Safety tips for cycling with your toddler

There's lots to think about when cycling with baby and considering the safety of your little ones on the road. Even before you purchase your toddler's first bike, you can introduce them to cycling as a passenger in their very own child bike seat or trailer. We look at how to cycle safely with babies and toddlers, including what age you can safely cycle with a baby, whether you should get a rear or front-mounted bike seat, and if babies need to wear helmets.

What age can you cycle with a baby?

Recommendations on the age you can cycle with your child safety are varied. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute says: "We don't recommend taking an infant of less than 12 months in a bicycle child seat, trailer, sidecar or any other carrier." Most agree, especially if you're planning on using a bicycle seat, that you should ensure your child is comfortably able to sit up unassisted first. Cycling UK says that if your baby can sit up unaided without cushions and weighs 9kgs, they are ready to go in a child seat.

9 months is a rough guide and it really depends on your child's weight and how good they are at sitting up. For a child seat on the front of a bike the usual weight limit is 15kg, and for a child seat on the back of bike the usual weight limit is 22kg.

Does a baby need a helmet in a bike seat?

Yes, your baby or toddler will definitely need to wear a bike helmet for safety when traveling in a bike seat. According to Healthychildren.org children between 12 months to 4 years, who are old enough to sit unsupported and hold their own heads up with a lightweight helmet on are safe to travel in a child-trailer or rear-mounted seat. They say, "A lightweight infant bike helmet should always be worn by a young passenger to prevent or minimize head injury." If your baby is traveling lying down in a cargo bike, however, they may not be able to wear one, and this will come down to personal choice.

How to cycle with babies and toddlers

If you decide to cycle with your little ones there are a few different options:

Cargo bikes

If you're travelling on a cargo bike, Babboe Cargo Bikes says:

Bicycle trailer

While a baby is too small to sit in a seat on the front or the back of your bike, Cycling UK say it is safer to go cycling with baby using a bike trailer with baby support inserts. They say you'll need to use the inserts until your baby is over 9kgs, and advise that most child-carrying trailers are suitable for babies 12-18 months upwards.

Aside from age, there are weight restrictions on all trailers, and so it's more important to pay attention to these, which you can find in the specs of any product description if you're shopping online. Alternatively always seek advice from the store you are purchasing from and do your own research before buying a bicycle trailer for your child to ride in. You can also get double bike trailers if you have two children, to make cycling with them easier.

Child bicycle seats

Chris Juden, senior technical officer at the CTC via The Guardian says it's not necessarily about how old your child is, but more about their physical development that determines when you can begin to cycle with them. Standard child bicycle seats with an upright backrest require babies to be able to sit up by themselves and hold their own heads up, and this is usually around 9 months old. Your baby may develop at a different pace though, so you'll have to use your own judgement. Chris also points out that these seats don't take into account that if you are cycling for a certain length of time your child may fall asleep and slump forward. He suggests a reclining seat for babies from 6 months old.

Should I get a front or rear mounted bike seat?

Overall, front-fitting seats seem to be the better choice for a variety of reasons. Many parent cyclists like front-fitting bicycle seats for younger kids as they feel more comfortable being able to see and keep an eye on them, plus, the child is able to interact. However, some may find this distracting and prefer a rear-fitting bicycle seat. Alternatively, you might make your decision based on the enjoyment of your child, going for the one that offers a better view to keep little one entertained. In terms of safety it is recommended for children between 1 and 4 years to travel in a front seat, and even after 4, a front seat is still considered safer, and it'll feel like the child is sitting cradled between your arms.

Riders may feel more stable with a front-fitting seat too, as not only is the centre of gravity lower with less chance of the bike tipping over, but it can also be more difficult to control a bike with a child in a back seat where the child's weight can affect the balance of the bike. In the case of an emergency stop, it's easier with the child in the front as the rider can brace themselves against the child's weight and prevent them from being thrown off. Front seats also give the rider more control over protecting the child from flying debris and adverse weather conditions.

Furthermore, front seats are mounted to the frame of the bike at two or more points, while back seats typically only attach at one point. Therefore, back seats may become dangerously loose and wobbly more easily. The suspension on front seats also tend to be better, absorbing bumps for a more comfortable ride.

Is it safe to bike with a baby?

While it's definitely risky to cycle with children due to the potential of crashing unexpectedly – which is something that you can't ever be in control when you're on the road, The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute raise awareness about the other risks you'll expose your little one to.

They say, "We are hearing more now about undiagnosed brain injuries, with symptoms too subtle for doctors to detect in a clinical setting, but very real to families. And that comes to mind whenever someone asks us about babies and biking." With a disclaimer that their statement may be 'alarmist', they stand by it due to the importance of making people fully aware of when they may potentially be putting an innocent loved-one at risk. There's a reason helmets aren't made for newborns, after all!

The Bicycle Helmet Safety institute point out that "most bike trails and lanes are not smoothly paved, and shaking your baby is unavoidable". They say the potential for repeated mild trauma to the brain because of bumps associated with everyday road conditions is the real threat for newborns and young babies, when neurodevelopment is critical.

Is it safe to cycle when pregnant?

It's one thing to cycle indoors for gentle exercise while pregnant, but cycling outdoors is more risky as there are many things you're not in control of. For example, uneven roads, other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, unpredictable weather and even the fumes and toxins you'll inhale while riding on the road amongst other traffic.

Physical therapist Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, via Healthline doesn't advise pregnant women to cycle outdoors. She says, “The biggest risk with cycling outdoors is the risk of falling, leading to abdominal trauma”, and advises her patients to stop cycling after their first trimester.

Proud aunt to her teen niece, Zara Mohammed is a Digital Writer for Mother&Baby. She has 10 years freelance writing experience creating lifestyle content for various platforms, including pregnancy, women’s health, parenting, child development and child mental health, plus lots of fun seasonal family articles and celebrity news.