Choosing a Toddler Bike Seat

Transporting your toddler by bike opens up a variety of gear options: Dutch box or cargo bikes, trailers, and mounted seats are among the more popular choices. We discuss our decision making process for  choosing a toddler bike seat for commuting and other short duration rides.

With CZ spending more time on JZ’s bike, and greatly preferring it over the pram, I decided I want to add a seat to my bike. CZ and I generally go on shorter trips to the park, library, and fruit stand, where a bike would significantly decrease our travel time and increase our range. As with any bike-related decision, there are loads of options and they are all fairly expensive. While the sales staff (and my husband) are knowledgeable, it can be overwhelming to discuss new purchases with them. This time, I did a bit of reading online, which only exacerbated the information overload: Should we buy another bike for a bespoke carrying solution? Or a trailer for reclined sleeping position? Or a mounted seat for a simple addition?

While the options are overwhelming, the solution for your individual needs can be clear. The key to choosing a toddler bike seat comes from answering some basic, initial questions to quickly eliminate several choices, before diving into the details of your specific solution. Unfortunately, this is not the path that I followed, and therefore I have an excess of information on all the options, even the ones should have been eliminated early. Luckily, I can now write this article, and take consolation that my reading about the best three-wheel, covered trailers for biking in the winter in Minnesota wasn’t totally wasted.

Choosing a Toddler Bike Seat

Before you even start Googling – although you are here, so you already be part way down the rabbit hole, decide if you want a bike purpose-built for carrying children and cargo? I am currently against adding another bike to our fleet without additional children, so we painlessly eliminated the Dutch box bikes and cargo bikes. That being said, out of all the options, box/cargo bikes are our favourite (and unfortunately, the most expensive) solution. Dutch bikes are specifically built for carrying heavy loads, so they are extremely stable, comfortable for the kids, and often accompanied with electric assist for climbing hills. We recently took a Bakfiets on a test ride and were surprised that it handles well and is lighter than it looks. But, on to the next question:

Will you haul multiple kids for longer distances and/or uncomfortable weather?

Another option to consider are bike trailers. As I see it, the main benefits are the carrying capacity, comfortable sleeping arrangement, and weatherproofing capabilities. For our one-child family, we use JZ’s bike for cargo-heavy grocery runs and longer rides (in which CZ often naps).  We are still working out an optimal sleeping arrangement for her, but a travel pillow keeps her head from bouncing around -although she is prone to throw it as soon as she wakes! Trailers shield from wind and rain, as well as keep kids warmer with the addition of blankets. We are blessed by Sydney’s temperate weather and even in the winter, temperatures rarely dip below 10C/50F. Additionally, we are fair-weather riders, and prefer to take the train over a wet ride in the rain.

Another item to consider before purchasing a trailer is whether you will ride in the city/streets or trails/wider paths. Biking in the city requires some degree of agility and sharp turns that may cause a trailer to tip (which we have unfortunately witnessed several times). Trailers are often much wider than a standard bike, which could cause issues on bike lanes or if you need to hop up on the sidewalk.

A trailer is out for us, so we move on to the last option: a mounted seat.

Unfortunately for our streamlined process, the mounted seat is actually two choices: front vs. rear. Just when you thought we were close to a final decision, there are more options! Mounted seats are convenient because they are quick addition to your current bike, with minimal effects on bike handling.

CZ’s current seat is a rear-mounted Yepp Maxi on JZ’s cargo bike. Our initial plan was to continue using it and simply move it between our two bikes. The Yepp seats have an excellent Easy Fit system that makes this possible, and the weight limit is higher, so CZ will be able to ride in it until she is 22kg. Unfortunately, my existing rear rack will not hold that much weight, and needs to be upgraded. Knowing I wanted to use a mounted seat, I was ready to visit a bike shop, and determine which rack upgrade to choose. We went to Omafiets, one of the most kid-oriented bike shops we’ve found in Sydney.

Be firm in your answers to these questions, before going to a bike store:

1. Decide which type of carrying system you are interested in: Dutch box bike, cargo bike, trailer or mounted seat
2. Determine your ideal load, 1 kid, multiple kids, kid + groceries, etc..
3. Know how much your child weighs

Even with this focus, I left Omafiets with more questions than solutions because our wonderful expert, Jessica, encouraged me to take the front seat (Yepp Mini) for a ride. She spoke from personal experience that front seats provide the child with improved views (when not on a cargo bike), and they allow for a more intimate ride. You can easily chat with your toddler, and she can feel your arms around her during the ride. Additionally, the front seat has the option of a pillowed headrest that will be awesome for those mid-ride naps CZ is prone to taking.

I liked the idea of CZ enjoying a better view, the comfy napping headrest, and easy access to mum, but having her so close made me nervous about visibility over her head, handlebar distractions, knocking my knees, and throwing off my balance. To assuage my fears, Jessica set up the Yepp Mini on an electric bike, and let me take it for a test ride. CZ and I slowly and steadily rode around the Omafiets shop, down the bike lane and through the alley around the block. I felt surprisingly stable with the front seat, and the electric capacity meant I barely needed to pedal, which let me focus on the seat and steering.

While the test ride allowed me to experience some of the positives of a front seat, I still had doubts about incorporating it onto my bike, especially in light of some recently obtained scars. The heavier electric bike seemed significantly more stable than my lightweight commuter.

We left the shop mulling over the following:

Front seat pros:

• CZ loved having her own bell to ring, and handle bars to grasp
• Great sleep arrangement for a non-trailer bike
• We can easily communicate
• Reportedly better bike handling and weight distribution than back seat, even when not on an electric
• Can still have bags on the back (that is, once I purchase them)

Back seat pros:

• CZ is well within the weight limit
• I can still stand to pedal up large hills without the obstruction of a seat
• We already own the seat

With all of these factors in mind, I realized that the front provides a more enjoyable ride for the child while the back can be more enjoyable for the parent. Stability is a big factor for me, so I am leaning towards having the extra weight in the front of my bike, since I prefer JZ ride the cargo bike. However, I am nervous about having her so close and possibly being a distraction.

Stay tuned for our decision and CZ’s first impressions of riding with mummy!