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Cycling with babies and toddlers: everything you need to get started

Whether you’ve got a newborn on your hands and are already thinking about how soon you can start cycling together, or you’ve got a toddler who’s raring to get going on a balance bike, cycling with babies and toddlers is such a lovely thing to do. 

Since there’s a lot of thought and planning that can go into cycling with a baby or toddler, Cycle Sprog is here to tell you everything you need to know to get started.

Since 2012 Cycle Sprog has become the go-to source of information for cycling parents - we've ridden with kids and helped others ride with kids.  So we're experts on the ups and downs and in's and out's of cycling with little ones. 

From safety concerns about carrying babies on bikes, to practical advice on how to get toddlers rolling independently, we’ve written extensively about all things cycling with the under 3's. 

To make this process as easy as possible for you, we’ve collated all our best advice about cycling with babies and toddlers into one place. 

This is a comprehensive guide to cycling with babies and toddlers, broken down into different subjects so you can either read it in its entirety or pick and choose which parts you’re most interested in.

This guide is aimed at parents looking to cycle with children aged between birth and 3 years old. Check out our similar guide for cycling with kids for the 3-11 age group, or cycling with teenagers, if these are more relevant to you. 

A close up of Karen and her son on a bike, he's sitting on a front-mounted bike seat and wearing a helmet, holding onto the handlebars. Karen is leaning round to smile at the camera

What age can you cycle with a baby?

Before we get started with the ins and outs of cycling with babies and toddlers, it’s important to first establish at what age it’s safe to put a baby on a bike or tow them along behind you.

The answer to this question will vary, depending on the method you’re using to carry them, your baby's development, the terrain you're cycling over and your own attitude to risk whilst cycling.

Only you will know these things so only you can decide when you as a parent are ready to ride with your baby. 

These are the common ages you will come across when considering which equipment is right for your family to use. 

  • Newborn: you can carry a newborn baby by bike if they are strapped in a car seat fitted to a car seat adapter that can be found in some box cargo bikes. 
  • 9 months: from the age of 9 months it is safe to carry a baby or toddler in front- and rear-mounted bike seats, so long as they can hold their own head up for the duration of the ride
  • 1 year: Most bike trailers say they are safe to use from 1 year. Many do come with baby supports for use with younger babies, but the manufacturers usually say they can only be used in "Stroller" rather than "Ride" mode.

How to start cycling with babies and toddlers

We’ll start with the basics: HOW do you cycle with babies and toddlers? How do you physically carry them, or pull them along behind you?

Depending on where you live, you may or may not have spotted other parents out and about cycling with their children, or been inspired by seeing other parents on social media having cycling adventures with their little ones. 

Here we’ll look at all the equipment options for cycling with babies and toddlers, so you can decide which one works best for you.

This section is just about how to physically carry your children with you.

If you’re looking for advice on getting your toddler rolling independently, skip to the ride-ons and balance bikes section.

If you want a broad overview of the different ways to transport your baby or toddler by bike, we have several useful guides.

A good starting point would be our article on how to confidently go on your first family bike ride, as it gives an overview while still going into detail.

If you’ve got a very little one, you might be interested in our post that answers the questions, can I cycle with my baby in a sling or baby carrier?

If you’re still not sure, then be sure to check out our handy guide to carrying kids by bike, complete with a questionnaire to help you narrow down your options.

Equipment for carrying babies and toddlers by bike

When it comes to cycling equipment for babies and toddlers, there are a few different options to choose from.   

Which you choose will largely depend on your child's age and size, as well as your physical strength, your budget, the type of bike you're riding and the kind of cycling you're doing. 

Front seats

Lots of parents opt for a front-mounted seat for their bikes, which are suitable for children as young as 9 months old.

It’s a great way to have them up front and centre where you can see them and chat to them, and they get the best view!

It’s worth bearing in mind however that they will also get the full brunt of the elements if you’re riding in bad weather.

Front bike seats also don’t work with drop handlebars, and if you’re on the shorter side, it can be a bit cramped!

If this sounds like the best option for you, check out our guide to the best front bike seats for toddlers and young children.

Cycling with babies and toddlers: A mum cycling with a toddler in a front-mounted bike seat, seen from the front, riding towards the camera
Cycling with babies and toddlers: A dad and his young toddler wearing a bike helmet, strapped into a rear-mounted bike seat

Rear seats

Another option would be to have a seat mounted to the rear of the bike, so your child is sat behind you. These are also suitable for 9 months and up, and can be a better option if you’ve got drop bars or don’t want to be too cramped up front. 

