Toddler bike seat vs. bike trailer?

Question

Our 2.2 year old toddler seems very interested in a random, abandoned bike seat we found, so we're considering some method of letting him ride with us. But I am not sure whether to get ...

• A bike seat, which fits one toddler, and mounts above the rear wheel on the rack

• A bike trailer, which fits possibly two toddlers, has its own wheels and attaches to the rear of the bicycle.

It seems to me the trailer is more flexible and potentially safer, since the center of gravity is much closer to the ground. I also worry that having a thirty+ pound weight on the rear rack will cause us to make more riding mistakes, and if the bike falls over, there goes the toddler.

However, the bike seat seems more fun for the toddler since he can see more of the ride and feels more like a co-rider than a passenger.

It's hard for me to decide without trying both, and right now I've tried neither. Can someone who has tried both a bike trailer and a bike seat with their toddlers share their experiences and thoughts on this? I'm interested in the pros and cons from people who have spent some time in the saddle with their toddlers using both.

Answer 1

I've had both. A really nice trailer and a child bike seat -- where the child sits between the rider and the handlebar (like this WeeRide Kangaroo Child Bike Seat).

My daughter was ok with the trailer, but absolutely preferred the seat.

I found with the seat in front of me, the weight didn't affect me almost at all, and if the bike was going to fall, I'd be in a much better position to protect my child (since she's directly in front of me).

We used that for a long time and never ever had an issue (and let's face it, with the kid along for the ride, you're not likely to ever ride like a madman, right?)

She's six years old, and still misses it (we stopped when she was about 3.5 yrs old--just getting too big!)

Answer 2

I would never use anything but a trailer for safety reasons alone. The amount of force which can be applied to a small child's head from a fall from a bike seat can cause a severe injury. Even as an adult riding carefully on a bike path I've had an accident (dog running in front of me). With a trailer it is nearly impossible to flip or cause other blunt force damage to the passengers. Short of riding off a cliff or getting run over by an automobile the kiddos are safe.

Answer 3

We live in the country, and ride on gravel roads pretty much exclusively. We used a trailer for years and have kept it even though the kids outgrew it long ago. It remains useful years later when the kid(s) are riding solo. Our trailer is over 20 years old and we used it just last week, riding out to pick up our CSA veggies, which probably weighed more than many toddlers.

The big trailer advantages are that it can hold two, it can hold stuff (snacks, drinks, diaper bag, picnic blanket) as well as people, and it can hold a sleeping infant in a car seat. As well, if you need to stop and get off your bike for something, you don't need to get the child out of the trailer and you probably would need to get them out of a seat. Since ours comes with a cover, you can also keep a little one shaded or rain-protected easily. It lets you start taking your child with you much younger than a seat does, and simplifies longer trips.

Be aware that some older trailers have safety issues around finger entrapment in the wheels. If you buy a used one, check first if it was recalled for those problems.

Answer 4

I'll not speak for the trailer, so much as against the rear child bike seat. My sister, was at 2 years old, riding in a high quality, bike shop sold and properly mounted bike seat.

She was strapped in, and all was well. My dad was the captain of the vessel, and they were having a grand time.

My dad hit a broken bottle on the road. Never saw it, he said. But the cut in the tire was enough to deflate it pretty instantly, and between balancing the weight of the child on the back, and the suddenly squirrelly handling of the bike, he crashed.

Dad was fine. He was able to protect himself as the bike went down. My sister, in her strapped in condition, was less ok. She had 31 stitches in her face and whiplash, before all was said and done. Because she hadn't the age, strength or experience to protect herself, and my Dad couldn't do it either in the middle of an unexpected emergency.

There is a post here which says:

(and lets face it, with the kid along for the ride, you're not likely to ever ride like a madman, right?)

The facts are that you don't wear a seat belt for the days when you plan to get in a crash. You do it because you can't guarantee you won't, and it's just smart.

I feel the same way about child seats on bikes. You can protect yourself. The kid can't. And you can't protect them by guaranteeing no accidents.

Answer 5

Speaking as a parent and a former 3 year old, I'd advise against the rear bike seat. When I was 3, my mom bought one of those and popped me on it. We were out riding for a long time and I wanted to stop, so... I jammed my foot into the rear wheel. That was a REALLY bad idea. Lesson learned: don't stick foot in bike wheels.

Now that I'm a parent myself, I think I'd rather have my kid in a bike trailer or one of the seats like Chris or Garret mentioned that goes between your seat and the handlebars. To me, it seems like you'd have better control and could better protect the kid if something bad happens. And the something bad would NEVER be your kid sticking his foot in the wheels.

