If you love spending time outdoors riding your bike and don’t know how to make that happen now that you have a baby, a bike seat might be the answer. Mounted bike seats for kids are the most affordable way to take your child along for the ride.
With so many options and types of seats, it can be challenging to figure out which one to use. Never fear! I’ve created a list of the 7 best baby bike seats so you can easily find one that’s right for your setup.
Why it’s great: Thule’s bike seats are very highly rated. They’re easy to install and come with reflectors on the back. You can choose from three different colors and you can purchase an adapter if it doesn’t fit your bike rack. The seat is soft and shock-absorbing, providing your child with a smoother ride. The footrests and shoulder straps are adjustable, so the seat grows with your child. It has a five-point harness, and the buckle is childproof, preventing your little one from trying to escape in the middle of a ride. It’s also made of water-repellent material, so it’s easy to wipe clean.
Keep in mind: While this seat has been tested and designed for kids ages 9 months to 6 years old, it’s not recommended that you have your baby on a bike until they’re at least 12 months old.
Good for: Parents who want a high-quality and highly-rated bike seat.
Why it’s great: Schwinn went all out with this bike seat. It installs easily with just a screwdriver and fits most bike frames. It has upgraded safety features with a three-point harness with a quick release, leg restraints, a spoke guard, and a padded crossbar. You can even choose to purchase this seat in a set with a helmet for your child. The seat has comfortable padding, and the back is air-vented to prevent drag. It also has a removable headrest and the straps and footwells are adjustable to grow with your child.
Keep in mind: This one can’t be used on a bike with rear suspension.
Good for: Parents who want the safest bike seat they can find.
Why it’s great: Bell offers a few different types of bike seats at an affordable price. This cocoon seat is a wraparound bucket with a high back for extra support. It also includes brightly colored padding for extra comfort. It has a five-point harness, a spoke guard, and a crossbar to keep your child safe. This seat fits most adult bikes without rear suspension and can hold kids up to 40 pounds.
Keep in mind: This one has an online instruction manual and may be a little more difficult to install.
Good for: Parents who need a bike seat on a budget.
Why it’s great: Peg Perego makes top-of-the-line baby gear, and this bike seat is no exception. Unlike the majority of bike seats on this list, this one attaches in front of the rider, allowing your child to see something other than your back when you’re out for a ride. It’s quick and easy to attach and detach from your bike, making it a great choice for parents who like to bike with and without their children. It has a three-point harness and adjustable footwells and straps to grow with your child. It also comes in four brightly colored options.
Keep in mind: This one has a lower weight limit of 33 pounds.
Good for: Little ones that want to be able to see where they’re going.
Why it’s great: This front bike seat has a unique design with a padded dashboard where your child can lay their head if they get tired. It has extra padding on the seat for ultimate comfort. The five-point safety harness even has padded straps! The straps and the foot cups are both adjustable for sizing and the seat distributes your child’s weight evenly for a smoother ride. You can choose between a tan and a denim color theme and install is fairly straightforward.
Keep in mind: As with most front seats, this one can only hold up to 33 pounds.
Good for: Babies that like to nap during bike rides.
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Why it’s great: This seat is a rear mounting seat with a high back frame for lots of support. It comes with a three-point harness that has a safety buckle, so you don’t have to worry about your child unbuckling in the middle of a ride. The seat is cushioned for comfort and has a handrail in the front. The straps and footrests are adjustable, so it grows with your child too. Once this is installed, it has a quick release clamp that allows you to detach it easily and efficiently.
Keep in mind: The instructions aren’t really clear, so installation can be challenging, but there is a video in the listing that shows how to do it.
Good for: Parents who may not want to have the seat on their bike at all times.
Why it’s great: Unlike all the others, this seat offers a 20 degree recline adjustment, so your child can rest or sit up, depending on their mood. It also has a three-point harness with adjustable straps and 10 different heights for the footrests. Every adjustable feature, from the safety buckle and straps to the footrests, footstraps, and recline, can be accessed with just one hand! It’s definitely one of the easiest seats to use. It also has shock-absorbing suspension and a recess for your child’s helmet. Hamax has thought of it all when it comes to this bike seat. It even comes in various color options.
Keep in mind: The listing says that this seat can hold up to 48.5 pounds, but it’s actually only suitable up to 40 pounds.
Good for: Parents who want a seat that’s easy to adjust for their child.
The Thule Yepp Maxi rack mount child seat is our overall top recommendation. It's the highest quality product we have found with the most affordable price making it the best value on our list..
A bike seat or a bike trailer are both good choices. However, a bike seat allows you easier access to your child. It also allows you to check on them and know how they’re doing, instead of wondering what’s going on in the trailer. Bike seats are also usually cheaper than trailers of comparable quality.
While many baby bike seats say they are suitable for children as young as 9 months, however, it’s recommended that you wait until your baby is at least 12 months old. They need to be able to sit up on their own and they need to be able to wear a helmet, which usually aren’t made for babies under one.
Bike seats are required to meet certain safety requirements. However, there’s always the risk of a fall. Most have a solid frame and padding that will protect your child if the bike falls over. Just make sure that they’re always wearing a helmet and never leave them alone on the bike without supervision.
Front mount seats are smaller and usually for younger kids. If you’re starting as soon as you feel your child is comfortable and safe, that may be a good option. If you have an older toddler, a rear-mounted seat will be roomier and much more comfortable for your child. As long as the seat is compatible with your bike and your child meets the age/weight recommendations, either type will work just fine.
Bike seats come with many different features. After making sure it’s compatible with your bike and choosing the type, there are a few other things you may want to look at before making your choice. Check how much padding the seat and the back have to help your child feel comfortable. Look at the harness. Is it a three-point or five-point? Does it have a child-safe buckle? Do the footrests and straps adjust to allow for a growing child? Some seats even offer the ability to recline. Some have handrails or crossbars for your child to hold. Think about what suits you and your child the best.
The best baby bike seat will be one that is compatible with your bike and is comfortable for your child. While there are many choices, you need to pick consider the mount style you prefer and the age and size of your child. Think about your child and whether they’d prefer to see the road in front of you or ride in peace behind you.
Once you’ve found the right one, you and your child will be able to get out on the road and enjoy the ride.
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