[Closed] Child/baby carriers at 3 months?

No.

Wait until the child is sitting up - ie in a forward facing car seat, before even considering.

First child by any chance...

Is it possible to fit the 2010 "Baby" into the rear-mounted child carrier seats at 3 months? It seems to me that you would need a very small helmet for the nipper. I'm only thinking about pootling round places such as Carsington Water, Rutland Water etc, rather than tearing around singletrack.

See how you have to hold the baby's head to support it?

There's your answer.

According to STW wisdom you and your baby will die instantly.

Don't put a helmet on a child that small - their neck isn't strong enough. If you believe that a rear mounted seat too dangerous without a helmet then how about a trailer? Many folk use them for babies.

Or just take a lead out of the low countries attitudes and just take the kid on the bike.

front mounted seats are popular over there for small ones!

KINGTUT - Member

See how you have to hold the baby's head to support it?

There's your answer.

No, actually - he can support his own head, which is partially why I was considering it.

b r - Member
First child by any chance...

Nice and condescending, thanks for your useless comment.

TandemJeremy - Member

if you believe that a rear mounted seat too dangerous without a helmet then how about a trailer? Many folk use them for babies

I looked at the trailers, but the ones I've seen appear to require the child to sit upright, which he's not quite yet able to do.

Ho hum.

I shall just bungee the pram to the bike - can't imagine what could go wrong there...

No, actually - he can support his own head, which is partially why I was considering it.

As can my 5 month old, no way I'd pop a helmet on her though.

I think general advice is not before your child can sit unaided.

I looked at the trailers, but the ones I've seen appear to require the child to sit upright, which he's not quite yet able to do.

Strap the car child seat into the trailer.

Mine is 9 months and I'm not sure I'd put him in a bike seat yet. He's fairly robust but I don't think he's strong enough for that yet.

A mate has just ordered one of those seats that mounts on the top tube, his nipper is almost 12 months so I'm going to see how he gets on. Personally I'd wait a good while yet and I don't consider myself to be over protective, quite the opposite in fact.

9 months was the first time I had my son in a seat on the back - he was walking by that point though and pretty strong. I certainly wouldn't have done it much earlier though. Even though they can support their head, that's while stationary isn't it - bikes aren't exactly armchair rides even if you're being careful.

[i]Nice and condescending, thanks for your useless comment.[/i]

It wasn't condescending, just an observation based upon your naive question. And, BTW I've three kids, so it was based upon experience.

I wouldn't, I think 9-12 months is about the norm.

If you break limited edition (1/1) 2010 "Baby" in the male genderway then the Manufacturer are likey to 'kill' you!

Tiger6791 - Member

I wouldn't, I think 9-12 months is about the norm.[b]in the uk[/b]

Fixed it for you. In the low countries a few weeks old on the bike in a papoose on mum or dads front, a few months in a front mounted seat and older in a rear mounted seat is the norm.

No, actually - he can support his own head, which is partially why I was considering it.

can he, even if you were to suddenly stop?

my 12 week old can hold his head up, but he has no real control over it, and certainly not strong enough to resist forces. personally I'm going top wait a few months and get a trailer, safer (if you keep them off roads) and more stable than a child seat

Even in places like Denmark, people don't tend to take 3 month olds on the bike. Or if they do it's a ten minute trip to the shops on perfectly smooth tarmac rather than a jaunt round a reservoir. Used to use a zigo but that's not recommended for this age. It's a great bike for functional cycling but wouldn't be my choice for leisure.

I'd wait at least 3 months.

No need for the aggro comments lads.

Fixed it for you. In the low countries a few weeks old on the bike in a papoose on mum or dads front, a few months in a front mounted seat and older in a rear mounted seat is the norm.

No it's not, please unfix it for me, even the Dutch shouldn't have a baby on the bike seat until about 9 months.

I think it's because babies born in the Netherlands are physiologically the same as babies born everywhere else.

