How to choose a bicycle seat for your child?

Choosing a rear child seat according to the child

The choice of a rear bike child seat is made first and foremost according to the child you intend to install on your city bike or mountain bike. A baby between 9 months and 3 years old can be transported in the front seat, but there are models of seats that allow the transport of children from the age of 9 months in the rear. Opting for this type of installation from the outset will therefore ensure that the child stays in the car as long as possible. The rear bicycle seat can also be used to supplement a front seat when two children are to be transported. The youngest child will then be placed in the front.

The rear bike seat can also be used to supplement a front seat when two children are to be carried.

Choosing a child seat is therefore based on the age of your child, but also on their weight. If the smallest children can easily fit into a rear bicycle seat, it is children weighing up to 35kg, i.e. around 10 years old, who will be able to benefit from this installation. Beyond that age, it will be necessary either to find another mode of transport or to offer the child his or her own bike. In addition, it is important to remember that the law stipulates that children under 5 years of age must have an attachment system on their seat.

With this various information in mind, we can begin to get a slightly better idea of how to choose a child seat.

Choosing the rear child seat according to the tether

When choosing a child seat, taking an interest in the type of tether used is also essential in order to choose the one that will best suit your preference or even the use you usually make of your bike.

A seat on a luggage rack

For example, you can choose a rear rack child seat. This type of rear bike child seat therefore has an attachment to the luggage rack. There are many models that offer this possibility and several characteristics should be checked, such as the width of the carrier, the maximum weight supported by the carrier, the diameter of the carrier's tubes and, if it is an electric bicycle, that the battery will not interfere with the attachment.

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At Je Suis À Vélo, you can, for example, choose the Urban Junior rear bike child seat from Urban Iki. It is aimed at children aged 5-10 years and provides comfort with its seat, backrest and footrests. This product is priced at £79.

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If you do not have a luggage rack, you also have the option of adding one. It will allow you to carry your rear bike child seat, but also a carrier bag for example. So this is an accessory that can quickly prove to be very practical in many everyday situations, even when the children are older and no longer use the rear bike child seat.

A seat tube seat

The second possibility for choosing a child seat is to opt for a model that is mounted on a frame or seat tube. This type of model is therefore aimed at cyclists who do not have a luggage rack and do not wish to install one. In this case, you will also need to check several characteristics before choosing the right model for you. In particular, you will need to measure the diameter of your bike's seat tube and also check that there is enough space to accommodate the seat.

You can then choose the child seat that best suits the age and weight of your child, your bike and the type of use you intend to make of the model. Also in this category there are many models like our rear baby seat with Urban Ik frame mountingi. This model is aimed at children from 9 months to 6 years weighing a maximum of 22kg. It has a durable shell and soft padding as well as adjustable footrests for the comfort of little ones. This model is available for £99.90.

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A mixed seat

Finally, it is also possible to choose a mixed child seat. This type of rear child bike seat has several types of attachment, either with a plate for installation on a luggage rack or a seat tube attachment system. In particular, it can be aimed at parents who both use the seat, but with different bikes for example, and thus makes it possible to switch from one bike to another easily.

The accessories for the child in the seat

While choosing a child seat is an important step in taking your child with you on your bike rides, choosing the right accessories is also crucial to being able to ride comfortably and safely.

The helmet

First of all, the child's helmet is most certainly the most important accessory when cycling. It must be the right size, properly fastened and also approved with the "CE" label. The law requires that every child under the age of 12, whether a driver or a passenger on a bicycle, must wear an approved helmet. It is of course recommended that helmets are encouraged even for children over the age of 12.

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Rain protection

For morning trips to school, which may also be rainy on some days, it's best to be equipped to avoid getting soaked. For this, there are covers that cover both the child and the seat with a waterproof fabric that can also be lined. This is usually supplemented by a hood that is large enough to be slipped over the bike helmet.

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The bike lock

Finally, if the bike itself needs an anti-theft device, the same is true of the seat. You can choose a cable lock, for example, which will ensure that your child seat does not disappear when you park your bike. There are models that can be either keyed or coded depending on your preference