The Ultimate Guide to Safe Biking With A Baby Carrier

You’re a new parent and you love biking. But how do you bike with your baby?

We’ve got some great tips and options for biking with your baby! Here are the best ways to make it work.

Check out our post now for more information about biking with a baby carrier!

Note: Please remember—We are not doctors or child development experts. We’re cyclists. Talk to your pediatrician about when biking with your baby is appropriate.

Is cycling with a baby safe?

Regardless of what anyone will advise you, this is down to you to determine. How do you feel? Do you feel completely safe? If not, then don’t cycle with your baby. It’s as simple as that.

On the other hand, if you feel safe, and feel it would be safe to do it, then do it.

There’s a lot more to this topic than whether you as a parent feel secure enough to carry out the task of cycling with a baby carrier attached to you.

We go into the different options about biking with a baby carrier below:

Options for biking with a baby carrier with a baby under 12 months old

With any setup for babies under 12 months, you want to make sure their neck is supported, that they aren’t being bumped around and that they are protected in the case of a tip-over. 

My favorite options for biking with a baby carrier are a cargo bike and a trailer.

Cargo bike or Bakfiets

A cargo bike or a bakfiets is a bike with a box in the front. The box usually holds cargo, like groceries. Bikes that have boxes for carrying things are good for families because they have good accessories. Some bikes can even carry cargo without a box if you need to use it as a flatbed. They can be used to carry babies and kids too. It’s actually a very popular way of biking with a baby carrier in The Netherlands – all Dutch people carry their babies in a bakfiets.

Our favorite is the CETMA cargo bike 

You would use a rear-facing car seat to achieve this so the baby is facing you.

What we like

• The wooden box on a bakfiets gives good protection from tip-overs.
• Low and centered so the movement of the car seat is minimal.
• The bike isn’t the fastest, so you are less likely to travel too fast

What we don’t like

• You need to ride slowly to minimize jolting.
• You need to ride extra carefully over speedbumps and uneven surfaces.

Trailer

The most popular way of biking with a baby carrier is to use a trailer. You attach a trailer to your bike. Trailers are designed for an infant seat to be placed inside it.

What we like

• Trailers are more affordable
• Some have built-in suspensionLower to the ground in the case of a tipover
• The footprint of the trailer is small so it’s easy to navigate the paths with

What we don’t like

• Potential jostling of baby as you ride

Sling within the trailer

Many trailer manufacturers sell slings for a baby. They market them for strolling only but I know of some people who use them to bike.

Some great baby slings for this are:

 Thule Sling

What we like

• Super secure and padded 
• Plenty of room for the baby to move and kick their legs
• Simple to install
• Protects the baby’s arms

What we don’t like

• You can only use it with Thule products

Thule Infant Sling – Cheetah XT

What we like

• Can be used with many Thule carriers 
• MInimizes bumps of the road
• Simple to install
• Like a recliner so your baby will feel relaxed enough to sleep. 
• As your child grows, you can adapt the sitting position to suit.

What we don’t like

• You can only use it with Thule Products
• It’s expensive

Baby Car Seat in the trailer

Another option for biking with a baby carrier, is to strap a baby car seat into the trailer. Using a baby car seat in the trailer gives good protection from tipovers. It’s worth pointing out here that they are designed for CARS and not trailers. There aren’t any studies on how effective they are in a trailer.

Here is a setup of a carseat in a baby trailer.

Options for biking with a baby 12 months and over

This is where the options start to open up. All the above options are still great but now you have others too. You can get rid of the car seat too if you want. You can also consider a front-mounted baby seat, or a rear-mounted baby seat. Plenty to choose from to do some nice biking with a baby carrier.

Front-mounted baby seat

Many front-mounted baby bike seats have a 5 point harness to ensure the baby is secured in. Because they are mounted in front of you, you have a clear view if they are ok and can see how your child responds to everything that happens. Depending on the model, these baby seats allow for sleeping.

A front-mounted seat may leave your baby more exposed in case of a tipover.

 Our Pick – WeeRide Kangaroo Child Bike Seat

Rear-mounted baby seat

Rear-mounted seats mount at the back of your saddle and are attached to you via a strap. A rear-mounted seat gives great support to your baby’s neck as they face you and the bike frame. They may have a more padded seat than a front-mounted one.

You need to be vigilant about checking on your baby at regular intervals and make sure you have a rear-view mirror.

Our Pick – Topeak Baby Seat II Non-Disc Rack Bicycle Baby Seat

Read more about the best baby bike seats 2021

FAQs Biking with a baby carrier

Can you wear a baby carrier while you are riding your bike?

It’s all down to personal choice but we don’t recommend this as an option. If you do this, you do so at your own risk. Your baby is not protected by a frame or structure so if you fall, your baby could be injured.

What age can a baby go in a bike carrier?

Generally, a baby is ready from one year old, but there are carriers available that will take a baby from 6 months old. Most agree around 9 months is a safe age to start cycling. It also depends on how comfortable you feel too.

Can a 7 month old ride in a bike trailer?

Children are generally ready to go in a bike trailer when they can support their own head without help. This is between 9 and 12 months. Every child is different. You are their parent – you know them best. If you have any doubts, best is to discuss with your Family Doctor – they can surely help you decide if your baby is ready to become a cyclist!

Conclusion about biking with a baby carrier

Biking along with your baby can be a fun and safe way to get around!

Today, we’ve examined the different types of bike carriers available and what safety precautions you should take while biking with a baby carrier. From a wooden box on a Bakfiets gives good protection from tip-overs to trailers being more affordable, there are many options for biking with a baby carrier.

When choosing an option for biking with a baby carrier, the type of bike carrier or seat that is right for you will depend on what you feel is safest for your child. 

Whatever option you choose, make sure you feel confident with your setup. Even test it out around the neighborhood and observe your baby to see if you need to make any adjustments to the baby carrier.  Finally – enjoy biking with a baby carrier! Let’s make that little cyclist fall in love with the sound of a bike bell!