If you are someone who is into the whole biking experience, it is very likely that your habit will remain even after you have children, specifically if you enjoy the experience quite a lot, you are bound to get your children on board so they can have the same experience and benefit from the same joy and excitement that you get when you are riding on top of the bike seat to head off to one of your travels. It is also a very environmentally friendly way of commuting, so even if you are not too fond of it, this is a great option to exercise. Moreover, if you do not have the required finances to get yourself a car, a bike will always be affordable for you to purchase so you can travel or commute from one place to the other.
Quick Answer: Best Top-Rated Child Seats For Bikes In 2020
- Thule Ride Along Mini
- Schwinn Deluxe Bicycle Mounted Child Bike Seat
- Wee Ride LTD Kangaroo Child Bike Seat
- Thule Yepp Nexxt Mini
In this regard, if you have a child or multiple children, you will need either a bike seat or a carrier. In this article, we will apprise you of the options available in case you are looking for a bike seat for your child as well as the things you must consider before you make this purchase.
Contents
Best Bike Seat For Children
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For more on kids bike recommendations, have a look at these popular guide links: Best Bikes For 2-Year Olds
Child Bike Seat Reviews
#1. Thule Ride Along Mini
Check the latest price on Amazon.
- Age Range: 9 months to 3 years
- Weight Limit: Up to 33 pounds
- Design: Universal quick release bracket
- Diameter: 20 to 28 mm
- Dimension: 26.9 x 16,300 x 7.6 inches
- Product Weight: 5.95 pounds
Durability
For anyone looking to obtain an accessory to your durable bike, you would want that particular thing to be of high quality and be able to last long. After all, if you are going to purchase a bike that starts your child up from 9 months to three years of age, you will at least be using the same bike seat for about two years, which is a considerable period of time. Similarly, since your very young child is going to be on that bike seat, you need to ensure that its durability is not compromised at all. After all, no parent would want their child to fall off or be hurt on one of their biking journeys. Therefore, it is very important that the quality and durability of the product are tested well before time. This product in question, which is the Thule Ride Along Mini, provides the required durability and makes sure that you will not have to buy a bike seat within days, weeks, or months of purchasing it.
Safety
Another great concern of parents is usually whether a bike seat is even safe and firmly protective of their child. This is because the general notion is that it is latched onto the bike in a manner that appears to be not too friendly when it comes to safety. However, that is not true in many cases. As a result of new and advanced technology, the clasping method has become easier and more effective over the years. This particular bike seat provides safety harness, which would need two hands when it comes to buckling them in or out, so you do not have to worry about the risk of your child unbuckling themselves. Similarly, in case of someone grabbing your child quickly from the bike seat whilst you are riding along, this will ensure that they are not able to do so. As a result of which, the security measures and precautions are tightened manifold.
Ease
A lot of times, bike seats are provided, which are very difficult for users to operate because of the sheer manner in which they are to be latched on or attached to the bike itself. The installation process and set up is difficult initially, then getting your child onto the bike seat and buckling him or her in, is yet another task in itself, so it becomes a huge hassle. In this regard, the Thule Ride Along Mini significantly caters to this problem by providing a quick-release bracket through which you are able to gain access to your child pretty easily. You do not have to worry about how to get your child into or out of the bike seat. Sometimes, people will get out of this process entirely, such that they refuse to take their kids on bike rides. Therefore, it is equally important to make this process effortless, so people are not discouraged from this behavior since this is actually a pretty healthy initiative to take your child along with you on your journeys.
Bottom Line
The Thule Ride Along Mini is ranked pretty high up in the ranking standards when it comes to the available bike seats. This is because not only does it come from a very reliable company and brand but it also provides the basic demands and requirements that people have when it comes to purchasing bike seats. The foremost concern of any parent or person taking a child on his or her bike is the safety of the child. This bike seat ensures that there is no problem when it comes to the child’s safety. Similarly, another great concern of the rider is the fact that the release and latching on the process may be too difficult and strenuous for the rider, especially when trying to get off and going somewhere, it may require too much of effort, but this has also tried to minimize that hassle as much as possible. In this regard, it comes out as a credible item to be purchased if you are looking to take your child with you as you bike your way through the woods, the beach, or even the local neighborhood park because it ticks off most of what you require.
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#2. Schwinn Deluxe Bicycle Mounted Child Bike Seat
Check the latest price on Amazon.
