Some parents love biking and want their children to enjoy the activity from an early age. They don’t have to wait until the kid is old enough to ride a bike with them. Child bike seats allow the parents to take them out on a bike. The seats are supportive, comfortable and will not alter the rider’s control over the bike. They are the only safe way to carry a child safely on a bike.
How to choose a bike seat
Seat type
Rear-mounted seat: Seats mounted in the back are suitable for children aged 12 months and older. The unique features of this seat are the ability to recline, shoulder straps with more adjustability and suspension.
Front-mounted seat: Seats mounted in the front are for ages nine months to 2 ½ years. They are the smallest bike seats, fixed between the rider’s arms. The children would feel more comfortable and secure.
Mid-mount seat: Mid-mount seats are suitable for children aged 2 to 5 years. The seat is fixed between the rider and the handlebar. This seat is generally used in mountain biking and helps the rider maintain their centre of balance.
Compatibility
The bike seat must be compatible with the bike.
A rear bike seat is cost-effective because it doesn’t need a separate rack. However, there should be a two-inch clearance below the bike seat for the baby seat and mounting poles.
The rack-mounted seats are mounted on a rack attached to the bike’s frame over the rear tire. Child seats are not sold with racks, and they need to be purchased separately. The cycle should have eyelets for mounting the rack.
The bike should be big enough so that the rider will feel comfortable after fixing the front-mounted seat. If the bike is not big enough, the rider will experience difficulty riding the bicycle because both chest and knees will hit the seat.
Road bikes and other bikes that keep the rider leaning forward are not suitable for front mount seats.
Mid-mount seats are the easiest to fit in a bike than rear and front-mounted seats. They can suit a wide range of bikes, but they don’t have any harnesses.
Features
Harness design: Bike seats for kids come with two types of harnesses. The 3-point harness has shoulder straps that meet at the buckle. The 5-point harness has shoulder straps and waist straps that meet at the clasp.
Shoulder straps: The shoulder straps should remain firmly in the shoulder to keep the child safe. The straps vary significantly in their design and functionality in different bike seats. The pull-down-to-tighten straps are better than slide buckle straps.
Seat shape: Some seats have a helmet pocket that holds the child’s head in position and prevents it from moving forward. It makes the child feel comfortable and enjoy the ride. Bumpers are found in some seats to save the child’s fingers from being squeezed along a wall or any hard object.
Adjustable footrest: Footrests support a child’s feet and legs on the front and rear-mounted seats. The footrest on a rear-mounted seat protects the child’s feet from the rear wheel. The height adjustments in footrests help keep the child’s feet secure with wide licking straps.
Reclinability: Children may fall asleep while riding in a bike seat. Seat reclinability prevents their heads from flopping around and provides safety and comfort even if they fall asleep.
Suspension: Seat suspension protects the child from bumps on the road and ensures a comfortable ride. Generally, front-mounted seats do not have suspension.
Child bike seats allow the parents to take their children along while biking. Most children enjoy bike rides, and when they are old enough, they will ride by themselves. Until then, bike seats for children help them stay comfortable and enjoy the ride.