Answer 6

Consider at least one alternative to your (seemingly binary) choice - trike with frontal bay:

Cargo bike makers carry high hopes

or their more attractive cousin

Kangaroobike by Winther

I'm sure there are similar ones available in your locality so you don't have to consider complex logistics to get them from Denmark or even immigration to .dk in the bottom line ;)

Answer 7

I've used both and prefer the trailer:

• Weatherproof
• Easily swapped from one bike to another
• Works with my good racer and a mountain bike that would never fit a seat rack
• A much lower center of gravity. You almost don't notice it's there, while the child seat makes the bike less stable.
• Plus, you can also fit a picnic bag or shopping in the trailer.

Answer 8

I use both (we have an 18 month year old and a 3 year old). The trailer for going riding on tracks, small roads and old disused railways at the weekends, the seat for taking the older one to nursery on 'bigger' roads.

The trailer is fun for both of them, plus they can sleep in it, and we can cover a bit of distance - the seat is probably more comfortable and safer/more sensible for riding in town.

The seat does add a bit of weight and you can't swing your leg over the saddle to get on (or at least without performing a roundhouse kick on your son/daughter), so that can be a bit of a challenge - but really it works fine.

Jon

Answer 9

Having used them both, I say they are useful in different contexts. The bike seat I have is someting like this:

combined with a dress guard like this:

I have no fear for small feet getting stuck. The seat is much faster when you just want to pop over to get some milk and such, but its limiting when bringing more then one child with you or have more goods to carry (on the other hand its wonderful when you have no kid but grocery bags). I stopped using it when my youngest was about 3½ years old, it then started to feel to wobbly.

On the other hand a trailer is more work to get going, but useful with heavier kids (mine is rated up to 35kg). I bought it when I separated and didn't have access to a car anymore and it have served us well.

Answer 10

I did some research on this issue and ended up going with a trailer for my two-year old son. We use it for our daily commute to day care and work, and so far it seems comfortable for him, and easy for me to handle. Cars give us plenty of space. My one issue is the amount of time it takes me to get the trailer out of its storage shed, lock up the shed, attach trailer to the bike, and then at day care, detach, lock both etc. I am starting to envy parents with bike seats who show up and get in and out quickly to drop off their kids.

Answer 11

Markijbema's comment on the original question touched on one aspect that nobody has mentioned:

"A seat is easier to combine with a typical dutch bike, which is less race-y than the crazy bikes people in other countries seem to use for daily use"

The construction and design of the bicycle determines how well it handles a load, either over the rear wheel, front wheel, or distributed evenly (in this case a 20-40 pound child). I'd like to compare three bicycles of roughly the same price point and frame/wheel size (~560mm, all measurements in mm or degrees).

The bikes: A) Surly Long Haul Trucker--700c, heavy duty touring, B) GT Zaskar Sport--29", hardtail mountain bike, C) Specialized Allez Comp--700c, speedy road bike

((I couldn't find any geometry details on Dutch-style cruisers, but I feel that they will be more in line with the Long Haul Trucker.))

• Chainstay length affects whether your heels hit your pannier bags and the size of tire you can ride. (A) 460, B) 445, C) 405)

• The wheelbase affects handling. A longer wheelbase generally increases stability. (A) 1056, B) 1110, C) 986)

• BB Drop determines BB Height as well as the length of the stays and down tube, affecting the overall flexibility of the bike, as short tubes are stiffer and more responsive. (A) 78, B) 65, C) 69)

• Fork rake influences steering stability. Larger rake offset means more stable steering. (A) 45, B) 39, C) 45)

• Head tube angle influences steering response in concert with fork rake. (A) 72, B) 72, C) 73.5)

Each bike has its virtues, but not all bikes are designed to carry a load.

While the Allez is a fast and nimble road bike, it would feel twitchy and harsh with a child in a seat. There is no provision for mounting such a rack to this bike and frame clearance allows for 28c tires maximum, increasing the likelihood of a flat (also, this wouldn't be a fun ride for the kid!)

Mountain bikes like the Zaskar are becoming common for general riding. They're reasonably comfortable, have quick handling, and allow for large cushy tires. Like the Allez, however, that quick steering response is not a good feature when hauling anything. Also like the Allez, there are no provisions for mounting racks. With a high bottom bracket and cushy tires, your seat will be much higher and, consequently, you won't be able to put a foot down without dismounting.

The sensible choice would be the Long Haul Trucker, but of course it was designed for just such a load. It accommodates cushy tires, fenders, lots of racks, and a good deal of weight. It isn't as nimble as the Allez and can't ride over fallen trees, but it is very good at moving things around.

When it comes to choosing between a trailer and a mounted seat for hauling your kids around, not all bikes are equal.

Answer 12

A friend of mine wrote a blog post about this recently, building a pretty solid argument for a bike seat that goes between your seat and the handlebars:

We considered a bike cart, something like the InStyle Quick N EZ Bicycle Trailer, but honestly? I wasn't totally comfortable with the idea of Jasper being in a cart behind me — a cart that people driving their monster SUVs and trucks wouldn't be able to see easily. Since we ride on the road, I wanted something that meant I could see Jasper, know that he was safe, and not have to worry about him overheating or the driver behind us not realizing someone was in the cart in the first place.

