Child Bike Baby Seat Safety

Infants should never ride in a bike seat.

Parents, understandably, want to experience the joy of bicycling with their children. If you decide to take your baby with you on a bike ride, however, recognize that it is not all fun and games. Not only must you prepare both yourself and your child, but you need to ensure that you are both ready to handle the ride.

Warning

A chorus of experts, including the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI), warn against taking children under the age of 1 with you on a bike ride, even in a child seat. The issue involves the strength of your baby's head and neck. Prior to age 1, infants cannot handle bumps and vibration from the road, nor can they support the weight of a bicycle helmet. Of course, all children, regardless of age, should wear a helmet when on or being transported by a bike. Check with your pediatrician when your child turns 1 to see if she is ready.

Types

There are several types of bicycle child seats. The two most common are rear-mounted and front-mounted models. Rear-mounted seats attach to a bike rack above the rear wheel. The front-mounted version affixes to the fork or handlebar assembly. Both styles present similar risks and the International Bicycle Fund (IBF) has not seen evidence that you are better off with one type over the other.

Expert Insight

As BHSI notes, a 1988 study in the "American Journal of Diseases of the Child" maintains it relevancy, not simply for its quantitative findings, but for its insightful recommendations. Statistically, the study's authors did find that of the bicycle child seat injuries observed, almost half occurred when the bike tipped over or due to a crash, and one-quarter were the result of the child falling out of the seat. The paper's researchers provide advice beyond common prescriptions. For instance, they note that you should look into using spoke protectors to keep your child's feet from getting caught in the spokes.

Considerations

The "American Journal of Diseases of the Child" study also cautions against leaving your child unattended in a baby bike seat. While you should lean the bike against a sturdy surface when you or your child gets on and off of the bike, do not leave the child in that position and walk away. The bike can tip over, causing serious injury to your child. The study also notes that your bike handles differently with the additional weight of your child and the seat. It will take longer to come to a stop and if your child moves abruptly, he may cause the bike to swerve.

Alternatives

You have alternatives to a child bicycle seat. According to IBF, bicycle trailers, which "trail" behind your bike, offer more stability and impact bicycle handling much less than child seats. Plus, trailers often can accommodate more than one child. You can also give your child something to do while on a ride. They can read, play a game or be otherwise entertained. In a seat, options are limited. Additionally, if your child drops a toy while in a seat, particularly a front-mounted one, it could get caught in the spokes, causing a crash.

References

• Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI): Should You Take Your Baby Along?
• International Bicycle Fund: Infants: Child Seats Vs. Trailers Vs. Backpacks Vs. Third-wheel Cycles
• Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute: "American Journal of Diseases of the Child"; Bicycle-Mounted Child Seats Injury Risk and Prevention; James D. Sargent, MD, et al.; 1988