Thule Yepp 2 Mini Front Bike Seat Review

A front bike seat is a great way to get out on a bike ride with a toddler from the age of about 9 months.  The Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat is one of the most popular premium front bike seats available.

We've already had a glowing review of the Thule Yepp 2 Maxi rear seat, so we were eager to get our hands on their front seat to see if it was of similar quality and comfort for our 10-month-old tester.

A front seat is ideal for babies and toddlers as they are kept close to you for reassurance and encouragement and you can interact with them easily as they are in the comfort of your arms.

Our tester E and her family were eager to get back into cycling and get ready for the upcoming nursery run.

Thule is known for making top-of-the-range cycling accessories, from front and rear seats to trailers and we are excited to put the Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat to the test.

If at the end of the review, you are still wondering what the best way to carry your baby or toddler on a bike is, head to our How to Carry Your Kids By Bike questionnaire for some help and inspiration.

Disclosure: Cycle Sprog were sent the Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat to review. We were not paid to write this review, and all opinions are our own. We do use affiliate links so may get a small commission if you choose to buy through the links on this page. This funds the website, and we thank you for your support.

About our reviewer

We started using the Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat with our little girl E just before she was 10 months old. She had good trunk and neck control at this point and nice long-wake windows. We are both keen cyclists and cycled lost for transport and leisure before we had E.

As a family, we enjoy riding on quiet roads, around the local park and are building up to cycling the nursery run.

Neither of us are very tall parents so we needed something she would be comfortable in, and we would be comfortable riding with small bike frames.

We used Cycle Sprog's How To Carry Children By Bike questionnaire to help us choose a seat style.  We liked that with a front seat we could better interact with E in a front seat and we tend to use rucksacks rather than pannier bags so felt a front seat would work best for us. 

When the Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat box arrived E was eager to get involved (she does love a cardboard box!) and we were pleased there was only a small amount of assembly required and easy-to-follow instructions. The seat also turned up with no excess nasty plastic or polystyrene packaging which was a nice bonus! 

We were lucky enough to have support from Emily from Cycle Sprog to help us set up the seat. We needed to raise my handlebars to create enough room for the bracket to attach but that was the only tricky bit.

The bracket attaches with a simple Allen key (provided) and then the seat clips onto that with a satisfying click.

Since it's so easy to clip on and off, we plan to get a second bracket attachment so we can easily swap the seat between bikes for nursery pick-ups. The bracket also has a key to lock the seat when you’re out and about which is handy.

We loved the colour and the ‘croc’ feel to the plastic of the seat - it is easy to wipe clean, keep dry and scratch-resistant, as well as being comfy for E.

Adjusting the Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat

I was pleasantly surprised at how small the seat was having only really seen larger rear seats.

As the seat is small and well designed for little ones, E's head was really comfortable in her helmet, it sat just above the seat back. 

The shoulder straps sat perfectly behind E's shoulders rather than up by her ears so she looked really good in the seat fit-wise.  There was a lot of strap to tighten around this little 9 month old but we had no problem making sure everything was tight enough.

The buckle was easy to use and unlike pram and car seat buckles, you don't have to click in the left and right together which made it significantly less faffy with a wiggly baby. 

The footrests are pretty big and the straps didn't tighten that well around her shoe-less feet. It was difficult to find a balance with tight enough and not pressing too hard on her feet as the straps are a hard plastic.

That being said, she didn't seem to mind and by the time we’re doing nursery runs, she’ll be in shoes. 

Before our first ride with the Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat

I wanted to try the bike and seat before trying with E as I was anticipating it to change how the bike handled, and I hadn't really ridden that much since being pregnant.

Once the Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat was fitted I loaded it up with some heavy veg (potatoes and a butternut squash) and rode it around my local neighbourhood to get used to how it felt with the extra weight and object in the way.

This was essential to me feeling confident riding with E on board as I knew I could confidently handle and navigate my bike before loading it up with my previous cargo. 

(I would recommend properly strapping in your butternut squash if you do this though!)

We then practised getting E in and out of the seat, so that I could do it safely on my own, knowing I wasn't going to topple the bike with her in the seat.

We found leaning the bike against a solid wall or fence the easiest way to get her loaded in when there wasn't another adult around to hold the bike. My bike has a kickstand, but I would ideally like a more stable stand to trust it holding the bike with the additional weight- so we'll stick with a wall lean for now.

Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat first ride

Riding with E in the front seat was definitely heavier and took a bit of time to get used to and build my confidence. 

The additional weight was noticeable around corners and when starting and stopping, and it's not possible to make tight corners and turns. I certainly had to be very controlled initially as I got used to the weight on the handlebars.

I wanted to have some practice rides off busy roads when I wasn't in a rush to get used to it. By the third ride, I felt we had got there.

For our first ride with the Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat, I walked to the local park with E in a sling to meet a friend, we then cycled around the park together, so I had another pair of hands for getting E in and out of the seat while I got used to it all. I then walked home pushing my bike with E happily still in the seat, to avoid some busy junctions.

Having the seat upfront somewhat alters the way you pedal, to avoid your knees hitting the seat. As the seat sits quite high on my small framed bike this isn't too much of an issue as my leg rotation doesn't get too high, and I quickly got used to the change in riding style.

We'll only be doing short rides with this seat, but if you are planning long rides and are worried about your knees then a rear seat might be a better choice as it doesn't affect your riding position.

E was fascinated on the first ride, looking around and taking it all in. She loved it and was entertained for a good hour - she had her best sleep in a long time afterwards!

Since getting the Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat set up we have had rides in the park, to groups and practice nursery runs, a quiet 15-minute cycle in a residential area just outside the city.

It has become a brilliant family activity and I enjoy being able to go a bit further and faster than with her in the pushchair.

We're planning on taking it on our family holidays and will be using the car a lot less than we would have done for the nursery runs when she starts nursery soon.

E does get pretty sleepy in the seat, I think from using her senses so much, as well as the fresh air.

While she's small we’ll stick with short rides so she doesn't fall asleep as I don't like the thought of her sleeping in the seat at this young age.

The seat does not recline and my feeling is that her head would drop and not maintain a good airway and since I wouldn't be able to see her, personally, I wouldn’t risk it.

For family days out, we've decided to pack the baby carrier and pop off the bikes for a walk when she gets sleepy so she can nap safely in her carrier. 

On the plus side, she’s always slept really well after a bike ride!

Quality of the Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat

We were impressed with the quality of the Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat. From the first impressions, you could tell this was a premium quality, well-made child seat.

We have used it for a few months now with no sign of wear, and know of other families with Thule Yepp front and rear seats and you can barely tell they have been used for years on end.

The shoulder straps have a rubbery pad on them to keep them from slipping off little shoulders, as well as being durable and dribbleproof! They are easily adjusted and have a large size range. 

The seat plastic feels similar to a croc shoe so is comfortable for E as well as giving some cushioning on bumpier terrain. It is wipable for baby related messes as well as waterproof and drains well if left out in the rain.

Thoughts from the Sprog

E liked the black bar that she could hold onto and bang during our rides. I would imagine you could also clip on toys to keep a bored baby more occupied but for now being up front and getting to see everything seems to keep her plenty entertained.

She liked to see people and children when she was on the bike and could enjoy being waved at and waving at others. 

She's nice and high so very visible to other road users, but I do find myself wanting a ‘baby on board’ reflective jacket to alert motorists behind us. 

Alternatives to the Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat

There are several different front seat options on the market if the Thule Yepp 2 Mini front seat doesn't suit your budget or style of riding.

The Urban Iki front seat is an alternative option. It is a little cheaper, comes in a great range of colours and fits in a very similar way. It is made of solid plastic so is a little less comfortable and squishy for your child to sit in.

If you want something to offer your child a little more head support, or to fit your bike in an alternative way, the Weeride Safe is worth looking into.

If your child is older and you'd like some more off-road cycling, the Kids Ride Shotgun seat range is brilliant.

Our guide to the best rear seats for toddlers and small children might be useful if you think a rear seat might be better for your family, or see our guide to the best kids bike trailers if you'd rather pull your child (or children) behind you.

And if you're confused by all the options and want some expert advice on which kit you need, check out our course on Understanding Cycling Gear for Babies and Toddlers. It'll get you out experiencing the joy of riding with your child in no time!

Other articles you may be interested in:

• Cycling with babies and toddlers: everything you need to get started
• Carrying kids by bike
• The best front bike seats for toddlers and young children
• Best rear bike seats for toddlers and small children
• Rear bike seats for older kids
• Best kids bike trailers
• Best cargo bikes for families