Sharing your love of cycling and the great outdoors with your little ones is a wonderful, exciting experience. You may be ready to jump into biking with baby as soon as possible, but it’s important that your infant is ready, too.
Choosing when to bike with your baby is a big step that you should talk about with your pediatrician or another qualified professional. Generally, professionals recommend that your baby should be at least 12 months and older before you start cycling with them.
At Fancy Apple, we have everything you need to set up your perfect bicycling with baby day trip. We have plenty of high-grade rental equipment that is necessary for safely biking with kids and doing family friendly outdoor activities in Central Park.
When you decide to cycle with baby in NYC, consider renting the following:
- Child bike seats
- Bicycle helmet
- Bike seat or trailer
Don’t settle for less than the best when it comes to ensuring your baby has the safest, most fun bicycling experience. We’ll walk you through everything you need to plan your baby biking excursion.
Bicycling with Baby: 12 Months & Older
Letting your baby experience the joy and exhilaration of bike riding is a big moment. There are plenty of setup options available depending on your family’s needs when it comes to biking with baby.
Cargo Bike
Cargo bikes are great to use with child bike seats. There is plenty of space to safely secure a front-mount or rear-mount kid’s bike seat. This is a great option for little ones who aren’t ready for a balance bike.
Classic Bicycle Trailer
Bicycle trailers are a popular option because they are cost-effective and easy to use. A bike trailer is attached to the back of your bike and you pull it along as you ride.
We recommend using a trailer when your baby is older than 12 months because the ride can get bumpy. Some parents choose to secure their baby in their carseat within the bike trailer for extra security. Fancy Apple offers trailer rentals along with our bikes that can hold up to two kids and 80 lbs.
Front-Mounted Baby Bike Seat
Front-mounted baby bike seats are a popular option among parents. These seats attach easily to the front of your rental bike and provide a nice way to talk to your child while you’re biking. When you install the bike seat facing forward, it’s a thrill to let your baby see the world as you see it on the bike.
Rear-Mounted Baby Bike Seat
Rear-mounted bike seats are another great option for biking with baby. This option is popular for parents because these seats usually allow room to grow. Be sure to keep in mind that the weight distribution of the bike is different when you have a baby bike seat mounted. Practice and get used to riding before strapping in your baby.
What About Baby Bike Helmets?
This may be a surprise to some, but professionals don’t recommend putting a helmet on your infant until they are at least 12 months old. Infants younger than a year old don’t have the neck strength to safely hold up the weight of the helmet on their head. These little ones should be in a carseat setup to avoid head injury.
Once your baby is 12 months and up, it’s time for a bicycle helmet. Choose something that is lightweight and properly fits your child’s small head. Talk to your pediatrician regarding the best baby bike helmet options for your little one.
Babies on Bikes: Under 12 Months
It is generally not recommnended that parents ride with babies on bikes when they are under 12 months old.
If you have assessed the risks and ensured your biking setup is safe for your little one, make sure it is legal to do so in the area you plan to bike. Some states allow bicycling with baby when they’re younger than 12 months, while other states legally prohibit it.
The Law for Biking with Baby in NYC
While choosing to bike with a baby is, to a certain extent, up to the parents, there are still laws in place that must be followed. According to New York state bike laws, children under the age of 12 months are not allowed to ride on a bicycle.
That means riding with an infant under the age of 12 months is considered illegal in New York. Once your child is between the age of one and five, you can start bicycling with baby in a safely affixed child carrier, like a baby bike seat or bicycle trailer.
Although some parents are comfortable to cycle with baby when they’re under 12 months, it’s legally not allowed in New York. These laws are in place to protect children, and they should be taken seriously.
FAQ:
The American Association of Pediatrics recommends your baby be at least 12 months old before you start biking with them in a trailer.
It’s around the age of 12 months that babies develop the neck strength necessary to hold up the weight of a bicycle helmet and withstand the bumps of a bike ride.
Also consult with your pediatrician when considering biking with baby.
Generally 5-6 years old. Depending on the type of bike trailer you use, they can hold anywhere from 40 lbs to 125 lbs. Be aware of the weight limit and assess whether your child can safely and comfortably ride in the trailer.
Rear-mounted child bike seats are recommended for children ages 12 months and up. A bike seat can usually hold up to 50 lbs.
No. If you choose to cycle with baby, we do not recommend wearing your baby on a sling, backpack, baby wrap or any other kind of body carrier. Carrying your baby in this manner while bike riding is dangerous and even illegal in some states (New York included).
If you choose to go on a bike ride with your baby, make sure all safety measures are taken and they are secured in a trailer or baby bike seat.
Baby seats can be safely secured onto a cargo bike. These types of bikes have extended cargo areas in either the front or back, allowing space to install a front-mounted or rear-mounted baby bike seat. Most other bikes (besides mountain bikes) have the necessary equipment to mount child seats.
Bottom-Line About Cycling with a Baby
Choosing when and how to start biking with baby is a big decision. Every child and family is different, so it’s important to learn about baby riding options and make the biking decision you feel most comfortable with.
Let Fancy Apple be there every step of the way with our safe, child-friendly biking equipment. We have everything you need for a fun and safe biking experience with your infant. Whether you need child bike seats, trailers, or cargo bikes, Fancy Apple has what you need for baby’s first adventure in Central Park.