- Maximum Weight: 40 pounds
- Recommended age: over one year
- Design: Quick release harness
- Facilities in addition: Footwells that can be adjusted, a headrest that can be removed
- Dimensions: 16 x 9.9 x 17.5 inches
- Product Weight: 1.92 ounces
Product Weight
There are many times that the bike seat that you purchase is too heavy for the rider to carry. This is because it may not seem too heavy when you check it out, but once you attach it to your bike, it may become quite heavy, especially when it comes to longer rides. This is because you will basically be carrying the weight of not just the bike seat but also the weight of your own child. Therefore, it is very important that you make sure that you buy or purchase a car seat, which is lightweight in nature, so that you do not grow tired of carrying it. You cannot expect your child to stop growing, so if the weight of your child is increasing pretty quickly, and the weight of the car seat is already pretty high, you will not be able to sustain this pressure along the course of this ride. Thankfully, this product is designed such that it is remarkably weighed at a very light amount, too many, which appears as a surprise.
Assembly
Parents of young children usually do not have the time or energy to deal with long processes of assembly and installation. Some bike seats are designed in a manner so that they need to be properly assembled in light of certain guidelines that are provided to help construct this bike. Not only can these instruction guidelines prove to be a menace for you because you have to follow each step intently and thoroughly, and if you fail to do so, you might end up with a bike seat that can either not be attached properly, or it does not fit in your child appropriately, or any other measures that will deter the smooth transition of the process. Even if the guidelines are clear, some people are just not ready to deal with the entire installation and construction process, so if you are one of those people, it is always best to look for bike seats that come preassembled so you can rid yourself of this unnecessary hassle. In this context, these bike seats provide you the facility that it is quite easy to assemble.
Age
Usually, parents will not take their children who are a little too young. Up until their first birthdays, parents are generally hesitant in taking their child to such places where they may have a risk of being injured, harm, or catching any sort of disease. In this context, they will usually need bike seats for their kids when they are over the age of one. In this regard, this bike seat is meant specially for such kids. It is also fitted with the relevant safety measures so that your one year old cannot get himself or herself out of it.
Bottom Line
If you have a child who is over the age of one, then this is a great option to be looking at. Not only does it facilitate you when it comes to minimizing the assembly process, but it also helps accommodate you through the design it entails. The product is lightweight so that it is not even difficult to carry, and when you are biking around with it, you will not feel that you are carrying a heavy load or something. This allows you to bike normally and not get overtired in the process.
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#3. Wee Ride LTD Kangaroo Child Bike Seat
Check the latest price on Amazon.
- Age Range: 1 to 4 years
- Weight limit: 33 pounds
- Design: safety harness and oversized buckle system
- Dimensions: 16 x 20 x 10 inches
- Product Weight: 2.1 pounds
- Includes: mounting bar
Design
The major thing that sets this bike seat apart from all other ones is the fact that it comes with a very modern design. It is stylish, it is sleek, it is snazzy, and it attracts you because of how different and unique it appears to be. When trying to get your child into the bike seat, it is very important that he or she likes the look of it because otherwise, he or she will refuse to get on board and you will be left with a bike seat that no one is ready to use, or at least not the child you were trying to carry with you on your travels. This design is custom made to provide a freshness to the eyes of the riders and the onlookers, whilst making sure that your child likes it too. This is not something that is available in many other models, so if you are someone who is into style and all, you may want to look at this.
Comfort
Comfort is not something you would want to be compromising upon when it comes to your child, specifically if you are looking to go on a relatively long trip. If your child is fussy and comfortable, he or she will make sure that your rise is just as miserable as he or she may be feeling, the constant cries, sobs, bickering, and the grumbles are definitely not something that will be tolerable for you. Therefore, it is significant that you cater to this beforehand so that you are not stuck with a miserable child on what you supposed would be a good getaway from your daily routine. In this context, there are additionally padded cushioning that will enhance the comfort levels of your child. There are also foot cups which have been cushioned such that your child’s feet do not feel any sort of discomfort. These are all additional facilities that have been latched onto the bike seat for your child’s enhanced comfort, things, and facilities that are just not available for other products in the market. A comfortable child means that your travels can be enjoyable and happy for you, yourself too.
Balance
Many times, you are unable to ride the bike properly because of the fact that your child weighs down unevenly on one side or the other. This makes it difficult for you to pedal and take your bike further because there is an unusual weight nudging you on all the wrong corners. Therefore, it is very important that the bike seat is placed properly, you do not buy a product which is too heavy so that you are not able to carry the brunt of it, and it should be lightweight yet sturdy enough to sustain the weight of your child. In this context, it must be ensured that your child is placed in the central most part of the bike, as well as the bike seat, which is not practical in case of most bike seats that are available in the market. But this bike seat will make sure that it places your kid on the central point of your bike, making sure that your balance is retained and you have no difficulties when it comes to steering the bike across in your travels. If you are able to pedal properly, you will see that your journey is multiple times more enjoyable and comfortable than if you lose the balance required.