Rear seats can be mounted either directly to the bike, or placed on top of a rack, so there are lots of options to suit different setups. 

It’s worth noting that with a rear-mounted seat, your child will have a more restricted view, and it’s difficult or impossible for you to wear a backpack.

To explore this option further, take a look at our guide to the best rear bike seats for toddlers and small children.

Cargo bikes

There’s a reason family cargo bikes are soaring in popularity: we’d say that if your budget allows, then this is the absolute best way to carry your children by bike for everyday journeys.

They’re purpose built for it, rather than an additional accessory to add to your current bike, where you may need to worry about compatibility issues, or your ability to ride with the additional weight.

There are different types — long-tail, two-wheeled box and three-wheeled box — so start by deciding which type of cargo bike is best for your family, and then move onto our guide to the best cargo bikes for families.

Two small children on a long-tail cargo bike by the coast
a man riding a road bike with panniers and a trailer at the seaside

Trailers

Pulling a trailer can be great if you’re transporting up to two children at the same time, and they’re safe to use for babies aged one and over. The one notable exception is the Hamax Outback trailer, which is safe for babies as young as 6 months old.

A trailer can also double up as extra storage, making them especially handy if you also plan to do the food shop by bike, or have an older sibling to take to school. There are even trailers that convert into strollers and joggers for when you’re not pedalling.

We recommend you start by choosing one of the best kids’ bike trailers, and after that consult our guide to how to hitch a bike trailer, to make sure you’ve got a compatible setup. 

New online course: "Understanding Cycling Gear for Babies and Toddlers"

These early years are so precious - don't miss out on cycling with your little one!

Our new online course is a great way to quickly learn about all the different equipment available to cycle with babies and toddlers, plus the pros and cons of each, so you can decide what suits your family and get out riding ASAP.

Sign up now for our Understanding Cycling Gear for Babies and Toddlers course and start making memories this summer.

Guide to bike helmets for babies and toddlers

Whether you want your child to wear a helmet is a personal choice, and not all children will cooperate anyway, especially younger ones. So even with the best of intentions you may find yourself wondering the best way to go forward. As a starting point the first question to answer is, should my child wear a bike helmet?

If you’re going with ‘yes’, then here’s some of the practical advice we’ve written over the years about protecting your child’s head while cycling. First off, make sure you know how to measure your child’s head for a bike helmet so that you get the right size. 

After that you’ll want to check, is your child’s bike helmet fitted correctly?, because a poor fit can do more damage than good if the worst were to happen.

If safety is your biggest concern, then you might also appreciate a guide to safety standards to look out for when buying a kids bike helmet.

Don't forget to replace their helmet when the time comes!

Unfortunately lots of parents don't know that helmets degrade over time, and once they've suffered an impact (whether that's from a crash or simply being dropped on the ground), they can suffer damage that may not be visible, but can put your child's safety at risk. Always be careful when handling them (no throwing them around!) and replace helmets every 2-3 years.

Two parents and their twin daughters smiling at the camera in their bike helmets and waterproofs
A child's helmet with cartoon sloths printed on it, modelled by a toddler, as seen from behind

Small sized kids bike helmets we recommend

We like to get hands on as many helmets as possible so we can confidently recommend the best to parents.

Over the years we’ve done just that, so these are the best bike helmets for babies and toddlers that we think are worth investing in to protect the smallest of heads. 

If you’re looking for more in-depth information on individual models, then check out our kids’ bike helmet reviews.

Useful accessories for cycling with babies and toddlers

When you're carrying or pulling your child with you by bike your main concern is going to be how to keep them protected from the elements.

Most premium equipment will come with a range of accessories that keep them either dry and warm, or protected from the rain.

If you're cycling all year round with your little one, then there are several other accessories that help with keeping warm on a bike seat, cargo bike or in a trailer.

We've also got a whole guide to winter cycling with kids with more specific cold weather advice.

Once your child is riding their own ride-on or balance bike you may want to check out our guide to the best kids’ cycling gloves.

It may not seem obvious, but you can get gloves for children as young as 2, and the main thing they’re good for is protecting the delicate skin on their palms in the event of a fall.

The front end of a long-tail cargo bike, locked to a sheffield stand

Bike locks

If you’re leaving your bike unattended then another very useful accessory is a good quality lock. Unfortunately no matter which part of the world you’re in, you’re likely to find that bike theft is a problem (this is especially true in cities), so it’s best to keep your bikes safe!

We’ve listed the best kids bike locks that should work well for your child’s bike, especially if you’re leaving it unattended at the park, for example. These can also work well for your own bike. 

