Things You'll Need:
- bicycle
- baby bicycle seat or cart
- baby helmet
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Step 1
Wait until your baby is old enough to hold his or her head up steadily, generally not before the age of three months. A lot of carriers claim to be made for babies ages one and up, but depending on your baby's individual characteristics, it may be possible to start bicycling together a good bit earlier than that.
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Step 2
Choose a carrier. Baby bike seats are more familiar to most people than bicycle trailers, but both are fine options. Bike seats are generally less expensive, easier to bike with, and depending on the seat, can allow you to place the baby in front of you, in your field of vision. Bicycle trailers are bulkier, heavier, and usually more expensive, but they are probably safer because they won't necessarily tip over if your bike does (and even if they do, the fall is much shorter than from the top of a bike). Trailers can also come with extra room for packing stuff, and some can hold two children.
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Step 3
Get your baby a helmet. Even if you choose a trailer, it's important to start early with bicycling safety. Use the helmet whenever you ride.
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Step 4
Go for a short test ride in a relatively safe place. Make sure that baby is securely fastened in, doesn't flop around too much in the carrier, and seems comfortable and content.
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Step 5
Build up your stamina and that of your baby. Regardless of your previous level of skill, you will probably need some time to get used to the changes when you start to bicycle with a baby. You will be carrying more weight and have more drag and possibly a larger footprint than you are used to, so you will need to build strength and adapt your decision-making process. Your baby will also need to get used to biking, and may tolerate short rides better at first, eventually building up to longer and longer rides for the two of you.
