When Can You Use a Bike Trailer or Stroller with a Baby?

Last Updated on 05/2025 by Mom Goes Camping

If you look at the manufacturer’s recommendations on bike trailers for kids, you’ll see that babies must be 12 months old to use the trailer, or they will defer to “consult with your pediatrician.”

But (gasp!) a lot of parents cycle with their babies long before they are one year old. If you aren’t sure when it’s okay to bike with your baby, here’s what you need to know about the 12 month recommendation, and some guidelines for biking with infants and younger babies.

Side Note: No, you aren’t selfish for wanting to cycle with your child. Just because you have a baby, it doesn’t mean you should have to drive everywhere! I hate that I even need to say that, but it’s amazing how many “selfish” comments you get whenever you do anything “risky” with your baby!

Why the 12 Month Age Recommendation?

The reason for waiting until 12 months to put a baby in a bike trailer isn’t because of crashes: it is because babies have weak necks. They have very little control over their head. Bike trailers can get very bumpy and your baby will get jostled around in the trailer.

Those jostles can cause a subtle version of Shaken Baby Syndrome, injuring their spine and bruising the brain. Scary, huh?

Some cyclist parents say that the jostling is no worse than pushing your baby in a stroller. I call BS. Strollers do not go at high speeds. Hitting a rock at walking or even jogging speed is not the same as hitting it at 20mph. And a roll-over accident is going to be a LOT worse for an infant than a child who has neck control. I personally wouldn’t consider biking with a baby until they were at least 3 or 4 months old.

How to Determine If Your Baby Is Ready for a Bike Trailer

Your baby is ready for a bike trailer when they can sit up by themselves. It’s not enough for them to remain in sitting position if you put them there. They should also be able to hold their head steady when you pick them up and sway them back and forth.

Of course, check with your pediatrician.

do kids need a helmet in a bike trailer? — At 9 months, she could sit upright well enough for short bike rides in the trailer.

Helmet Laws

Another reason why you may need to wait until 12 months to bike with your baby is because of helmet laws. Many states require all children—including children in bike trailers—to wear helmets.

Do NOT put a helmet on your baby. The straps are a strangling hazard, and the helmet also can push their head into an unsafe position. You probably won’t be able to find an infant-sized helmet anyway. The smallest ones are usually for around 9 months old.

Also read: Do children need helmets when in a bike trailer?

How come it’s okay for the Dutch to cycle with newborns?

When you see an infant on a bike in the Netherlands, it is usually a cargo bike or trike. These bikes do a much better job of absorbing impact, so the ride isn’t as bumpy for the passenger.

Those bikes can be hard to find in the USA and are expensive. An alternative (which is also expensive, but you’ll get more use out of it than a cargo bike) is to get a high-end bike trailer with a suspension system, such as the Thule Chariot or Burley D’Lite.

This is common in the Netherlands, but country is designed for cyclists and not cars!

If You Are Going to Cycle with an Infant…

There are certainly some situations where it is healthier and safer to bike with your baby (especially compared to putting them in a car going 60mph down a freeway!). However, if you are going to do it, be smart about it:

1. Use a Car Seat or Insert

Never put a baby who can’t sit upright directly in the bike trailer. They won’t be able to sit properly and will have zero support for their neck.

The best solution is to put a car seat in the bike trailer. It will hold position your baby in a safe position. If a roll-over accident occurs, the car seat handle acts as an additional roll bar. The car seat also adds weight to the bike trailer, forcing you to go slower.Make sure you strap the car seat into the trailer! I’ve heard of people attaching the car seat base to the trailer and then putting the seat on top of this.

There are also sling inserts you can get for bike trailers. These are only meant to be used in strolling mode, but I’ve seen parents use them while cycling (never tried it myself, though). Compared to a car seat in the trailer, a sling smooths out some of the bumps because it is suspended above the trailer. Thule and Burley both make infant sling inserts, but damn are they expensive!

2. Stick to Smooth Roads

A road that is somewhat bumpy for you will be very bumpy for your baby. Only go on very smooth roads.

3. Stay Away from Cars

Drivers can be absolutely crazy. You don’t want a car getting too close and causing a roll-over accident when you’ve got a baby in the trailer. Only ride on roads with bike lanes and very little traffic.