Baby Seats
Child carrier seats allow young children to be easily transported by bicycle. The additional weight of carrying your child on the bike can take some getting used to as it affects braking distances and overall maneuverability of your bike. It is a good idea to ride at moderate speeds when carrying your child. The seats are generally not recommended for children under 12 months of age, because the baby’s neck may not be strong enough to support a helmet or the inevitable bumps from cycling. Check with your medical professional if your are in doubt.
At about the age of four, children start getting too big for a seat and other options such as a trailer or child tandem attachment that join the adult bike via a hitch (alleycats or trailer bikes), can then be used. Rear-mounted child seats are by far the most popular in Australia and must conform to Standard AS 4287:1995. They mount either directly to the bike frame or come with a separate rack that can be attached to the bike with or without the seat.
Because they are mounted over the rear axle, the child tends to feel more of the bumps than the rider. Beto child seats get around this problem by using high quality shock absorbant padding on the seat and backrest areas. Some brands, like Topeak, go one step further by adding a built-in suspension system. The rear seats can make it harder for the rider to get on and off so if you are buying a bike at the same time put some thought into what style of bike will be easy for you to mount and dismount while the seat is fitted. Wearing a backpack while riding with a rear mounted child seat is often cumbersome and it tends to get in the way. If you need to carry additional items while riding consider a front mounted basket or handlebar bag. Topeak have a range of bags and baskets suitable for carrying loads of varying sizes.
Front-mounted seats that attach to the handlebar stem and have become common in Europe. Wee Ride produce front mounted seats for the Australian market. They are safe and secure and allow for more interaction with the child while riding along. There is the potential for a child to drop something into the front wheel with this style of child seat so it is a good idea to not let them hold onto bottles, toys or other objects while they are in the seat. Actually, it is a good idea to apply this rule for any child seat.
Regardless of type, the seat must be fixed securely. If you are not very handy, bike shops will usually install the seat for a small fee. Get into the habit of checking that all fastenings are tight before every ride and that the tyres are inflated high enough to cope with the additional weight. Always use the full harness. When you are not carrying the child, make sure loose harness straps cannot get caught in any moving parts. To increase night visibility, put some red 3M reflective tape on the back of the seat and some orange or yellow reflective tape on the sides and always use lights. It is recommended that you attach 2 flashing LED lights to the seat, they are relatively inexpensive to buy and make yourself and your child highly visible to motorists, other cyclists and pedestrians.
Children in a seat must wear a properly-fitted helmet that is Australian Standards approved (always look for the sticker). Avoid the ‘aero’ shape because the tail of these helmets may hit the back of the seat and force the child’s head downward. The Limar 124 helmet has been specifically designed to avoid this problem. Look for a seat with a headrest (some cheaper models only come up to shoulder height) that is offset slightly to allow room for the helmet. Some people also use a little blow-up pillow around the child’s neck as extra support when they fall asleep. The Beto Deluxe child seat has a backrest that can be moved into the reclining position if your child falls asleep.
Most important of all - never leave your child unattended in a bicycle-mounted child seat!
