# Kids and Bicycles

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-bicycles/297804>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 5, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-bicycles/297804 "2005-04-05T06:00:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrLoveGun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@DrLoveGun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLoveGun)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-bicycles/297804/1 "2005-04-05T06:00:40Z")

</div>

I have a 4 month old and wonder if there is any way I can safely take him on my bicycle. I’m looking at seats and trailers, but they all say he has to be a year old. Is there a method I’m not finding? Anyone have any experience? He loves to go out for walks, but I’m tired of the same park by my house, and would love to go somewhere new, but I’m also tired of paying $2.50/gallon for gas. And sometimes, my wife needs the car. Please help.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-bicycles/297804/2 "2005-04-05T13:12:34Z")

</div>

Putting a tiny baby in a bike trailer is a really dumb thing to do. You’ll have to wait at least another eight months. This is the advice from [Burley](http://www.burley.com/images/PDF/dLiteManual04.pdf) who are the market leaders in making trailers.

> [@](#):
>
> The trailer seat is intended only for children old enough to wear a helmet and sit upright alone. Your child must have adequate neck strength to hold his or her head up while trailering. Check with your pediatrician if you are unsure about your child’s ability to sit upright and hold his or her head up.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-bicycles/297804/3 "2005-04-05T13:17:54Z")

</div>

[Here’s some good reading](http://www.active.com/story.cfm?story_id=8771). IIRC, four months is a little too young for any carrier, as the child’s neck is not strong enough to support the head yet.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-bicycles/297804/4 "2005-04-05T19:39:43Z")

</div>

Yeah, his head is too floppy at that age. Can you take a bus?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-bicycles/297804/5 "2005-04-05T21:05:24Z")

</div>

Couldn’t you put him in a sling or backpack type carrier? Or is that for older kids too? (I’m not a parent)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-bicycles/297804/6 "2005-04-05T22:06:20Z")

</div>

> [@FilmGeek](#):
>
> Couldn’t you put him in a sling or backpack type carrier? Or is that for older kids too? (I’m not a parent)

A sling or Baby Bjorn is perfect for a 4 month old, but not while riding a bike.

If a kid can’t sit up she’s not ready for a backpack either.