Whether your child is 6 months or up to 5 years old, the best and safest way to carry them with you on a bicycle is with a kid’s bike seat.
A centre-mounted front bike seat will be the best option. But depending on how you plan to ride with your child, that may not be the case.
In choosing you will need to consider the types of seat, what bike you have, safety features and more. We’ve put together 5 tips to choosing the best kids bike seat.
The Different Styles of Child Bicycle Seats
The three main types of kid’s bike seats are – rear mounted, front mounted and centre mounted.
- Front Mounted Bike Seat – mounted on the front handlebars.
- Centre Mounted Bike Seat – situated in front of the rider and connected above the crossbar.
- Rear Mounted Bike Seat – a bike seat mounted above the rear wheel/axle and behind the rider.
WeeRide produces the only truly centre mounted seat. A centre mounted child bicycle seat has all the benefits of the front mounted baby bike seat, but without the disadvantage of adding the child’s weight to the front of the bike. The patented bar connects to the bike’s frame under the headset and on the seat post, and this centralises the child’s weight. So you can talk to your child and point things out, and they are completely safe in their seat with your arms around them and the weight is centralised. The WeeRide improves the balance of the bike.
Choose a bike seat that is compatible with different bikes
You may want to use your bike seat on different types of bikes. Consider if it’s easy to switch from your road bike to your mountain bike for example. The benefit of the WeeRide baby bike seat is that it fits most bikes out there. It only needs 5mm of space on the frame under the headset to attach the front bracket to. But in cases where there isn’t even 5mm, we have 2 adaptors that can be used to ensure they fit over 99% of all bikes.
Safety features to look for in the best kids bike seat
Footrests
Footrests are great for keeping your child’s feet away from the moving parts of a bike. Here are some things to consider: is there any chance of entrapment? Are the feet secured in place to ensure no opportunity to go near the bike’s wheels.
Body strapping
Restraints are critical to keep your child safely inside the seat without any possibility of falling out. Will your child be held securely on the seat? Ideally a 5 point safety harness is your best option.
Well made seat – is your child protected and supported? Is there protection at the rear and on the sides? Is the seat well made by a reputable company?
Comfort
It is important your child is comfortable or they will not enjoy their ride and will not want to use the seat in the future. Is there support for them on the sides and the back? Is the seat properly cushioned for them? Is there a headrest for them to sleep on – you will be amazed how many kids fall asleep under 2 years of age due to the movement of the bike, just like a car seat!
Buying a child bike seat is a big decision for you and your child. It is saying you want to spend quality time with your child outdoors whilst looking after your own health. So why else should you buy a seat and what should you consider?
- Have fun – how much enjoyment will your child have if their view is of your back and you can’t hear them? We would always recommend a front or centre mounted seat.
- Get your child to school – can the seat be easily removed once you have reached your destination? The Weeride Bike Seats can be removed in seconds.
- Go on adventures – maybe off roading, fire trails etc. We would always recommend a front or centre mounted seat for safety.
- Spend quality time with your child whilst exercising – better than leaving them in a creche at a gym, or spending your time with them in front of the tv.