Best way to take baby on bike ride . . .

[limewave]

I'd really like to take the new kid on a bike ride. He's just about one month old. Not on a mileage ride or anything like that, just for a leisurely ride around the neighborhood on a smooth bike path.

I am planning to either secure his car seat into the burley solo.

Or put him in his bjorn carrier.

I am planning on riding a Giant Suede--so I would be sitting completely upright and both my feet are able to lay flat on the ground while I'm still seated--it's a very stable bike.

Which do you guys think is the better option? Anyone else take their babies on bike rides before they were 1-year? I may also just wait another two months before we try this. Although, it seems to me, if he is safe in his car seat going down dirt roads and over potholes, he would be just as safe riding in his car seat that is secured into the burley going down a bike path.

Thanks!

[Biciclista]

i was told to not transport babies less than 1 year.
Especially 1 month old, they are not strong enough to hold their heads up very well.

i don't know what the Bjorn thing is; but i guess in a car type carrier it would be ok. what's your rush?

[limewave]

I'm home alone with baby and preschooler 6.5 days a week--getting really bored. I just thought since I take him in the baby jogger with his car seat for running and roller-blading--what's the difference if it's secured in the burley?

But I know there are people who are adament about not taking babies on bike rides until they are 1 years old. I was curious as to the specific reason. I don't want to harm baby. But as far as I can see, he would be safe in the car seat.

[sfa]

If you can secure the car seat in the Burley, I'd go with that. The Bjorn might make it difficult for you to move around (turning around to see things passing you, etc., although maybe not an issue on a bike path) and might overbalance you while riding, plus if you DO tip over for whatever reason, the Burley stays safe and upright while a baby attached to you is vulnerable. I agree that the car seat in the Burley is no more dangerous than the car seat in a baby jogger.

[Cataboo]

No idea, but links that might help;
http://www.bhsi.org/little1s.htm
http://www.myra-simon.com/bike/riding-with-baby.html

[AnnieBikes]

Oh well, 30 years ago, when DH was in the Army in Italy, I had no car so we both had bicycles. The car was really for emergencies and travel or commissary visits. I rode with the Snugli baby carrier on my back with my 3 month old. Neither of us wore helmets. Heck, nobody did at that time. Sure wouldn't do that now. Later, as soon as he could sit on his own, about 4-5 months, I got one of those bicycle seats of molded plastic with a seat belt and that was what we used for the next 2+ years. I only fell off once and caught him before the bike hit the ground. It was flat cycling, going to market, errands, and visiting. He and I loved it and went everywhere that way.

I shudder to think about it now, but we turned alot of heads as Americans were well known for driving everywhere and babies rarely went out at a young age! They would NEVER be seen on a bike. I don't know how it is now.

...one month old? I am not sure about that. A few more months might be good for a trailer but the helmet part might be tough for such a youngster.

[lph]

We put our sons car seat in the Burley Solo and rode with him on the sidewalk and bike paths* when he was a baby. In fact it was easier the smaller he was, he had a really small car seat up to 9 months that reclined very well, he slept, well, like a baby Great way to get around, get groceries etc. We didn't have a car back then so that was basically how we got around and sure beat manhauling the huge stroller on and off the bus.

We let out a little air from the Burley tires to give a smoother ride.

* not on the road in traffic, as my MIL liked to tell her shocked friends.

PS. I forget if we put a helmet on him, but I suspect we didn't when he was very small. There was basically no way he could get thrown out of the Burley. I seem to remember a folded towel on either side of his head for support when he was sleeping.