kids bike carrier image
Arwen
Years ago we sold our car to get a slower lifestyle in our suburban town, and for 10 years we lived by bike and bus. We used the bike for short trips and for going places the bus didn't go. At the time the bus service didn't run on Sundays or holidays, so if we wanted to go anywhere, we had to take the bikes.
At the time we had three children - age 7, 4.5 and a newborn. The 7 year old rode his own bike, the 4.5 year old rode behind his dad on a trail-a-bike, and we jury-rigged an old infant seat into a bike trailer for the infant. I also carried all our groceries in that trailer, and once, a door (without the baby!). Eventually they all rode their own bikes, but it started this way.
My brother's wife is about to have a kid, and I want to give them a bike trailer to go riding with their new baby.
Has anyone invented/marketed a better system for infants in bike trailers? If so, what bike trailer does it work with, and where can I get it?
Answer
@Old hippie, the infant car seat could be secured to the bike trailer and have it rear facing. In the car, it needs to be reclined no more than 45 degrees, but a parent could recline it more than this on a bike trailer to keep their newborns airway open and to prevent their child's head to their chest (especially going uphill)- more at 60 and 80 degrees from vertical on a bike. Remember that if the seat is installed in the car, it needs to be no more than 45 degrees.
This is because they aren't going to use the seat to withstand crash forces- just to secure the child for the ride.
Here is an article about the American Academy of Pediatric policy regarding bike trailers. They recommend that, "...adults should carry only children 12 months or older and weighing less than 40 pounds."
These are just recommendations and a parent can take what they want from what the AAP says. Because I don't agree with all policy decisions by the AAP.
Instead of having the child ride in the back with a jury-rigged infant car seat why not wear the baby with a wrap? There is the Moby Wrap or the Ergo carrier.
*Sigh* Many people haven't lived or visited Cambodia. You would never know how people ride on motorcyles and their bikes with their infants. That being said, I'm not sure if it is safe though. I just haven't heard about children dying in bike trailers.
Here is an article about why bike trailers may not be as dangerous as people think: http://www.mnn.com/family/protection-safety/blogs/bike-trailers-child-safety-and-the-medias-fear-
agenda
Whoops! Forgot to put the AAP article in: http://aapnews.aappublications.org/content/30/7/18.6.full
Why all the thumbs down? I haven't ever heard of many children getting killed being hit by a vehicle in a bike trailer. In contrast, I have heard plenty of children getting killed while in a crash being *in* the vehicle. Statistics just don't lie.
I'm all for safety, but I just don't understand by these trailers are just deemed as so dangerous. What magically happens when a child is 12 months old? If the car seat can be tightly tied down in the trailer, I just don't see how that would be any different.
@Old hippie, the infant car seat could be secured to the bike trailer and have it rear facing. In the car, it needs to be reclined no more than 45 degrees, but a parent could recline it more than this on a bike trailer to keep their newborns airway open and to prevent their child's head to their chest (especially going uphill)- more at 60 and 80 degrees from vertical on a bike. Remember that if the seat is installed in the car, it needs to be no more than 45 degrees.
This is because they aren't going to use the seat to withstand crash forces- just to secure the child for the ride.
Here is an article about the American Academy of Pediatric policy regarding bike trailers. They recommend that, "...adults should carry only children 12 months or older and weighing less than 40 pounds."
These are just recommendations and a parent can take what they want from what the AAP says. Because I don't agree with all policy decisions by the AAP.
Instead of having the child ride in the back with a jury-rigged infant car seat why not wear the baby with a wrap? There is the Moby Wrap or the Ergo carrier.
*Sigh* Many people haven't lived or visited Cambodia. You would never know how people ride on motorcyles and their bikes with their infants. That being said, I'm not sure if it is safe though. I just haven't heard about children dying in bike trailers.
Here is an article about why bike trailers may not be as dangerous as people think: http://www.mnn.com/family/protection-safety/blogs/bike-trailers-child-safety-and-the-medias-fear-
agenda
Whoops! Forgot to put the AAP article in: http://aapnews.aappublications.org/content/30/7/18.6.full
Why all the thumbs down? I haven't ever heard of many children getting killed being hit by a vehicle in a bike trailer. In contrast, I have heard plenty of children getting killed while in a crash being *in* the vehicle. Statistics just don't lie.
I'm all for safety, but I just don't understand by these trailers are just deemed as so dangerous. What magically happens when a child is 12 months old? If the car seat can be tightly tied down in the trailer, I just don't see how that would be any different.
Can a 5 year old ride in a Motorcycle sidecar?
Tamkins
I don't have a kid, I don't have a motorcycle... this is just another random question I'm wondering about because I'm thinking about writing a story about a family on the road, I want to to be some what accurate... but, I want you to answer my question with a serious answer.
Well most 5 year olds are big enough to ride in a car on their own. And I think they are past toddler age. I know of five year olds the ride most of the rides at the Disney Parks.
Wow I just found out they have to be 8 years old to stop riding in a booster, THAT I did not know.
Answer
Lots of small kids in sidecars at the rallies. Parents rode before marriage, kid comes along and the sidecar added to old cruiser is logical way to take kid along. Never bothered to check other laws- but strapped in a sidecar locally is legal while riding solo bike with a kid on back gets ticket some time as law requires 'secured child' and if kid can't reach passenger pegs he/she isn't considered 'secured'. Know a couple people that strapped kid to themselves in 'kangaroo pouch kid carriers when riding 2 wheels, they were advised that sidecar was preferred way to haul kids. Minor problem for many law enforcement tickets is the states laws are specific about cars but leave other transport choices as a vague 'safe or secured' requirement that doesn't specify what for motorcycles- while a few old legal practices guidelines for law enforcement did specify sidecar for handicapped adult and children's use. Locally sidecar is noted as child safe with right sized strap holding kid inside.
Lots of small kids in sidecars at the rallies. Parents rode before marriage, kid comes along and the sidecar added to old cruiser is logical way to take kid along. Never bothered to check other laws- but strapped in a sidecar locally is legal while riding solo bike with a kid on back gets ticket some time as law requires 'secured child' and if kid can't reach passenger pegs he/she isn't considered 'secured'. Know a couple people that strapped kid to themselves in 'kangaroo pouch kid carriers when riding 2 wheels, they were advised that sidecar was preferred way to haul kids. Minor problem for many law enforcement tickets is the states laws are specific about cars but leave other transport choices as a vague 'safe or secured' requirement that doesn't specify what for motorcycles- while a few old legal practices guidelines for law enforcement did specify sidecar for handicapped adult and children's use. Locally sidecar is noted as child safe with right sized strap holding kid inside.
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Title Post: Has anyone yet designed an infant seat for bike trailers?
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Rating: 94% based on 932 ratings. 4,1 user reviews.
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