Child seat advice

Author
Discussion

Joe5y

Original Poster:

1,520 posts

189 months

Monday 13th May 2019
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Good evening all,

My wife and I are doing some tenting holidays this year and taking the bikes.

Don’t know where to start with looking so, what is the safest, most comfortable child seat for a 18 month old? Or is a trailer best? Or what other options are there?

Thanks in advance

Barchettaman

6,474 posts

138 months

Monday 13th May 2019
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I'd stick the child up front on something like a Römer Sulky. Decathlon do a good forward mounted one that is similar.

The child will prefer being by the handlebars to being behind. We also had a cheap neck cushion from the pound shop to prop up its head when it fell asleep - otherwise they look a bit weird slumped forward, as if they've been shot.

Howitzer

2,856 posts

222 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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We had a Wee-Ride and it was fantastic.

If you ever fell off or had an accident you can protect them, it’s more personal as you can talk into their ear and both of mine loved being up front with a clear view ahead.

Dave!

lufbramatt

5,422 posts

140 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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Hopefully no one minds too much but I've got a wee ride for sale if your interested, both of mine are too big for it now. Drop me a message :-)

troc

3,849 posts

181 months

Tuesday 14th May 2019
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Our boy was perfectly happy in his Yepp - they are very popular here.

Craikeybaby

10,635 posts

231 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
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Another vote for front mounted. I had a rear mounted seat for my oldest (as it was free), but it really puts the bike off balance. In the worst instance I ended up falling and cracking the back of my head on a concrete fence post. Expensive helmet written off and a 2 week headache for me. We have since upgraded to a MacRide. However that is probably better suited to older kids.

lufbramatt said:
Hopefully no one minds too much but I've got a wee ride for sale if your interested, both of mine are too big for it now. Drop me a message :-)
If I hadn't just bought a second hand Yepp for my youngest, I would have bought that, these certainly look like the best bet for the younger kids.

opieoilman

4,408 posts

242 months

Friday 17th May 2019
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I think this is the seat that we have https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-accessories/...

We've only used it a couple of times for our youngest (nearly 2) and to be honest, I don't like it. It's natural to get off the bike and swing your leg back over the saddle, basically kicking a toddler in the head. It's come close, but haven't actually connected. When my brother in law borrowed my wife's bike, he went to swing his leg back, hit the (empty) seat and ended up on the floor. It was awkward to fit on my wife's bike as her saddle is down quite low. I have a full suspension bike with dropper post, so it won't fit mine at all.

We had a trailer for our older son (he's 4, but very big for his age, his clothes are 7-8 year olds).

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-accessories/...

That's fine on my bike, I preferred riding with that than the seat. I've put him in there with one of our jack russells, although that was a year ago, so pretty sure he'd be too big for it now. I've done about 12 (flat) miles at a go with him in there and it was fine, although he didn't like getting wet from puddles. There's a place near me that's where I often go for a quick ride and it's rough tarmac, gravel, grass and sand, the trailer was fine on that and my son loved it off road, although I'm not sure how long it would last with more regular off road use.

Roastie ITR

494 posts

210 months

Friday 17th May 2019
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I've got the Topeak Babyseat ii that I've used for both of my kids, I'd definitely recommend it. Seems very well made & safe if you was to ever have an accident.

Also got a double Halfords trailer, but that is pretty much resigned to places like Centre Parcs or if I was to drive in the car to a local park with the bikes. Not something that I feel comfortable using on the road.

AndyDRZ

1,202 posts

242 months

Friday 17th May 2019
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Another vote for the Weeride


anonymous-user

60 months

Saturday 18th May 2019
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I had a hamax sleepy which was ace, reclines so the child can sleep in it and I never had an issue with her on the back. It clamps onto the seat tube so you do need a steel frame, not sure if aluminium is recommended or not but carbon is definitely out. Highly recommend it,

Chrisgr31

13,676 posts

261 months

Sunday 19th May 2019
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I initially had a front seat, daughter might have felt safe but she managed to change the gears which wasn't a great experience! So relegated her to the back!

JuniorD

8,786 posts

229 months

Tuesday 21st May 2019
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pablo said:
I had a hamax sleepy which was ace, reclines so the child can sleep in it and I never had an issue with her on the back. It clamps onto the seat tube so you do need a steel frame, not sure if aluminium is recommended or not but carbon is definitely out. Highly recommend it,
Have a hamax sleepy also, great seat though it didn't get used as much as I'd hoped for. Only negative is that whenever my son feel asleep his upper body would dangle lopsided from it.