Commuting with baby

quad_red

Hi Folks,

If there's another thread on this, apologies (I haven't been able to find it).

A friend kindly passed on a child seat for the back of the bike (quite expensive originally as well). I always cycled to work until the arrival of the little man so the thought of hitting the bike again makes me very happy!

Does anyone on here regularly commute with a little one on board in Dublin city centre? If so, any observations or advice?

Anyone recommend a bike shop in Dublin that would have very small helmets (for a 13 month old) in stock?

What sort of gear do you put on the kid?

All advice appreciated.

Regards,
Quad

Lumen

A cycling helmet for a 13 month old is likely to do more harm than good.

If you want to go that route something like a Thudguard might work better than a cycling helmet.

Jawgap

quad_red wrote: »

Hi Folks,

If there's another thread on this, apologies (I haven't been able to find it).

A friend kindly passed on a child seat for the back of the bike (quite expensive originally as well). I always cycled to work until the arrival of the little man so the thought of hitting the bike again makes me very happy!

Does anyone on here regularly commute with a little one on board in Dublin city centre? If so, any observations or advice?

Anyone recommend a bike shop in Dublin that would have very small helmets (for a 13 month old) in stock?

What sort of gear do you put on the kid?

All advice appreciated.

Regards,
Quad

I never commuted in Dublin with a little one, but I did a bit in the UK. It's great fun!

The best advice I'd offer is take your time, the bike handles completely differently with the seat and child on it.

Start with short spins and increase.

Get used to the funny looks from people as you rhyme off an endless version of "the wheels on the bus"!

If you give them a lollipop and you wonder where it's gone, it's on the back of your jacket / jersey.

Consider putting some sunglasses on them just to keep crap out of their eyes.

Bring some tissues and / or wet wipes for snotty noses and sticky fingers.

Get a sticker pack of their favourite character and let them customise the seat.

Apart from bike shops (if they don't do very young kids' bikes), you might get a decent helmet in somewhere like Smyth's or Halfords.

Boom_Bap

Most bikeshops carry kids sized helmets. I got mine in the bike shop in the Omni in Santry. Halfords have a huge variety as well.

In relation to cycling in the city centre with a child. Firstly i would get a couple of High Viz vests and wrap/secure them around the child seat. Maximise visibilty.

Start off slowly as well so you get used to cycling with the seat.

Tonyandthewhale

As Lumen said, be wary of helmets at that age.
Babies have disproportionately big heads and weak necks so you may want to avoid putting more weight on there than you have to. I would presume a thudguard would be lighter and less bulky than a cycling helmet so might be more suitable.

Having said that, I don't actually have any experience with bringing little kids on bikes so I might be wrong. Just be aware that he's a different shape as well as a different size to you so just scaling down the helmet might not be the best idea.

Lumen

In addition to discomfort, weight and strangulation risk, the problem with a cycling helmet worn by a seated child is that the seat back will tend to push on helmet so it won't stay level.

In any case a helmet is not much use to a seated baby. You must be confident cycling in such a way as to never have an accident.

Jawgap

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

Babies have disproportionately big heads.......

......the same can also be said of teenagers, as I am now finding out!

deandean

Yea we had a high-quality baby seat, we fitted to an MTB and used it for local runs of up to a few miles. Here are my comments:

- It's entirely do-able, however the seat works only for a limited time, i.e. from x months old until y months old (I can't remember the limits).

- Be sure the seat has straps to secure baby's feet.

- Baby needs to be really really well wrapped up when it's cold; specially at the extremities.

get on your bike

Howaya,

I go round a fair bit wit 2 kids on me bike. I'm always surprised at the amount of near misses I have. U would think u would be more visible but not sure u are. Just be careful. It's great for u & the kids

Jawgap

Your problems are solved!!!

Stollaire

Jawgap wrote: »

Your problems are solved!!!

Can you go on the footpath with that?

zenbuffy

The footpad? Isn't that where you always ride?

alentejo

Hi,
Have just started using a bobike maxi tour http://http://www.bobike.nl/products/en/bobike_maxi_tour.htm?fluxmenu=m13____m3

daughter is 12 months and loves it. All helmets appeared slightly too big for her head, however I put a hat on her and now helmet has a snug fit.

I am only doing a mile in morning and evening from terenure to rathgar so its not to difficult regarding traffic. You are certainly more aware of dangers and I am very cautioutions.

Well worth it. Would recommend the Bobike and hopefully will get a few years from it. .....Do get strange looks:)