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When Biking with Baby, Put Safety First!
By Mary Margaret Keaton
Avid cyclists are usually ready to roll with their
GoBabies® as soon as tots are old enough to go along
for the ride. Following a few tips from cycling
safety experts will make the experience better for
baby.
Get a great helmet.
 No
matter which type of carrier parents and caregivers
choose for their GoBabies®, all children need
helmets when cycling. In 20 states and 125
localities, helmets are the law as well. Check the
packaging to make sure the helmet you choose for
your child is approved by Snell, ANSI, or CPSC. But
it's important to
wait until babies are large enough and have necks
strong enough to wear helmets (usually about one
year old.)
According to the Bicycle Safety Helmet Institute (BSHI),
a consumer-funded, volunteer-run organization in
Arlington, Virginia,
"Nobody we have met in
the injury prevention field recommends taking an
infant of less than 12 months in a bicycle child
seat, trailer, sidecar, or any other carrier.
Nobody. And we do not either."
Avoid baby bobble!
 Bike rides can be surprisingly bumpy.
To
reduce
vibrations that cause baby's head to bobble in a
bike trailer, the BSHI suggests wedging padding on
either side of the child's head to keep it steady
and placing a pillow behind the tot to give the
safety helmet clearance in the back.
Try a trailer.
Trailers are a great way to cycle with tots, and
some experts
believe they are the safest way for kids to cycle
with adults. The League of American Bicyclists in
Washington, D.C., says trailers with a ball and
socket joint that prevents tipping if the bike falls
over are best. Plus, a freestanding design and
three-point seatbelts improve safety in trailers
over other types of child carriers for bikes. While
the initial cost of trailers is higher than seats,
trailers are easier to take on and off bikes, can be
used to transport dogs or cargo, and have a high
resale value.
For more safety tips for biking babies, check out:
http://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/factsheets/carryingkids.htm
and
http://www.bhsi.org/little1s.htm
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