Lul

Tiger - my nephews were both on bikes from a few weeks old and this caused harm nor controversy at all. Many many children are carried on bikes at below 9 months

its all about attitudes not about physiology. Its quite the norm over there.

We used one of the baby insert things in a Chariot trailer from about 3 months. They are expensive though. Similarly you could do the whole putting the car seat in the trailer as well, but it's heavy I guess?? Also I would be scared that I would mess up and that it wouldn't be well secured.

I don't think a seat on the back or front is a good idea as they really do need to be able to sit up and support their head well, with a helmet on. I heard that the weight of the helmet makes it a lot harder for them to hold their head up. We had our son on a back seat carrier thingy from about 10 months.

It's not the norm in my experience. From 6 months in trailers and front carriers, more like 9 months to a year for rear seats. I don't know anyone in Denmark who had their baby on a bike from 3 months, and having a baby myself I mixed with lots of other Mums and dads who also had babies. I'm sure there was the odd exception but that's what it was, an exception not the norm.

uluru - I wouldn't put one in a rear seat at 3 months - but a properly supportive front mounted seat or trailer?

It's not the norm in my experience. From 6 months in trailers and front carriers, more like 9 months to a year for rear seats. I don't know anyone in Denmark who had their baby on a bike from 3 months, and having a baby myself I mixed with lots of other Mums and dads who also had babies. I'm sure there was the odd exception but that's what it was, an exception not the norm.

Likewise. Though all my experience is Belgium/Holland based where my colleagues (& I for a few weeks a year) work.

Wait till they can sit unaided. A trailer is a better option if you're out for a while as they will fall asleep and they will loll over - I've had far less complaints from trailer trips and they'll all go over anything as rough as you'd be likely too.

BTW TJ do you actually have any direct experience of carrying your own or others children?

I'd say no rush and use this summer to get out on the bike by yourself.
By next summer, he'll see you reaching for the shed key and decide that it's his birthright to accompany you on any trip involving bikes and will scream blue murder until you take him. Hence the only time you'll get to go out on your own will be night rides when he's already in bed!

Plus check with the Mrs - I never took my boy out until he was 9 months 'cos the mrs decided that was when I could take him out, regardless of the STW wisdom

Yes, my son could say bike before he could say "Mama". In fact he still doesn't say Mama properly (in context) and he's 19 months old! But go into the garage and he follows you saying "Bike bike bike" and patting his head until you put his helmet on!

brassneck - Member

BTW TJ do you actually have any direct experience of carrying your own or others children?

Only my nephews a couple of times - they were around 5 - 6 months on a handlebar mounted seat - but as I said I know my sister carried them from when they were very small on the bike and this was considered the norm to her - in holland.

all I am doing here is presenting another view other than the STW consensus.

TJ - you are being contrary as usual.

'Normal' implies a certain regionality. 'Normal' is what happens 'round here' and 'round here' isn't a flat country that has a largely cycle-sensitive or specific infrastructure. Culture plays a part in all of this as well as the physiical limitations of the human body.

OP - get a bike trailer and, if you REALLY MUST drag the bairn around at such an early age, put them in their car seat secured into the trailer. Given they won't remember a damn thing, I hope your personal urges are sated by this activity. Personally, I've been waiting and TT Jr had her first trailer ride secured this way at 6 months.

14 weeks and our (also mark 1) little girl has been in trailer, in her car seat a couple of times on smooth paths, just nodds off as if she was in the car.

EDIT, a Burley Bee can hold her car set (maxi Cosi Cabrio fix I think) and the base for her Babystyle Oyster so you can then have a pushchair/carseat combo on arrival. Not the weight weenies choice though 🙂

3months is a 'bit' too young I believe. Our daughter was very robust and strong, good at holding up her head and sitting often, but it's a lot of work doing it while moving around. If your edition still struggles occasionally and 'lolls' it's a clear sign when you turn suddenly. We got a Chariot and sling to take our edition out. (Expensive, but extremely useful)
But also if you look online (and I did with ours) you cannot find helmets small enough for little babes. I'd say once you can get a helmet on them then you know it's safe(r) for them. But still remember that it'll be tiring for them. And you need to take into consideration the possibility/desire for sleep too so you'll to back sure they've got enough support even when they'll not be supporting themselves.
Hopefully you find a good solution to your desire to get out with your little one. 🙂