If you have a cargo bike that you leave unattended while running errands, then we’d recommend something more robust, which you’ll find in this guide to the best cargo bike locks. 

Furthermore, we’ve written a comprehensive guide to cargo bike insurance, which we’d recommend reading if you're considering buying a cargo bike. 

Where you can hire before you buy

Whether you’re considering a trailer or a cargo bike, making a big purchase can be daunting when you have no experience of the item in question. What if you don’t like it? What if your little one point blank refuses to use it?

Thankfully there are lots of companies out there who can hire out equipment, so you can try before you buy.

If you're UK based and think this would be useful for you and your family, then check out our guide to where to try family cycling equipment, which is broken down by region. It should be easy enough for you to find out if there’s something nearby that you can make use of.

Bikes for toddlers

By the time your child is toddling they’re probably raring to move around in as many different ways as possible, so this is a great time to give them a love of cycling! 

If you’re thinking of buying your toddler their first ever bike, we’ve got some useful guides to get them started at a young age.

Most toddlers will benefit from either a balance bike or a pre-balance bike, also known as a ride-on - many being suitable from as soon as your child is toddling around. 

If you're really keen to get your child pedalling then we recommend you take our quiz Is your child ready to learn to ride a bike? because starting them on a pedal bike before they’re ready runs the risk of putting them off. 

Two small toddlers riding toddlebikes outside together

Ride-ons and pre-balance bikes

Usually from around the age of one, a child will be able to toddle about on a ride-on, or toddlebike.

These usually have three or four very small wheels, so they’re not technically "bikes", but try telling that to a proud one year old with their first "bike"!

They’re a great way to get toddlers ready for their first two-wheeled balance bike when they've developed the strength and co-ordination needed. 

Check out our guide to the best bikes for a 1 year-old to explore the various options. 

Balance bikes

Once your child is ready to progress to two wheels, have a look through what we think are the best balance bikes.

These are small two-wheeled bikes without pedals that they scoot around on with their feet.

Balance bikes are a much better option than stabilisers for the vast majority of children, as they teach them how to steer with their bodies and balance while in motion, which can be learnt from a younger age. 

These are vital skills they need that make the progression to pedalling much easier when the time comes.

For more on this, have a read of does my child need stabilisers? and if you’re not entirely sure what you should be looking for when choosing a balance bike don’t worry. We’ve got a handy guide that answers the question, what is a balance bike?

A toddler seen from behind riding a balance bike on a pump track
155 bikes match

Kids’ bike search

The absolute easiest way to find the best option for your little one is to use our kids’ bike search.

Simply use the filters (including your child’s favourite colour) to narrow down your options, and our database will do the rest!

Balance bike reviews

After 12 years of writing about family cycling and children’s bikes, it’s no wonder we’ve amassed so much hands-on experience with the different options out there.

Check out our balance bike reviews, to see which balance bikes we reckon are the best to give your child a life long love of cycling.

A side view of the Shotgun Dirt Hero balance bike photographed in the woods

Where to ride together

When it comes to cycling with babies and toddlers, it’s one thing to take them to the park or have them whizzing around the garden, and quite another to go on a family day out or holiday with the bikes. We’ve been doing a lot of work to build up a bank of family-friendly cycling routes around the UK.  We've got lots of routes and rides write ups in our "Where to Ride" section. 

We've also been developing a collection of family friendly bike rides which you can find on our Komoot collection.

For some bikepacking inspiration, check out this guest blog post: How I bikepacked in winter with a toddler.

Cycling after childbirth

If you're looking into the ins and outs of cycling with a baby, then it's likely you're also considering the practicalities of cycling after childbirth. We've got some resources to help you with this, whether you're concerned about cycling while breastfeeding, or the trials and tribulations of getting back on the saddle as a new mum.

Before you reach this stage at all, if you happen to be reading ahead of time, you could also give some thought to whether or not you want to continue cycling during pregnancy, in which case you might also enjoy reading Dawn Rahman’s story on cycling through pregnancy.

If you like reading first-hand accounts from cycling parents who've been there before, we've also got a guest post called, How I started cycling with my 5 week old baby in a cargo bike.

Finally, if you're asking yourself 'can I cycle with my baby in a sling, wrap or baby carrier?' then make sure you read our article on this complicated subject.

Troubleshooting

With children, especially the very young ones, it’s very rare that things go smoothly! So don’t despair if there are some teething problems, here’s the help you might need. 

Check out our article, help! Why doesn’t my child want to ride their bike?

If you have any troubleshooting questions for us to answer, please leave a comment so we can feature them here for everyone, to keep this section as helpful as possible.

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