If you’re an avid cyclist itching to explore the outdoors with your newborn, then you probably read somewhere that the recommended age for a child to start riding in a bike trailer is 1 year old.
But can it be done safely even earlier?
I’ve been riding with my two kids in bike trailers since they were infants by using car seats and an infant insert, which are the two main ways to ride with a baby.
In this article, we’ll cover exactly what to expect when putting a car seat in a bike trailer. After all, safety is the first concern parents have when taking their most precious cargo (an infant!) around in a bike trailer.
Until a child is at least 1 year old, it is recommended to place a baby in a car seat while inside the bike trailer. By doing so, you will ensure safety standards designed by the car seat manufacturer while also keeping your child comfortable.
Is it safe to ride with a car seat in a bike trailer?
It is very common to find cyclists taking infants around in bike trailers in other countries, most notably in the Netherlands and other parts of Europe.
In the United States where I live, however, it is a slightly different story. It is universally recommended by bike trailer manufacturers to wait until the child is at least 1 year old.
According to some polls I’ve done in group forums (notably in the popular Facebook group by Rascal Rides), many people in the United States do use the car seat method to ride with an infant. In some cases, people prefer to use infant slings, which I’ll explain in more detail below.
But why is the the 1-year benchmark recommended?
The 1-year benchmark is recommended for a few reasons:
- Infants do not have strong stabilizing muscles to assist them during the ride
- The possibility of a crash might impact an infant negatively
- Infants are not able to properly wear a bicycle helmet
With these concerns in mind, biking with an infant can still be a very safe and healthy activity for both child and parent.
I wrote an in-depth article just about how safe bike trailers actually are. Check it out here.
By following the following 5 tips, putting a car seat in a bike trailer can be a very safe and fun way to get around.
5 tips to safely ride with an infant in a bike trailer using a car seat
It should be noted that most bike trailer manufacturers recommend waiting until a child is 1 year old before riding in a bike trailer, which is why using a car seat or an infant sling can make it much more safe and comfortable for your little one.
Although the health benefits of riding often outweigh the potential risks, please ride at your own risk.
Here are some helpful tips to make riding with a car seat safer.
1. Secure the car seat using straps
You can use a strap or bungee cord to add more security when attaching the car seat to the bike trailer. If your bike trailer can also fit the base piece of the car seat, then it is recommended to include that as well.
Here’s a cool video that shows how this can be done.
2. Travel at low speeds under 10 mph (16 kph)
Regardless of the age of your child, it is always recommended to keep speeds under 10 mph (or 16 kph) to reduce the risk of losing control and causing an uncomfortably bumpy ride.
(Good luck going any faster than that anyway 🙂).
Kidding aside, riding at lower speeds will give you more control over steering the trailer and also braking when needed. In addition, riding fast may cause more bumping up and down for your baby, especially on rough terrain.
3. Ride on smooth surfaces
Riding on a smooth surface without much gravel will give you better control over steering your bike and the bike trailer. Smooth surfaces also help with reducing any bumpy roads that might make your baby uncomfortable.
If you’re not sure what the smoothest route might be, you can take out Google Maps and explore the route by yourself before taking the bike trailer. We always recommend checking out the terrain on your own beforehand so that you’re familiar with the landscape.
4. Don’t use a helmet
It sounds counter-intuitive, but it is actually not recommended that an infant wears a helmet. Helmets add additional weight to the baby’s neck that they cannot yet support themselves.
In addition, a helmet would place the infant’s head in an uncomfortable forward position in the bike trailer, which could lead to pain or other growth problems. This is why it is actually very hard to find an infant helmet on the market.
5. Use flashing lights and a flag
One of the potential dangers of biking in general is cars and other riders not seeing you. This is even more important when riding with a child, because bike trailers are closer to the ground and a driver might not see it.
It is always good practice to ride with flashing lights on your bike, as well as on the bike trailer (even during the day). The other recommendation to ensure visibility is to mount a flag to the trailer that will put the trailer in the eye line of drivers. Most bike trailers come with flags to help with visibility.
All in all, if you follow these four simple recommendations, then riding in a bike trailer is arguably safer than riding in a car because of the slow speed and added control.
How big does the bike trailer need to be to fit a car seat?