Bottom Line
If you are wary about not having your child in sight, whilst you bike your way through whatever journey you are taking, it is always good to find a bike seat that can give you clear access and a better, more pronounced, and enhanced version of communication with your child. This allows for both of you to be able to enjoy the ride as much as possible and will make sure that you are able to observe your child at all times. With its increased enhancements and additions to the facilities provided, it gives your child the comfort that he or she would have perhaps in his or her home cot, or carriage which you use for him or her. It also provides security measures meant to raise the protection and safety levels for your child so that you can relax and not worry about how and where your child is. This will allow you to pedal with ease and peace of mind so that you can enjoy your ride.
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#4. Thule Yepp Nexxt Mini
Check the latest price on Amazon.
- Age Range: 9 months to 3 years old
- Weight capacity: Up to 33 pounds, 15 kg
- Product Dimensions: 1.8 x 1.2 x 2.4 inches
- Product weight: 4.2 pounds
- Design: Padded 5 point harness
Good fit
When you are trying to lodge a bike seat onto your bike, it is very important that you take special care of how you are going to balance it out or if you even fit it right. Multiple times, you will observe people who fit bike seats onto the bike only to witness that the bike seat may fall off and actually cause greater damage than when you did not have a bike seat at all. In this context, it is very necessary that you try on the bike seat with your bike to know if it can even be attached or latched on properly, otherwise, it could land you into massive trouble and take you several steps back than your initial position. This bike seat ensures that it wraps nicely around your bike so that your child is provided the safety and protection that you were looking for when you first decided to purchase this bike seat.
Ease of installation
Many parents are very concerned about the various parts that you need to put together when it comes to bike seats. This becomes a needless hassle that they just do not want to get into, but a lot of times, there are no other choices that they can exercise. So it becomes important for parents to have to go out of their comfort zone to fix the bike seat up for their children. At times, the parents are clueless about how to go about with their child’s bike seat when it comes to the instruction guidelines provided, but sometimes this creates further difficulties because of how intricately designed they are and the step by step instructions that you may not be able to compete with. In this context, the bike seat may be set improperly, causing greater damage to your child than the protection that you were looking for when you planned to take your child onto the biking journey with you.
Comfort
Comfort, as mentioned previously, is a great deal for parents who are looking to get bike seats for their children. This is because if there is even a slight bit of inconvenience involved, the child will make your life miserable throughout the journey. He or she will fuss and fluster until you come to a point where you will not be able to take more of it, and it becomes just another unnecessary hassle that you are not prepared to deal with. This is why sometimes, a lot of parents tend to give up biking altogether because they feel there is a line of effort that must go in to get your child on board the biking seat, yet there is not enough output that is satisfactory in this sense when it comes to the happiness of the child. Therefore, this bike seat comes with straps for the child’s foot specially meant to clasp onto them, so they are not left astray to be hurt or injured. They have come with vents that are large enough to air the bike seat so that it is good for all sorts of weather, especially in the heat so that the child is not extremely miserable during the hot weather when it can become a lot of sweat and heat for the child. This is something which is not very common when it comes to bike seats for children and is definitely a healthy addition indeed.
Bottom Line
This bike seat is generally meant for a wider range, kind of like a car seat, which will adjust to your child’s growing age, height and weight because of the various inbuilt facilities that it comes with. The comfort zone that it puts your child in bits of help keep your child at ease and peace so that you are not disgruntled by the effects of having to carry a child along with you on your relatively long journey. Moreover, the best thing about this bike seat is perhaps, how easily it can be set up which is a great sigh of relief for people who are not so inclined towards the building and construction process.
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Comparison Table: Best Bike Seats For Children
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NAME | Thule Ride | Schwinn Deluxe | Wee Ride LTD | Thule Yepp |
AGE | 9 - 36 months | Over 12 months | 12 - 48 months | 9 - 36 months |
TYPE | 33 lbs | 40 lbs | 33 lbs | 33 lbs |
WEIGHT CAPACITY | Universal quick release | Quick release harness | Quick release harness | Quick release harness |
EDITOR RATING | 3.6 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
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Note: Scroll/Swipe Horizontally To View Full Comparison Table
For more kids bike recommendations, check out these popular guide links: Best Kids; Bike Trailers, Helmets
Buyer’s Guide: Things To Consider Before You Buy a Bike Seat For Your Child
Bike seats, especially for your babies, need to be considered in all domains. The specific need arises because a baby is quite fragile, and you need to adjust that slight frame onto a moving vehicle, albeit slower than an actual motor vehicle. It is very dangerous to meddle with different bike seats because you can honestly not trust all bike seat companies when it comes to the measures they may provide. This is because a slight mishap could cause great injury and harm to your child, which can essentially become a great tragedy. In this context, there are several things you must consider before you get your child a bike seat so that you can avoid all such mishaps.
