Minimum Age/Development

[Cottonwood28]

What age did you start biking with a child in a trailer? Is there a way to make it safer or a specific trailer you recommend? He's 7 months and I'm guessing we have some time but looking towards the future.

[EMP]

Mine's two months and I want to know too. Looking forward to family rides.

[Cottonwood28]

Mine's two months and I want to know too. Looking forward to family rides.

I found MMM when he was 3 months old but always disregarded the bike advice solely because I'm a SAHM and don't go places without him. Now that he is getting older I'm curious. We really want to try the biking lifestyle when it's appropriate.

[Lans Holman]

My understanding is they need to be really able to hold their heads up.  I'm pretty eager for our little one to get there.

[sol]

If you have a bike trailer that accepts a carseat, then why wouldn't you bike with your baby as soon as you'd drive with him? 

We had our daughter in the bike trailer at three months.  Even though she had pretty good head control by then, we kept the little head support thing on the carseat just in case.  She's almost six months now, still loves riding in the trailer.  We generally keep the front screen down to shield her from wind, and she wears a hat to help keep the sun off. 

I'd be concerned about taking her on an all day trailer trip, because I don't really know how hot it gets inside that thing with the flaps down.  But for easy around town errands and stuff?  She was fine at 3 months. 

I'm sure somebody out there will scold me mercilessly for endangering my child.  Fine.

[NumberJohnny5]

I'm sure somebody out there will scold me mercilessly for endangering my child.  Fine.

In addition to the heat issue (just keep an eye on that, folks), I'd be worried about the constant jarring. The shocks on kid bike trailers aren't known to be all that great. I'm not sure how to properly test this; secure a bowl of marbles on the seat (bit of duct tape on the bottom should be sufficient) and go for a ride; if the marbles are scattered everywhere, then a 2mo old's brain may not like that much shakin' going on. Please note I'm not an expert, so don't decide it's ok for your 2mo old to ride in a trailer just cause some guy on the internet has a few loose marbles.

But if it's not too hot and it's not bouncing their little baby brains too much, I wouldn't have a problem with it.

[EMP]

If you have a bike trailer that accepts a carseat, then why wouldn't you bike with your baby as soon as you'd drive with him? 

We had our daughter in the bike trailer at three months.  Even though she had pretty good head control by then, we kept the little head support thing on the carseat just in case.  She's almost six months now, still loves riding in the trailer.  We generally keep the front screen down to shield her from wind, and she wears a hat to help keep the sun off. 

I'd be concerned about taking her on an all day trailer trip, because I don't really know how hot it gets inside that thing with the flaps down.  But for easy around town errands and stuff?  She was fine at 3 months. 

I'm sure somebody out there will scold me mercilessly for endangering my child.  Fine.

Was that a convertible seat or an infant seat? We only have a convertible now but I'd consider getting the infant seat for this.

[Cottonwood28]

If you have a bike trailer that accepts a carseat, then why wouldn't you bike with your baby as soon as you'd drive with him? 

We had our daughter in the bike trailer at three months.  Even though she had pretty good head control by then, we kept the little head support thing on the carseat just in case.  She's almost six months now, still loves riding in the trailer.  We generally keep the front screen down to shield her from wind, and she wears a hat to help keep the sun
I'm sure somebody out there will scold me mercilessly for endangering my child.  Fine.

I didn't know this existed! Will you link the one you have?

[gooki]

At 2 years our girl could fit the smallest helmet we could find (legal requirement), so I got a trailer around then.

Can't wait for our boy to grow a bit bigger so I can take both of them.

[train_writer]

- I see that this thread has been inactive, but nevertheless my 2 cents as a Dutchie-

I can share with you what is the practice in the Netherlands, where many mothers rely on bicycles:

- under the age of 4 months, a bicycle is out of the question. The neck is too fragile.

- seats can be installed on the back and the front of the bicycle fitted for 4months+ babies, -like car seats- but most people wait for the baby to be a little more sturdy and transport them in 'baby shells' in a cargo bike from ~ 7 months onwards.

- Childcare organizations (with strict rules) use cargo bicycles from the age group of 18 months and over without shells (but with seats and straps)
http://www.kinderopvanghumanitas.nl/image.aspx?id=ca6b0aa1-6fce-4a62-80bb-1702447da6ae

[ghatko]

I can share with you what is the practice in the Netherlands, where many mothers rely on bicycles:

- under the age of 4 months, a bicycle is out of the question. The neck is too fragile.

So what do those mothers that rely on bicycles do for at least the first 4 months? I'm curious because I'm trying to figure out what to do until I can figure out a biking solution for baby #2.

[train_writer]

Walk, or public transit (and my neighbour does cycle with her 10 weeks old daughter for short distances, just riding slowly and avoiding rough bumps etc. The 4 months seems to be an insurance-of-baby-carriers on bicycles. You can use an appropriate car seat)

Congratulations on your baby and hope you will figure smth out!

[bogart]

So what do those mothers that rely on bicycles do for at least the first 4 months? I'm curious because I'm trying to figure out what to do until I can figure out a biking solution for baby #2.

Enjoy their fully paid 16 weeks of maternity leave to recuperate and/or take care of their families?

[MayDay]

Everything I have read says they should be a year before they sit in a regular seat in a trailer.  Different story if you have a chariot with a car seat adaptor. 

Mine could not stand wearing a helmet until closer to 2.  It was too heavy until their neck muscles got stronger. 

[ghatko]

So what do those mothers that rely on bicycles do for at least the first 4 months? I'm curious because I'm trying to figure out what to do until I can figure out a biking solution for baby #2.

Enjoy their fully paid 16 weeks of maternity leave to recuperate and/or take care of their families?

Since I live in Canada and work for the federal government, I actually get 1 full year of paid time off, which I know is fantastic. But I would rather not rely on my car for that full year, and would like to bike to the grocery store/library with my kids instead of drive. In my particular neighborhood, nothing is located that close. The closest grocery store is 'walkable', but it's a total of 6km so it's certainly not convenient. I would much rather bike there as it is much faster, and it's easier to put the groceries in the bike trailer than in a stroller. I would also love to get back into decent shape, and I prefer to use biking as a means of transportation, which has the side-effect of getting into shape, rather than going for a 'run' or 'walk' solely for exercise. I'm much more likely to do the first than the second :)

[train_writer]

See this youtube video featuring many babies carried on bicycles
-I found out a friend of mine is featured in the video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34FyWCutqvw

Of course, the situation is
- an area with minimal elevation - even for the Netherlands!
- semi-seperate bicycle lanes or at least bicycle conscious traffic situations
- babies aged over 5 months who can (almost) sit upright