Any bike trailer should have ample interior room to fit a regular-sized infant car seat. Some larger bike trailers may have enough room to fit the base of the car seat, as well as the car seat itself. If you can fit the base in your trailer, I do recommend doing that for more security.
The bike trailer does not need to be a double-seated trailer in order to use the car seat method. As featured in the above video, a simple single-seated bike trailer has ample space to comfortably fit an infant car seat.
In the photo below, I use a Schwinn Joyrider double bike trailer to fit our car seat and it works wonderfully.
What happens when I crash and my bike falls over?
One benefit of using a bike trailer is that if your bike falls over or you crash your bike, the incident will most likely have very little impact on the child.
Bike trailers attach to the bike using a flexible connection system that allows the bike to fall over without bringing down the bike trailer.
In the unlikely scenario that the bike trailer does roll over, trailers are designed with a canopy-like cage that protects the passengers from coming in contact with the ground.
Should an infant wear a bike helmet?
It is not recommended that an infant wears a helmet. Helmets add additional weight to the baby’s neck that they cannot yet support themselves.
In addition, a helmet would place the infant’s head in an uncomfortable forward position in the bike trailer, which could lead to pain or other growth problems. This is why it is actually very hard to find an infant helmet on the market.
I wrote an entire article on helmets in bike trailer, which you can find here.
Top 5 bike trailers for infants
We recommend getting a spacious bike trailer that will fit a car seat. Depending on your budget and whether or not you need a two-seater bike trailer, here are a few excellent bike trailers that all have spacious interiors.
Tip: Since your child will be growing over the years, we recommend going with a bike trailer that also converts into a stroller. Convertible bike trailers make excellent strollers due to their large wheels and smooth ride.
1. Schwinn Joyrider
Best value bike trailer for infants
Price: Around $360 (check on Amazon)
Seats: Double
Stroller Conversion: Yes
Weight Limit: 100 lbs (43 kg)
The Schwinn Joyrider is a steal of a deal at only around $350 for a double-seated trailer that converts seamlessly to an excellent stroller. It has high-end features, such as stroller conversion out of the box, a solid protective cage, large 20-inch wheels for extra smoothness, and large interior space. You get all of that without breaking the bank at just around $350!
I personally have been using the Joyrider the longest out of all the trailers we have, and I still stand by it as the best bang-for-buck bike trailer on the market!
Note: The Amazon description page mistakenly labels this trailer as a “1 Seat” trailer, but that is incorrect. It is in fact a “2 Seat” trailer.
Pros
- Affordable—A low price point for high-quality features
- Protective cage—Added peace of mind
- Stroller conversion—Converts seamlessly to a comfortable stroller
Cons
- Wide—The frame is slightly wider than average double-seat trailers
- Heavy—On the heavier side of trailers weights (40 lbs)
I wrote a full review of using the Schwinn Joyrider, which you can check out here.
2. Burley Bee
Best minimalist bike trailer for infants
Price: Around $300 (check on Amazon)
Seats: Double
Stroller Conversion: No
Weight Limit: 80 lbs (36 kg)
The Burley Bee is a well-designed, high-quality, lightweight, and budget-friendly bike trailer for frequent riders.
With the reputable Burley brand and high-quality materials, the Burley Bee is one of the best bang-for-buck trailers for anyone looking for a trailer that is just really good at being a trailer.
Pros
- Affordable—A low price point for a high-quality Burley trailer
- Burley quality—A high-quality trailer that might turn into a robot
- Lightweight—Weighs just 20 lbs, which is half the weight of some trailers
Cons
- No stroller conversion—It’s a minimalist, lightweight trailer
I wrote a full review of using the Burley Bee, which you can check out here.
3. Burley D’Lite X
Best 2-in-1 bike trailer & stroller for infants
Price: Around $750 for Single (check on Amazon), $850 for Double (check on Amazon)
Seats: Single or Double
Stroller Conversion: Yes
Weight Limit: 100 lbs (43 kg)
The Burley D’Lite X is a high-end bike trailer designed for all types of riding. From gravel riding to mountain riding to strolling, this trailer can do it all.
You can tell that Burley put a lot of thought into the comfort of this bike trailer, from the incredibly comfortable seat to the rare suspension for added comfort.
Comfortable seat
Both the single and double versions of the D’Lite X come with a sturdy bench-style seat that has an excellent five-point harness and headrest. It is rather rare to find a seat of this quality and comfort.
