kadiera pointed out that I hadn't posted in quite some time

[melstav]

We'd been talking about getting a trailer for the bicycles so we could take Alexander along for bike rides. We went to REI and looked at some trailers. They had a few, but they were really expensive. I mean, like $600 & $700.... But they're going to have a 20% off sale on them later this month. Right. Later lastnight, we found another brand of trailer which was reviewed as being at least as good, but at half the cost, so that's good.

While we were wandering around REI, Janet said we should probably get him a helmet too, so we went looking at the children's helmets. We *did* find infant-sized helmets, but they fit children with a 20" circumference head. Janet pointed out that we could probably pack his entire body in there.

In doing added research, we've found things like this which say it's probably not a good idea to bring him along on a ride until he's sitting on his own. So maybe we'll wait on that.

Comments

[meecie.livejournal.com]

I have an old bike trailer, which I'd envisioned using to cart my dogs after me on long bike rides. Riiiiiight. I hadn't counted on dog panic.

So anyway, if you need, you know, a 2nd trailer at any point, I can dig mine out and get it working again.

[melstav]

Well, at the moment, we don't even have a first trailer.... Janet found reviews of the one and sent me a link to it on Amazon (and they're out of stock) to talk about it, but we haven't gone and gotten anything yet.

So yeah, sure. I'd be interested in taking a look at the one you've got.

[meecie.livejournal.com]

Mine is one of these: http://yhst-13376466158814.stores.yahoo.net/trlbcub.html

[jferg.livejournal.com]

I believe the conventional wisdom says bringing them on bike rides is discouraged until at least 1 year.
FWIW, I picked up one of these at CostCo a couple years ago, and it's been entirely adequate for the level of biking that I do. It was under $200, I don't remember exactly how much.

[melstav]

Yeah, spending a little time looking at what is generally recommended, the easy rule of thumb is not before age one... because you definitely want them to be able to support their own weight while sitting, and you want their neck to be strong enough to support the weight of their head plus the weight of the helmet. I've read that you also don't want to ride with a sleeping child because if you go over a large bump while their neck is limp, their head bouncing around could cause injury.

[kadiera.livejournal.com]

one of the trailers we looked at at REI has 2 different inserts for babies - one basically like a reclining car seat, the other like a hammock. But neither one is recommended for use while cycling, only when using it as a stroller.

[melstav]

One author I read commented that he's seen a number of people securing car seats within the bicycle trailer in an attempt to make them safer for infants. He points out, however, that you won't find a manufacturer who thinks this is a good idea.