Front vs. Rear Mounted Bike Seats
The first thing you need to know about is that there are two major kinds of bike seats. Front-mounted is when you have your child ahead of you. Some parents prefer this because your child is in direct control of you, in clear sight, and you know exactly what he or she is doing. This is considered a very comfortable pick because of how it is placed, specifically for mothers who fret about not knowing what your child is up to, this is an appropriate solution for such parents. On the other hand, rear-mounted bike seats are those that accommodate your child at the back of your bike. Some parents prefer this because they feel more comfortable and at ease, knowing that the danger comes from ahead. It also depends on how old your child actually is. Rear-mounted bike seats can actually hold kids up to five or six years, depending on the weight capacity of that particular bike seat. At the end of the day, it majorly depends on what your preferences are, and there is no set option for what is better for your child. This is because it is completely dependent on how the rider feels about keeping a child in front of him or her or behind him or her, rather than what may be claimed as the safer option. Therefore, if someone shames or shuns you for choosing a different style than what you have, then you need to be mindful and not pay heed to what he or she says, because your preferences should define your choice, not a generic statement.
Size and Age of Child
This is a very important component of the decision that comes into play when you decide to purchase your bike seat. This is because if you have slightly older children, you may not be able to fit your tall and bigger child into the front of your bike, directed to the fact that there is not enough space in the front to be able to secure your child properly and also provide the same comfort that he or she needs. This is attributed entirely to the height and weight of your child. However, if you have very small children, people generally prefer to accommodate their children in front of their bikes, so they are in embracing distance and right before their eyes. The size matters a great deal because there are a height and weight capacity that you must adhere to, and if you refuse to, you cannot imagine what it may lead to, whether it is the breaking apart of your bike seat, or your child suffering from extreme discomfort, you cannot say for certain, what the consequence of not following the rules will be, but one thing is for sure, it will not be pleasant.
Shoulder Straps
Shoulder straps are yet another thing that you just cannot get rid of. This is because this is the basic feature when it comes to safety measures for your child. If the shoulder strap is too tight, it will push into the skin of your child, and can actually cause painful marks, which will not be something you are looking for. Similarly, if these straps are too loose, they may not fulfill the requirement that they come with, in order of the safety and protection they claim. Moreover, if the shoulder straps are padded, they will enhance the comfort level that is provided to your child and will make sure that your child is not stung with the sharp edges that may come with the shoulder straps. This may appear to be a very small thing, but it actually is not, because of how it can affect your child’s experience. Especially when it comes to longer rides, stinging shoulder straps can actually become a great menace for your child and will eventually lead to his or her discomfort throughout the ride, which you honestly will not want to be a part of.
Durability
Bike seats are not something you will be buying too often. They are a pretty big investment in terms of the monetary value that is assigned to them. In this regard, it is important that you look into the strength and sturdiness of the bike seat. Most bike seats can last your child up to a few years, so you need to be extra particular about the durability of it, because you would not want to consistently be spending on the same item again and again, when you could, in fact, have rid yourself of this hassle if only you would have brought the right thing in the first place. Whilst it may sometimes seem that the initial investment is a pretty big deal, if you add it up and multiply it to the times you may have to buy it if it breaks apart, you will discover that it is actually a greater expense to have to constantly buy it or have to purchase it on multiple occasions. In this context, you can just give extra attention to the durability of it, hence, eliminate that risk completely.
Center of Gravity
Another thing that you must always keep in mind is the fact that you need to place your bike seat in a manner such that it distributes the weight of your child. If it weighs down on one side alone, you will find it difficult to balance your bike for yourself and pedal your way across. Similarly, it is essential that the bike seat, place your child in the center of it, rather than causing your child to move from one place to another within the bike seat, such that it becomes a hassle or menace for you to balance out. Sometimes, people do not give this adequate attention because of the fact that people tend to forget that the bike seat will go on your bike, which is a two-wheeler and requires you to maintain a semblance of control or balance if you wish to proceed through nicely. In this regard, it is better for you if you just pick out a bike seat, which eliminates that risk completely, and helps you in the balancing process rather than creating obstacles in this path. Therefore, be sure to give appropriate consideration to this factor.
