Has anyone yet designed an infant seat for bike trailers?

kids bike seat 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.

Anyone have a bicycle seat for baby that you love?

RearFace@1

I would love to get one for my 13 month old for this summer. Have the breeze in our hair and great exercise and freshness...I want the best for a good price, no more than $60 give or take. I am not sure what to look for. Any ideas or advice? I don't mind shopping online either, but I am not sure where to go and Google is just killin me today.

Also, a baby helmet too...?

Answer
I have absolutely no advice about what brand to get, I'm sorry. If you have a large sporting goods store near you that may be worth looking at. Chances are they would have some.

Mostly I'm just wanting to answer saying that I love the idea of a bicycle seat rather than a trailer. Everyone says that if you fall baby falls too, which is going to happen with a seat or a trailer. With a seat the baby is strapped in and protected on three sides like with a car seat. I'm more paranoid with the trailers. They make the bike longer, which means that you have more of an opportunity for a car or another bike to hit the trailer if they aren't paying attention. Plus if you fall on the bike the trailer is going to tip too, and often kids aren't as secured in them as they would be in a seat.

Here are two that I found on amazon. I think both look great, but for a younger toddler I would go with the one that has head support. The front mounted one looks like it would have better stability for the rest of the bike, but it looks a bit scary.
Good luck!
http://www.amazon.com/Bell-Cocoon-Mounted-Bicycle-Carrier/dp/B000F934W2/ref=sr_1_3/002-6601764-2326445?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1211849978&sr=1-3
http://www.amazon.com/iBert-Safe-T-Front-Mounted-Bicycle/dp/B000H4E7EO/ref=sr_1_1/002-6601764-2326445?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1211849978&sr=1-1

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