The D’Lite X seats also recline, which is a notable feature not found on cheaper trailers. However, the seats do not recline very far, so it’s a bit unfortunate.
Suspension for added comfort
Not many bike trailers come equipped with suspension. If you plan to do any type of gravel or mountain riding with your bike trailer, then a trailer with suspension is highly recommended. The suspension is located under the wheels to add comfort when riding over rough terrains.
Pros
- Stroller conversion—an excellent stroller with large wheels
- Comfortable seats—for added comfort
- Suspension—for an extra smooth ride
Cons
- Pricey—a high-end trailer
- Folding up is not easy—expected on a non-stroller trailer
- Seats do not recline much—a nice feature to have, but the seats do not go very far back
4. Thule Chariot Lite
Best overall bike trailer for infants
Price: Around $1,000 for double (check on Amazon) and $900 for single (check on Amazon)
Seats: Double
Stroller Conversion: Yes
Weight Limit: 100 lbs (43 kg)
Best for active families who want the most out of their bike trailer, the Thule Chariot Lite is a top-of-the-line quality trailer that is worth every penny. Its large wheels and suspension feature make it a great option for gravel riding or mountain riding.
Although on the higher end of the price spectrum, the Chariot Lite is actually a few hundred dollars cheaper than its older brother, the Thule Chariot Cross. For that reason, the Chariot Lite makes the list of exceptional trailers and I would recommend it to someone looking for a trailer that can take a beating.
But why would anyone swing for such a pricey bike trailer?
The Chariot Lite comes with suspension, which adds extra comfort to your child on rough terrain. If you plan on any gravel or mountain rides, then this trailer is ideal for your type of riding.
But if you’re just planning on recreational riding, then the Schwinn Joyrider does many of the same things for more than half the price.
Pros
- Highest-quality materials—Truly the best components on the market
- Suspension—Added comfort on rough terrain
- Double front wheels—Makes for an excellent stroller
- Lots of storage—It even comes with a pannier bag attached to the back
Cons
- Cost—It’s a top-of-the-line bike trailer and has suspension
- Complicated to assemble—It comes with a lot of attachments that are hard to understand at first
I wrote a full review of using the Thule Chariot Cross, which you can check out here.
5. Schwinn Trailblazer
Best budget bike trailer for infants
Price: Around $130 for Single, (check on Amazon), $200 for Double (check on Amazon)
Seats: Single or Double
Stroller Conversion: Yes on Double, No on Single
Weight Limit: 80 lbs (36 kg)
For budget-minded families that also want a bike trailer with great reviews, the Schwinn Trailblazer is hard to beat at under $150! There are two other noteworthy trailers that are in the same price range as the Trailblazer: the Instep and the Allen Sports Deluxe.
The reason I would recommend the Schwinn Trailblazer over those two options is simply because of the quality. They just don’t have the same level of durability and safety features that the Trailblazer offers.
The Trailblazer also comes in a double-seat capacity and stroller conversion for around $200. You can check out that model on Amazon here.
Pros
- Acceptable quality—for a budget trailer
- Double and single seats available—few trailers give both options
- Stroller conversion available—only on the double version
Cons
- Lower quality materials—budget trailer
- No stroller conversion—on the single-seater
I wrote a full review of using the Schwinn Trailblazer, which you can check out here.
Infant insert options
Some bike trailer manufactures make inserts that are specifically designed for bike trailers. Here are two you can check out.
Be sure to check out this post on infant inserts.
Baby Seat Insert for Outback Multi-Sport Bike Trailer
View on Amazon
This infant insert is designed to attach to Hamax bike trailers.
Thule Chariot Infant Sling
View on Amazon
This infant insert is designed to attach to Thule bike trailers.
Conclusion
While following basic bicycle safety recommendations, biking with a car seat in a bike trailer is a very safe and healthy way to get around. Weighing the health benefits against any possible dangers will help you make the best decision for your growing family.
Need help finding the right bike trailer?
If you need help finding the right bike trailer for you, my recommended trailer for most people is the Swhinn Joyrider, which is an affordable double-seater that converts beautifully to a stroller. Check out my full review with photos here.
Check out the Ultimate Guide to Buying a Bike Trailer for more help with choosing a trailer. I also have compiled a list of the top bike trailers for every common situation, which you can check out here.
Ride on!