Sizing preferences
This is slightly different from what was previously mentioned. The primary agenda of sizing preferences is in effect the point meaning that sometimes, people are focused towards getting bike seats for a very short period of time, either because they want to start their child out completely on their own when it comes to biking, but there are other parents who will want to buy one bike seat which can last them for quite a long time. The distinction comes in the form of prices. Of course, if you are vying for a product which may be from a huge, high-end brand that is known for making these bike seats, and provides you the required quality, it is bound to be pretty pricey, so if you are not someone who has a problem with saving up and making budgets to sort out these finances, then you can easily get hold of such bike seats. But if you like most people, you may actually not have that capacity to make such a great investment, which is completely fine too, so in that case, you can actually just focus on thoroughly conducting your research to know the best products at the best prices out there.
Price
This is a very pertinent issue for most users. There is no need to worry about the price ranges of bike seats because it depends a lot on what brand you are looking to purchase, what company and shop you are leaning towards. These are little things that add up. Similarly, if you are going for a season where there are sales and different kinds of discount vouchers, campaigns available, then you will get a much better price of the same products that you may get otherwise. Hence, it is always best to look out for such things so you can maximize your benefit and purchase accordingly.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): About Child Bike Seats
Q: What age can a baby go in a bike seat?
A: It obviously depends on what kind of bike seat you get for your child. If you get a child bike seat that is suitable for kids under nine months, then you are safe to go. But it also depends on what the rules and regulations of the area you are in say. Some places will only allow children to go in such bike seats if they are over nine months old. Other places are more lenient and will let even younger children go on the bike seat. But at the end of the day, even after regulations clear you out, it depends primarily on the type of bike seat you get and what you are comfortable with. Just make sure whatever limitations are set onto the guidelines, you should follow through with them completely if you wish to escape from the impending danger that is always lurking by. This means that you must pay heed to the instructions on the bike seat set and follow accordingly.
Q: Are bicycle child seats safe?
A: Nothing in this world is completely safe. Even if you are buckled into a bulletproof, shockproof car, there is still a risk of you falling into danger. There is no way to ascertain that you will breathe the next second, so even living in this world can be deemed dangerous. However, it is largely believed that shoulder straps, buckles, and other safety measures will keep you safe. But the fact of the matter is, it is stated by several specialists that bike trailers are generally safer when it comes to comparison between bike seats and bike trailers.
Q: Can a six-month-old ride in a bike seat?
A: As previously mentioned, the age that a child goes onto a bike seat is determined primarily by the state and country laws, as well as the limit and capacity range that is provided by the manufacturers themselves. It is essential to note that if you do not follow the relevant laws, then you could land yourself in trouble, which may not be easily countered. Hence, it is always best to testify to the ranges specified so that you are not in danger of breaking any laws or putting your child’s safety to risk at any given point in time because of course, your child’s safety will and must always come first.
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Bottom Line
If you are choosing to buy a bike seat for your child, it means that you are clearly very interested in the biking sector. In this essence, you would want your child to feel the same way about biking as you, which is having an enjoyable experience. If you want this for your child, then it is extremely important that you conduct your research very thoroughly to be able to secure the best deal for your child. A lot of times, many great deals go out of your sight because you just did not know. And that is honestly no one’s fault but your own. To avoid this, it is best to keep in check the different online stores that give you vouchers, discounts, and sales as well as physically structured shops that you are personally familiar with. Even if you are not someone who has budgetary problems, buying a bike seat, which is cheaper than usual, would honestly make you pretty happy. And to obtain this, the only way forward is to keep your eye on the prize and grasp it as soon as you find it.
Furthermore, you need to be considerate of all the guidelines that the bike seat comes with. Do not take lightly the weight and height limitations that are provided to you and refusing to acknowledge their significance. This is because if you do not pay appropriate attention to such details, you may land up with a bike seat that breaks apart too soon, and does not function the way it actually should or does. It can also affect the balance you have when you are riding your bike. Because, if you lose your balance because you did not pay heed to the height and weight capacity, you may actually cause your child to fall off because you could not control that burden or weight. It is always better to be a little extra care than being inconsiderate and causing great damage to you and your child.
Children are perhaps the most important and fragile part of one’s life. And every parent is concerned about the safety of their child and are not ready to compromise in any way. However, sometimes parents are not aware of the various factors that could actually harm your child and end up getting something that could prove to be detrimental for the child.
At the end of the day, you are the one who can decide what suits your child best. You know what your child is comfortable with, what your requirements are, how long you want to use this bike seat, and how often you will be using this bike seat. If you are someone who barely bikes around, and is not into this entire habit, then it is kind of a waste to spend such a huge amount on something you will barely use. But if you are into the sector, then you should research thoroughly so you can give your child the best option available in the market.
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