Philip Armstrong said:Is 10 months too young for a trailer or child seat?
Its generally reckoned that 6 months is the youngest a child
should be in a childseat, but the governing factor is the
strength of the neck. I used a child seat for my eldest from
7 months and she thoroughly enjoyed it, especially kicking
dad up the rear. You will need to ensure that feet are
protected from teh wheels - more important as the legs grow
longer, and that teddy is firmly attached on a short piece
of cord. You also need to be careful parking a bike. Never
leave it resting against a wall (or anything)as the
youngster can push the wall amd topple the bike over.
However, that said I do beleive a trailer is a much better
option and since then we have had another three children who
have all taken the trailer route.
Quoted message said:Is it the consensus of the group that cycle helmets for
little-uns are worthwhile, even given the acknowledged
lack of evidence for any real protection offered to
adults?
I think a helmet is a good idea, certainly in a child seat.
I was convinced of this when on a cycle camping holiday in
Corsica and my front low-rider pannier clipped a kerb. (I
was doing about 2mph at the time). the bike fell over and my
youngster got a small bruise on the forehead. I have never
forgiven myself (although I am still firmly anti-
compulsion). However, my children only wear helmets now if
they wish to as I'd prefer they rode than not at all.
Quoted message said:(My feeling is that chidren are more likely to bump their
heads {lack of physical strength combined with greater
weight of head in proportion to body} and thus gain
greater benefit from a suitable helmet.)
See above.
Quoted message said:Thoughts?
I would certainly go for a trailer. We used a Burley d'Lite
which although pricey was well-worth the money. Our other
children went into it from the age of six weeks by using a
carrycot strapped in. Once their necks were strong enough a
light car seat was strapped into the trailer. From around
3yrs 6months they went onto the backs of tandems (or tandem
trike) with kiddiecranks and helped pull their younger
siblings, before moving onto their own bikes.
For one period we had kiddiecranks and a kiddieseat on a
tandem trike and of course the stability problem did not
arise. This was perhaps our best combination.
The trailer handled superbly and other than the weight, had
no effect on handling. There was also plenty of space at the
rear for some of our camping equipment and other bits and
bobs - such as nappies when very young. A big advantage was
parking when we would just stop without the worry of having
to unstrap from a kiddieseat on an unstable bike. When in
the trailer the children never wore helmets. The tandems,
and trailer have covered much of UK and Europe, and it was a
sad day when we had to sell the trailer, albeit to a very
good home. The tandem and tandem trike are still
occasionally used.
All four chlldren are now on their own bikes and regularly
cycle, so something must have been right.
Hope this helps.
John B
