One of the best experiences you can have as a parent in this day and age is to go out on a bike ride with your kid. But do you know when can a baby ride in a bike seat as it’s risky to ride with a kid?
It’s essential to wait for them to grow for a certain period before you decide to go out with your infant.
If you don’t decide to follow this rule, you are more likely to cause some serious accidents that you really don’t want to take place.
So, to make it easier to find out, let’s check out what’s the perfect age for your child to ride in a bike seat with you.
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Factors that Influence When Can a Baby Ride in a Bike Seat Safely with You
Unfortunately, there is no one thing that determines if your baby can ride on the bike seat, and that makes it a pretty complicated process in itself. Let’s check out some of the factors that play a huge role in this part, and by the end of the article, you should have a clear concept about when you should ride with your kid and what to do to keep him safe once you hit the road.
Child Bike Seat Age Restriction
While there is no strict rule of thumb when it comes to the time to carry your baby with you on your bike, 9 months is a good estimated time that should be the minimum age of your kid. In some countries, there are different age restrictions that you need to be aware of to abide by the traffic rules.
If you don’t follow the age restriction, you probably will get fined, and moreover, you don’t want to risk any accidents. It’s not wise to search for a baby bike seat for 6 months as it’s too early and risky to put your kid through it. However, if your country or state doesn’t have any age restriction, you should at least wait until your kid is 9 months to 1-year-old to ride with him.
Usually, parents allow their 3, 4, and 5 years old child to ride on a bike. So, if your child is 3, 4, or 5 years old, you can check my recent review on child bike seats for 3 years old, 4 years old, and 5 years old.
The Height of Your Kid
The height of your kid also plays a huge role in telling if your kid is ready for going out on a ride with you or not. As there’s no exact height estimation for a child, it’s recommended that you go for at least 14 inches.Â
Also, assuming that there are shoulder straps on the bike seat, it’s preferred that the kid’s height is approximately 10 inches to the shoulder as it’ll help him get the full advantage of the shoulder straps.Â
Going for any less height is highly not recommended, and you should wait for your kid to grow at least 14 inches from the bottom before you decide to hit the road with him.
The Weight of Your Kid
You can probably tell that the weight of your kid is a big factor in carrying him with you on the bike. The minimum weight in that case doesn’t matter that much but you must be aware of the maximum weight before you decide to hit the road.
That’s because most of the kid’s bike seat has a weight limit, and it can’t withstand more weight than that. A good kid’s bike seat will have a maximum weight capacity anywhere from 30 lbs to 48.5 lbs depending on the quality of the seat.
Kid Too Big For a Bike Seat?
Are you frustrated because your kid doesn’t seem to fit properly in any of the bike seats that you can find on the market? Well, in that case, you should not force him to any of these seats as it can compromise the safety, which is something that you should never do.
If that’s the case for you though, it’s best to move on to using tag-along bikes, tow bars, and trailers, as they are the most amazing ways to keep them engaged while enjoying the wonderful experience with them, which is the whole point of it anyway.
A Good Quality Bike Seat is Super Important
It’s not like when your kid is old enough, you can simply put him in the bike seat and have a pleasant ride with him. As you’re planning to ride with a kid, you just can’t be safe enough, and must not compromise the quality of the bike seat.
There are a few features that make a bike seat safe for your kid that are super important and should not be ignored. In the next segment, we’ll take a look at some of the safety features that you need to have in your kid’s bike seat to ensure that your kid stays safe once you hit the road.
Front Mount: Front-mounted bike seats are great for providing more space to your kids so that they can interact more freely and see what’s in front of them properly. But the ultimate drawback there is that they have easy access to the handlebar, which can cause accidents if they decide to mess with it in the middle of the road.
Rear Mount: On the other hand, rear-mounted bike seats typically have more safety features and it’s undoubtedly more comfortable for your kid as well. But the downside to this type is that it weighs more compared to the front mount seats, and it blocks the front view of your kid.
Safety Straps: Safety straps, more commonly known as arm straps are the single most important feature in a kid’s bike seat, and it holds him to the seat so that he doesn’t slip out. You should never get a bike seat for your kid unless it comes with safety straps.
Foot Rest: While it’s not necessarily a safety feature, it’s undoubtedly worth mentioning as it can enhance the control and balance of your ride and make it less straining for your kid to ride the bike seat.
Our Recommended Kid’s Bike Seat
You might be hesitant to pick a bike seat for your kid as there are thousands of options available in the market that can get you quite overwhelmed to pick a good one. To help you pick a great bike seat with all the perfect features to ensure your infant’s safety, go over the safest baby bike seat review down below.
Schwinn Deluxe Back Mount Kid’s Bike Seat
Are you searching for an amazing quality bike seat for your kid that has all the features necessary for a wonderful riding experience that’ll not cost you a lot of money?
The Schwinn Deluxe back mount kid’s bike seat is undoubtedly an amazing option for you that is both cost-effective and has all the safety features that you can ask for in a kid’s bike seat. It’s super sturdy, has footrests for a comfortable journey, and the seat gives better support to the kid.
Not to mention, the safety straps play a vital role in keeping your kid locked in place so that he doesn’t’ slip out from the seat along with the other features, making it a no-brainer option for your kid.
Pros
- Provides maximum safety
- Comfortable riding experience
- Super affordable
Cons
- Tricky to install
Additional Tips
Now that you have a clear idea about when it’s the right time to go out with your kid on a bike ride, let’s check out some tips that you need to follow when you are out there. That’ll help you and your kid to stay safe whenever you choose to hit the road, which is super important to keep in mind.
- Try to avoid the big roads as much as possible as it’s filled with big and speedy vehicles that can cause fatal accidents.
- Keep the bike in check and do regular maintenance check-ups to see if everything is working as it should be or not.
- Never forget to wear safety gear when you are riding a bike with your kid on a road, especially a helmet, arm pads, knee pads, and safety gloves. These basic safety gear would help to minimize the damage even if anything bad happens, and you must not avoid these.
- Be sure to follow the traffic rules no matter what as it can help to save you from getting fined and moreover to save your life as well.
- Never compromise with the quality of your kid’s bike seat as it’s the #1 thing that’ll keep him safe while you two are on a bike together.
To Wrap Up
These were everything you need to know on when can a baby ride in a bike seat, and you should definitely abide by these rules.
You see, kids these days are always busy with their smartphones and digital devices, which takes away the time for you two to interact. So, it’s truly a great idea to go out on a bike ride, and that will let you enjoy some quality time with your baby that’s amazing.