Just please don't put a helmet on a tiny one - they simply are not strong enough for the extra weight. If you consider they must have a helmet on then you must wait until they are strong enough to wear one which they certainly are not at 3 months.

too tall - note my "in the UK"

Re the helmet on babies thing, it just occurred to me - I've started towelling my son's hair after a bath while he's sitting up and have to be sure to support his head a little as he feels a bit wobbly. Once he can withstand a good towelling I'll try him with a helmet in a bike seat 🙂

Plenty of experience here. I have been using trailer and bike seat on a daily basis for all three of my kids for a good few years now.

Every child is different but for a bike seat I would say child should be able to sit up easily, unsupported on the floor before they use the bike seat. For my kids, this has been around 6 months onwards. Even then though, this is very short, smooth rides. I've waited until 9 months or so before doing rides of any significance.

This is the same for using the trailer, the only exception being if you have a trailer that can take a rear facing car seat, some of the expensive models can do this.

Not worth the risk of going to early, the kiddies neck simply won't support any sort of g force, however minor this is.

Our daughter

older than 9 months

in a rear seat

with a helmet

in wait for it.....

The Netherlands (not Holland as we were in Friesland, were her Pake & Beppe live so we go there a lot and cycle there a lot.)

TJ please can you post a photo of [b]your[/b] kids in a [b]rear bike seat[/b] in the [b]Netherlands[/b] then I'll take on board your superior experience in this matter.

[img] [/img]

I think its too young, there was a thread here a few days ago along the same lines. I doubt your little one has enough neck strength to withstand the braking and acceleration forces that could be generated by going over potholes etc. When my 20 month olds sleep in the trailer I have to slow down as they are relaxed and their heads are all over the shop. I started taking them running / cycling at a year.

In assessing the risks and benefits to the child of taking a 3 month old out on a bike I decided to wait

I'd say definitely no. I'd also say that TJ advocates carrying a baby on your body whilst biking when they are small which would probably be ok as long as you don't fall. Which does happen.

Bikes cause a lot of jarring. Little bodies really aren't as good at handling this as bigger ones.

Also note that sitting up at home whilst playing is very different indeed from holding your head up whilst being jolted along on a bike.

Try holding your baby and shaking him about a bit - see how that looks*.

* not a real suggestion.

Tiger - did you read what I said? No? perhaps you should.

Tiger - that helmet she has on does not fit properly nor is it fastened up properly.

Oh FFS!

OP
Is it possible to fit the 2010 "Baby" into the rear-mounted child carrier seats at 3 months?

ME
I think 9-12 months is about the norm.

TJ
I think 9-12 months is about the norm in the UK, few weeks old on the bike in a papoose on mum or dads front, a few months in a front mounted seat

Nothing to do with the orginal question, rear seat is 9-12 months, end of! if you want to do it earlier it would be up to the parents and the how developed the child is.

My direct experience of the Netherlands is that it's the same 9-12 months for a rear seat, you can try back track but you edited my answer which was correct making it incorrect.

Papoose and front seats have got sweet FA to do with it

Tiger - that helmet she has on does not fit properly nor is it fastened up properly.

You haven't got kids (that wear helmets) have you?

No - but I know how to fit a helmet and that is wrong - its way too big for her and the strap is too loose - so it will be fairly ineffective in a crash and might increase her risks.

It simply does not fit her at all.

We're from Yorkshire, she'll grow into it. 🙂

Just please don't put a helmet on a tiny one - they simply are not strong enough for the extra weight. If you consider they must have a helmet on then you must wait until they are strong enough to wear one which they certainly are not at 3 months.

That I can agree with. I can also say in my opinion helmets are potentially unsafe in a trailer - I've looked at how my boys look, and judged they are better without. They would wear one in a child seat or on their own bikes.

all I am doing here is presenting another view other than the STW consensus.

