A new baby brings excitement as well as necessary adaptations to your daily routine. It might feel like biking is similar enough to driving a car where you should be able to strap your infant in a car seat and just go. However, there is general concern that repeated bumps of everyday road conditions on a bike could cause mild trauma or impact to the brain due to the sensitive development of infant head and neck in the early months.
Perspective of Doctors and the Medical Community
Unfortunately, we didn’t find any research studies with supporting data on the right age to take an infant on your bike without negative impact to the developing nervous system. Recommendations from various organizations are general and have not been updated in many years. An American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) article from 2009 recommends that children should be towed in bicycle-towed trailers but does not explicitly provide a minimum age. They indicate that children should be 12 months or older to use a bicycle-mounted seat with additional safety precautions. This makes sense because the child needs to be able to sit upright on their own and wear a helmet. It’s always good to consult your pediatrician, but we’ve found advice is consistent with the AAP.
Guidance from the Government and Safety Commissions
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) sets rules and regulations for testing different products, including bicycle helmets. The CPSC 1998 Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets (16 CFR Part 1203) recommends labeling helmets for “persons age 1 and older” to be consistent with AAP pediatrician recommendation to ensure there is no misunderstanding that children under the age of 1 can ride safely. Interestingly enough, the labeling for specific age was based on a written comment request from a single American Academy of Pediatrics doctor at the time of CPSC publishing. The standard also noted a potential additional concern that a helmet could add weight to younger infants developing muscles and bone mass preventing them from sitting unsupported with their backs straight.
Oregon state law does not mandate a minimum age to ride a bike but requires people under the age of 16 to wear a helmet (ORS 814.485). As discussed above, helmets are not certified or recommended for children under 12 months and may carry additional concerns. Oregon government guidance references readers to the Portland Family Bike Guide for considerations for biking with kids. Other states, like New York, specify that children must be at least 12 months of age to be on a bicycle.
Insight from Industry Manufacturers
Many bicycle trailer manufacturers offer seat inserts for babies, like the one shown from Burley below. The product name and the recommended age of 3-12 months might lead you to think you can bike with a very young infant, but that is not the case. The product specifications clearly state that the only recommended activities for a child less than 12 months old are strolling (ie walking in stroller mode) and jogging. They also include disclaimers about consulting a child’s pediatrician before use.
Ultimately, It’s Your Call
Although there are plenty of images and social media posts of people biking with young infants, United States medical, industry, and manufacturing recommendation is to wait until a child is 12 months old. Ultimately, each child and family are unique so the decision can only be made by you. Some children might take more or less time to develop and mature to sit upright. Some parents might have different comfort levels taking a child on a bike depending on their experience, equipment, and bike route. We also recognize that some families are bike-dependent and do not have the convenience of public transportation or walkable childcare as might be the case in other countries.
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