L-train
My husband wants to buy one so we can take our 9 month old out on bike rides.
Have you had any luck with yours?
Answer
In some places it is illegal to have a baby on a bike until they are 1 year old. A baby can not wear a helmet until age one or later depending on many factors.
A child's neck and head are still far more likely to be seriously injured until age 3 or later.
http://www.helmets.org/little1s.htm
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.
New York state law prohibits it. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission thinks it is dangerous to take a child under one year on a bicycle, and here is their rationale:
Maurice Keenan, MD, from the American Academy of Pediatrics [21], requested that a minimum age of 1 year be reflected on the label for helmets intended for children under age 5. This would better convey the message that infants (children under age 1) should not be passengers on a bicycle under any circumstance.
The Commission agrees with the commenter that children under 1 year of age should not be on bicycles. Children are just learning to sit unsupported at about 9 months of age. Until this age, infants have not developed sufficient bone mass and muscle tone to enable them to sit unsupported with their backs straight. Pediatricians advise against having infants sitting in a slumped or curled position for prolonged periods. This position may even be exacerbated by the added weight of a bicycle helmet on the infantâs head. Because pediatricians recommend against having children under age 1 as passengers on bicycles, the Commission does not want the certification label to imply that children under age 1 can ride safely.
Source: 16 CFR Part 1203 Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets; Final Rule, page 11726
That explains why you will not find a child helmet on the market sized for a tiny tot. You certainly do not want to ride with a bare-headed child, and in some places it is illegal. In fact, several states have laws against taking children under one year of age on a bicycle, even with a helmet.
In some places it is illegal to have a baby on a bike until they are 1 year old. A baby can not wear a helmet until age one or later depending on many factors.
A child's neck and head are still far more likely to be seriously injured until age 3 or later.
http://www.helmets.org/little1s.htm
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.
New York state law prohibits it. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission thinks it is dangerous to take a child under one year on a bicycle, and here is their rationale:
Maurice Keenan, MD, from the American Academy of Pediatrics [21], requested that a minimum age of 1 year be reflected on the label for helmets intended for children under age 5. This would better convey the message that infants (children under age 1) should not be passengers on a bicycle under any circumstance.
The Commission agrees with the commenter that children under 1 year of age should not be on bicycles. Children are just learning to sit unsupported at about 9 months of age. Until this age, infants have not developed sufficient bone mass and muscle tone to enable them to sit unsupported with their backs straight. Pediatricians advise against having infants sitting in a slumped or curled position for prolonged periods. This position may even be exacerbated by the added weight of a bicycle helmet on the infantâs head. Because pediatricians recommend against having children under age 1 as passengers on bicycles, the Commission does not want the certification label to imply that children under age 1 can ride safely.
Source: 16 CFR Part 1203 Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets; Final Rule, page 11726
That explains why you will not find a child helmet on the market sized for a tiny tot. You certainly do not want to ride with a bare-headed child, and in some places it is illegal. In fact, several states have laws against taking children under one year of age on a bicycle, even with a helmet.
How old should a baby be to ride in a bike seat?
blank
Like one of the seats that attaches onto the back of a bicycle? They need to wear a helmet in that, right? Where can you get helmets for babies, do they make them?
Answer
Hi, yes they definitely need to use a helmet, buy a high quality one from a reputable bike store not a toy one for use on kiddies bikes, as if they do fall they will fall from a much greater height. Bell is a good make I believe. My daughter rode in the back from about 9 months they need to have complete head control, and be able to sit reasonably still or they will throw you off balance a bit. The problem I found was I had a non recline seat and as the helmet was at its tightest setting it stuck out a bit at the back and made her head drop forwards if she fell asleep. I replaced this with a reclining seat which helped with this problem a little. She is now 2 and rides on the back no problem at all, all though she prefers to ride her own bike now. Make sure you ride in high visibility jackets and stick to quite roads, or cycle paths as much as possible - cars make no allowances for children!!!
Hi, yes they definitely need to use a helmet, buy a high quality one from a reputable bike store not a toy one for use on kiddies bikes, as if they do fall they will fall from a much greater height. Bell is a good make I believe. My daughter rode in the back from about 9 months they need to have complete head control, and be able to sit reasonably still or they will throw you off balance a bit. The problem I found was I had a non recline seat and as the helmet was at its tightest setting it stuck out a bit at the back and made her head drop forwards if she fell asleep. I replaced this with a reclining seat which helped with this problem a little. She is now 2 and rides on the back no problem at all, all though she prefers to ride her own bike now. Make sure you ride in high visibility jackets and stick to quite roads, or cycle paths as much as possible - cars make no allowances for children!!!
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