I don't think you have sufficient direct experience to comment. That of course doesn't stop you holding an opinion, but I think you should keep it to yourself in this case. Of course it's possible to cycle with a sling with no ill effects. It's equally possible to cycle with an aquarium on your rack without spilling too many fish. Doesn't make it a god idea.

In this case, the reason there is a consensus is that it really is the sensible thing to do - just wait a while.

It's equally possible to cycle with an aquarium on your rack without spilling too many fish

Not recomended for tropical fish. They will get cold unless you can rig up some heat transfer device between brakes and tank

Back to the OP, definately too young, enjoy your rides on your own for now, whilst you still can
I bought a childs trailer from the classifieds on here yesterday, my daughter is 3 months old at present. Soon as I got home the trailer was put in the loft and will not come out for about another 6 months at least (and probably until next Spring when it is warmer again). But at least Im prepared and have a 'big occasion' to look forwared to

I've started towelling my son's hair after a bath while he's sitting up and have to be sure to support his head a little as he feels a bit wobbly. Once he can withstand a good towelling I'll try him with a helmet in a bike seat

Very good call.

Like I say, there's being able to hold your head up, and there's being robust and solid enough to take the vibrations of even a small bike ride.

When drying a kid you can really feel how feeble they are when they are really young. Or rather, if it's your first kid you won't notice until they are say two and you can see the difference!

brassneck - but the concensus is different in different places - indeed not everyone on here subscribes to it anyway. I believe it is far too overprotective here and far more sensible in other countries.

tiger - I took your line as meaning 9-12 months to go on a bike. I basically agree with you tht 3 months is too young in a rear seat hence my suggestions of other solutions. You really should get a helmet that fits or forget using one at all. An illfitting helmet is not much use in a crash and possibly actually dangerous.

Jakester,

Your question has already been answered (if you can find it amongst the squabbling). A good "test" for the rear mounted bike seat is when "junior" is ready to sit in a forwards facing car seat. Typically this will be somewhere around 9 months - but some babies develop faster or slower than others. The cross bar seats etc may be different.

Here is what we did: Child 1 - rear seat at 9 months ish - no biking before; tag along from about 3.5 .
Child 2 - car seat inside trailer from 4 months. If we had been rich or doing it a lot we might have gone the chariot route as I was impressed with their arrangement. From about a year she sat in the trailer with no car seat, but still no helmet (firstly because she has a small head and so it doesn't fit and secondly because it forces the head forwards in the seat which would be uncomfortable and possibly more dangerous). At 2 she moved into the rear seat as it is easier to negotiate gates, narrow paths etc.

A number of friends will not ride on "the road" with their kids. In fact I've found most cars give you a much wider berth whether riding with tag along, rear seat or trailer.

You simply will not be able to get a helmet to fit a 3 month old.

We felt "guilty" for not having a helmet on child 2 even though we knew it was the right thing - social stigma told us it was wrong. [This is probably what TJ is getting at]. Social stigma also tells me it is wrong for child 1 (now aged 6.5) to ride his bike outside our house (v. quiet cul-de-sac) without a helmet. He does it for a variety of reasons. 1. Most of his friends do it; 2. We want him to be independent, so put the helmet on himself not come running to us - 6 yr olds don't fit helmets properly so there is no point; 3. If he is going to run into the neighbours' parked cars I would like it to cause him some (minor) pain!

I know some of our friends don't approve / think we are careless (or even as someone here implied selfish). You could of course argue that cocooning children and not encouraging them to lead active lifestyles is selfish too.

Once you do get a back seat couple of things to be aware of (1) when child gets older - child can upset the balance of your bike easily - e.g. trying to turn round to see the dog (2) they do bounce about a lot back there - would be worth either videoing it or getting your wife to ride past you at same speed as you ride to see just how much jarring a little neck is getting. (3) not all seats are mounted the same - some are much more rigid to the bike - this may or may not be a benefit.

