Biking with a Toddler: 5 Tips on Keeping it Fun!
Biking with a toddler is no different than preparing for any other adventure; it takes planning, gear preparation, and a whole lotta enthusiasm! Taking our kids on adventures with us always sounds appealing until it comes down to logistics and very specific needs. Sometimes just visualizing what we need makes me anxious and overwhelmed. But including my kiddos in the activities we love to do isn’t an option, so my husband and I have learned that every outing is an opportunity to improve our systems.
Lately, we’ve been putting a lot of miles on the e-bikes we acquired this spring. They have been an absolute hit in getting our family outside and seeing sights we never would have otherwise. With an infant and two year old, our setup usually includes a child seat on one bike and a bike trailer attached to the other. At first, I was very skeptical of the whole e-bike world, but am now a true believer in giving us parents the “boost” we need to make these adventures happen.
After putting over 300 miles on each bike this summer, we’ve learned a few things about keeping the kiddos happy. Biking with a toddler sounded fairly simple until I realized their experience is much different than mine and I needed to keep that in mind to have a pleasant day all around. Below are my top five tips on keeping it fun while biking with your kids!
1. Sun Shirts are LIFE
I never used to like sun shirts, but my attitude changed after moving a mile closer to the sun. Even though our toddler doesn’t mind lathering up with sunscreen, it’s nice to not worry about reapplication while in the middle of a long ride. I also love that bright colored sun shirts make us a little more “hi-vis” to other people out there. She also really likes wearing the hoodie between her head and helmet for extra comfort.
2. Bring a Furry Friend to Share the Ride With
I know not every kid will be into this, but ours just LOVES to cuddle her furry pal while taking in the scenery on our family bike rides. It’s like they get to share in the experience while keeping each other company. We simply made a little leash that goes around the plush neck (looks weird for us grown-ups, I know), and strap in whoever gets to come along for the day. It’s become a necessity and totally melts my heart.
3. Take Plenty of Wiggle Breaks
Now this is something that took me a minute to realize: As the bike rider, I get to move a lot. But when my kids are passengers, they’re more stagnant and my kids NEED their wiggle time. It can be a little annoying when I’m trying to just zone into a long ride, but the reality is that these babies need to stretch. Planning my rides around parks and fields for movement breaks has been a game changer in keeping spirits high.
4. Bring Along Special Treats
I’m not a huge fan of bribery when it comes to adventures (although it is incredibly useful when used at the right time), but I’ve found that bringing special treats makes the outing extra fun. We don’t really talk about them until it’s time to enjoy them, making it more of a surprise. Biking with a toddler can be a lot of work on the adult’s part, so be sure to enjoy a treat for yourself too!
5. Add Extra Seat Padding Where Needed
Yet another thing that took us too long to figure out: those kiddo seats are NOT as comfortable as they look. At least for our toddler who is in the middle of potty training and has a boney butt in the first place, her bottom can get sore from those bumpy trails and lack of rear suspension. Ideas for a permanent solution are in the works, but for now, we just fold up a blanket or towel and that has helped a ton.
Questions You may have about Biking with a Toddler:
How do you carry a 2 year old on a bike?
We use this handy dandy seat from Thule. It was super easy to install, has magnetic clips, and grows with your kid with easy-to-adjust straps and stirrups. It even fits over our fat tire e-bikes!
How do you bike ride with a baby?
I put our little babies in a hand-me-down Thule Chariot Trailer. I use the infant insert, but don’t take them biking until their neck is strong enough for my personal comfort level. If I can help it, I don’t take them on exceptionally bumpy or dirt roads until they can fully sit up and I’m confident they are strong enough to take it on.
Is a bike trailer or seat safer?
The general consensus is that a trailer is the safest. I will say, you need to go with what will work best for you as the adult. Child seats make the bike extra tippy and can throw your balance off while trailers are long and can get caught on obstacles if you are not an aware rider.
How do you get on a bike with a child seat?
All I gotta say is lots of practice will help before you strap the child to your bike. Be aware of slopes and angles when you are mounting and dismounting your bike. Also, if you haven’t purchased your bike yet, we decided to go with e-bikes that did not have a top bar so stepping through to the other side would be easier.
What bikes and accessories do you use for biking with a toddler?
Yay, I’m so glad you asked! We LOVE our family biking gear, so we made a collection:
(our bike rack was designed and built by Mr. Unstuck, so you can bother him for the plans by shooting us an email 😉 )
Tell us: do you go biking with a toddler? What are your favorite tips for making it fun?