So then we moved on to bike seats that go behind you — something like the Beto Deluxe Reclining Seat, or, if you're working with a budget, the Bell Classic Bicycle Carrier. The back-of-the-bike-seat seemed a little bit better, at first, but then it rapidly occurred to both of us that my balance would be thrown way off. Plus, I wouldn't be able to see him — my primary problem with the cart.

After some random Amazon searches, I happened upon the Bobike Mini Seat — a front-of-the-bike seat!

Answer 13

My wife and I have been riding our son around in an iBert front mounted seat since he was able to hold his head up with a helmet on.

http://www.ibertinc.com/

The seat mounts on the handlebar stem and is easy to get on and off. It mounts on the handlebar stem, which can scratch the bike's paint...so i wrapped a piece of an old innertube around the stem before mounting it. Once mounted, it is not super rigid, and can move around a bit, but it is impossible for it to come off. At first, I was worried about the movement of the seat, but it ultimately served as a shock absorber. If I remove the inner tube, the seat is more rigid...but after testing I decided to keep the inner tube in place. I also put a swim noodle piece I cut around the seat stem to add a tighter fit.

Being that the seat mounts in the front, it is a lot of fun for our son because he gets to see everything very clearly, as well as put his hands on the handle bars, just like mom.

GOOD:

• front mount provides lots of stability and ease of control

• best visibility for the toddler

• easy on and off, but near impossible to fall off
• easy in and out, my wife puts our son in and goes for rides on her own
• it is fun for toddlers to be up front and pretend to stear
• very light weight, which makes for easy balance

BAD

• it is a bit wobbly, but sturdy. I was worried at first, but it has turned out to be a non-issue

• not really a "BAD," but this seat will only be useable for a short while as it is intended for toddlers...although I can see it lating into our son's third year and he is in the 105% for height.

• there is not back head support, which is problematic when our son falls asleep on rides; we have to hold his head up until we get home.

Overall, I recommend this seat, and would but it again.

Answer 14

It would be great if there was scientific evidence for the safer option There are some crash videos (in German) but it gives an idea how seat vs trailer behaves in a crash

Here is an interesting information about european child test requirements and tests http://www.podilates.gr/sites/default/files/EN_14344.e.2004.pdf Thule provided this link to me and their carriers claim to pass these requirements

Personally, I was using a front seat that my child enjoyed a lot. I recently crashed in my bike, luckily without my child and it made me rethink my choice. During the crash I completely flew of my bike and it was scary to think what could have happened to my child if she was in it. The crash was absolutely unexpected, after looking at the road, my tire probably got into a metal piece on the road. Sadly I am abandoning biking with my child until I find a safer option based on tests and not anecdotal evidence.

Just a couple of weeks ago witnessed a bike standing with double stand falling with a kid. I don't remember the source but the article talked about most accidents are cause by stationary bikes falling with a kid; a parent forgot something, leaves the bike and the bike falls. Never leave a bike with a kid without holding the bike.

Answer 15

In France, bike trailers are forbidden for transporting children on regular roads.

Moreover, many car drivers told me that bike trailers are almost invisible, even with flags.

Answer 16

After reading about this issue all night, and thinking about it for days, I think I'm going to go with a trailer. I may be able to do well enough with a seat, but I'd rather not risk my daughter's safety. I know my wife will feel even more strongly about that than I do. I just can't shake the chill I get when I think about tipping my bike over. I'm a pretty good rider, but even at low speed, things have caused me to spill. I can walk it off, but I can't imagine how awful I would feel if something awful happened to my little girl. I'd rather her be safe than I be sorry.

Thank you to everyone who has posted in response to this issue.

I must say, too, that the cargo bike and kangaroo (I think it was called) were certainly interesting. Had I known about them before we bought our bikes, I might have considered one.

Answer 17

If the cyclist with multiple years of active driving experience keeps the clever speed for the situation, just a flat tire or a sharp turn is unlikely to get him falling on the ground. This does happen at times but mostly doing something stupid like going 40 km/h downhill or not watching your road, that with the child on the seat you for sure cannot afford.

I was more afraid of the possible collision, and I concluded that the trailer has the bigger chances for collision, because of it is low, difficult to see, extends dimensions and restricts agility if something.

After long thinking I decided that the seat is actually a safer alternative for me because its safety much more depends upon myself: I can pick the suitable and reasonably slow speed, I can watch where I am going and in case I see the danger I can brake, turn and evade more efficiently. Hence there was a seat at that time.

Answer 18

Be sure to take a look at the Weehoo pedal trailers. I have a single and a double and love them. Not for infants (I used a Mekaroo cargo bike then) these are awesome for kids from 3 to about 9.