. In fact I've found most cars give you a much wider berth whether riding with tag along, rear seat or trailer.

Provided they are watching where they are going. If a car isn't, and nudges me, I go over the bonnet. If she nudges my babe in the trailer, she'd go under the wheel.. The thought of that is enough to put me off roads for now. As and when we come to need roads, I will reconsider. Until then it's sustrans all the way.

Btw putting a kid in a trailer isn't an active lifestyle for them - they just sit there. An active lifestyle for a young toddler is letting them run about and investigate everything they see. As a parent, you have to follow them around possibly for hours letting them do it but making sure they don't kill themselves (or get lost, like baby grips did this morning 🙁 )

Provided they are watching where they are going. If a car isn't, and nudges me, I go over the bonnet. If she nudges my babe in the trailer, she'd go under the wheel.. The thought of that is enough to put me off roads for now.

Prior to cycling with children I also thought a lot of drivers were going around not paying attention / with their eyes closed. I've changed my mind they do see cyclists - they just don't think they need to give them much space. Put a child on the back (in either a trailer or a seat) and my annecdotal experience is car drivers give you more space - I've never had a bad experience with the kids on the back. Other people I've discussed it with seem to have similar experiences - although I accept its not scientific. Obviously if someone totally isn't paying attention then it could be horrific; but so could the potential results of an impact between me and a bus/truck/car and if I went out with that expectation I'd drive a 4x4 and never cycle. I am generally a "defensive" cyclist anyway - but even more so with the kids, I'll occupy as much space as I need to and my experience is drivers are more tolerant of this when you have kids with you.

I'm not criticising your right to make the assessment for your own kids - nor am I suggesting that given the choice to get from A-B (with or without the kids) that I'd ever select a route with traffic over a pleasant sustrans one without. Equally though I think that "we" are too quick to condemn parents who aren't seen to be mollycodling their kids. Most of us grew up pre helmets; I remember riding in a shopping basket on my grandfather's bike.

Btw putting a kid in a trailer isn't an active lifestyle for them - they just sit there. An active lifestyle for a young toddler is letting them run about and investigate everything they see. As a parent, you have to follow them around possibly for hours letting them do it but making sure they don't kill themselves (or get lost, like baby grips did this morning )

Thanks for patronising parenting lecture! Now babies sleep a lot and sit around alot (the OP's baby is only 3 months old so isn't going to be "physically active" at all - for my 2.5 year old she sleeps for a couple of hours in the afternoon, and spends much of the rest of the day in a mixture of running around and imaginative play. Now I can do what a lot of parents in this country seem to do - and plonk baby in front of telly or even take baby for a drive to make them non-off - or I can take them on a "journey" on a bike where they get to see, hear, smell different things (before often nodding off). This gets them out in the fresh air, used to the idea that "leisure time" is used to do "stuff" not to sit in front of the telly. (Actually a sensible balance is the approach we use). Used to the idea that I can get to granny and grandad's house (3 miles away) without getting in a car. Now the OP's baby is "too young" to remember any of this - but routines and "conditioning" are all part of that age of baby development so a 3, 4, 5 month old getting exposure to this becomes a more relaxed 6,9,12 month getting more exposure and a 12-18-24 month who has enjoyed sitting on the back of daddy's bike seems more inclined to peddle her own bike.

I'm not criticising you if you take a different approach, all I ask is that "society" doesn't look down its nose at me for having weighed up the risks and made an informed and intelligent decision about how best to raise my children.

This gets them out in the fresh air, used to the idea that "leisure time" is used to do "stuff" not to sit in front of the telly

That's a reasonable point, except that everyone seems of the opinion that every parent in the country sits their kid in front of the TV all day. This is predominantly middle-class outdoor sport forum, remember, so most of you are preaching to the choir.

all I ask is that "society" doesn't look down its nose at me for having weighed up the risks and made an informed and intelligent decision about how best to raise my children

I certainly wasn't trying to... You want Mumsnet for that 🙂