll keep you all posted.

Don't be discouraged - your kid is probably too young. My kid just turned 2 and now she loves riding in the seat on the back of the bike, although for no more than 40 minutes at a time and then we have to stop (playground, coffee shop with pastry or to just run around). And every single time she refuses to put her helmet back on (also dislikes 'returning home'). Kids are not very fond of helmets. About a year ago, she was not very fond of the shaking and bumps but now doesn't seem to mind it - I'm also running thicker tires at lower PSI so that helps.

I started with my daughter after she turned 1 and even then I had to go fairly slow. You have to be really careful about neck support and making sure the kid can hold their head up with the helmet. She never had any issues sleeping in the seat with the helmet on. I have a CoPilot Limo and have it leaned back a bit. Are you sure the small cries are due to her being uncomfortable? Can you try going slower and using lower pressure in your tires next time so she doesn't get bumped as much?

Follow up: I went on a quick spin with my son and probably road about 6 miles and he absolutely loved the Thule Ride Along. No fussing and I had him reclined on the 3rd setting. His head with a helmet on didn't hit the back of the seat so he was very comfortable. He didn't fall asleep so I can't comment on whether the incline is enough for a child's head not to fall forward. I'm going to go on additional rides this week so I'll continue to update the thread.