The 10 Best Child Bike Seats (2021 Buying Guide)

Whether you’re hoping to introduce your child to a favourite hobby, or looking for a new staycation activity, cycling is a great way to have fun with your child, get some exercise, and explore the outdoors. The best way to get out on the bike with a baby or a toddler is to fit a child bike seat. 

Child bike seats attach to your bike, allowing your little one to come along for the ride safely and comfortably. But with so many different types of bikes and frames available today, finding the right child bike seat for you, your child, and your bike can be a bit of a minefield. We’ve put this guide together to give you everything you need to know before making your purchase, as well as our reviews of the best child seats to get.

What you need to know about child bike seats

There are two questions we hear a lot when it comes to these seats:

Key considerations when buying a child bike seat

Firstly, a child bike seat won't just fit onto any type of bike, and that’s big part of why getting the right child seat can be so difficult.

If you’re not too experienced with bikes it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the basic structure of a bike frame.

Most bikes have either a round or oval shaped frame, and while many child bike seats can fit to both, some can only fit to one shape. Here's the key considerations:

• Typically, road bikes (or bikes with drop handlebars) are not suitable because they usually have a different shape frame altogether. 
• Carbon fibre frames are also not suitable because they are so lightweight and run the risk of accidents. 
• Seats usually aren’t compatible with small-wheeled folding bikes, and even if you can find out to suit, the handling is severely compromised.
• Full suspension mountain bikes also pose problems when fitting a child bike seat. It’s not impossible, and some brands do cater to these types of bikes, but you’re likely to face a smaller pool to choose from and a higher price.
• Frame size is also a consideration for certain types, even on a standard leisure bike. A smaller frame, perhaps a 16” frame used by a shorter person, may result in the seat interfering with the rear wheel. 

Types of child bike seats

The type of bike you have will guide what kind of child bike seat you should get. Child bike seats fall under two overarching categories, with variations sitting within those two categories.

Rear-mounted

Rear-mounted bike seats are certainly the most common because they can carry a child from the age of 6 months right up to the maximum weight limit.

There are three types of rear-mounted:

Rear-mounted seats generally offer the most protection with a three or five-point safety harness, a high back, leg guards and sometimes specific head guards. They also provide excellent wind chill protection from, well, you!

There are downsides to rear-mounted child bike seats, though. It can be difficult to truly interact and enjoy the experience with your child, and they can disrupt the balance of the bike.

Front-mounted

Although less common than rear-mounted seats, front-mounted seats are growing in popularity, especially among more experienced bikers. Typically, a front-mounted child seat is fixed either directly to the head tube, to the top tube or a bar that is attached between the head tube and seat post (both of which are sometimes referred to as ‘centre mounted’).

The positives of a front-mounted seat include better balance and handling, and the ability to interact with your child a lot better and enjoy the experience that much more. On the downside, they generally offer less protection and there is a risk of falling towards the child in the event of sudden braking or a crash. You may also end up pedalling with your knees slightly out to avoid bumping into the seat, and your little one might be a little chilly unless you buy a wind shield.

The 10 best child bike seats

Now you know what to look out for and have an idea of what is best for you and your child, here are our reviews of the best 10 child bike seats.

The Topeak Babyseat II slides neatly on onto the accompanying heavy-duty rack, with duel suspension springs underneath the seat offering maximum comfort for your child. The integrated rollercoaster-style safety bar and roll bar both offer extra protection, with the latter doubling as a useful carry handle.

The OK Baby Orion is a front-mounted child seat that fixes to the head tube. The mounting bracket is suitable for 32-52mm frames and features four different mounting options. The seat has a ventilation hole to prevent overheating, and the padding is water repellent. The removable shackle means it is suitable for children from 7-8 months old. However, the 15kg weight limit means you’re not likely to get many years’ use out of it.

Despite being one of the sleekest designs on the market, the Thule RideAlong Mini Front doesn’t skimp on safety. The padded 5-point harness blends maximum comfort and security, while the quick release bracket features a safety indicator to show when the seat is mounted correctly. With an optional purchase, the handlebar can double as a headrest in case your little one nods off.

Quite a new brand to the market, the Urban iki combines a minimalistic Dutch concept with high Japanese safety standards. The ergonomic design offers comfort for the child, while its innovative five-point harness allows you to strap them in with one hand, meaning you’ve got the other hand free to keep the bike steady. This option is a cantilever, attaching a bracket to the seat tube, but if you love how it looks and are looking for a rack-mounted seat, it also comes in that variation.

The Classic Junior from Bobike is designed specifically for older children who are more than capable of sitting independently on the back of the bike, but can’t quite cover longer distances by themselves. It can carry a maximum weight of 35kg, and with a minimum weight of 20kg, the seat can serve your child’s needs from the ages of 5-10. When not riding with your child, the seat folds down to double as an object carrier.

The UrRider is another front-mounted seat with no safety harness, designed for older children. It fixes to the seat tube and top tube with the saddle sitting on a rail. The bright, funky handrail and the front fork are foldable and fully adjustable, meaning you can find the perfect seating position for your little one. It doesn’t fit sloped top tube frames, however. Made from aircraft grade aluminium alloy, weight isn’t an issue, so UnRider recommends a maximum height of 125cm.

The Prophete Safety is a no-nonsense, ‘does what it says on the tin’ child bike seat. It attaches to the seat tube via a bracket and two-pronged rack with a quick release system that’s ideal for when you want to ride solo. Its high back and walled sides make it safe yet comfortable for younger riders, while the three-point harness does the job efficiently.

The Britax Römer is a rear-mounted cantilever seat that offers a class-leading level of adjustment and customisation. The headrest and harness can be adjusted to one of nine different positions to maximum comfort. And for those younger children on longer rides, it features a reclining backrest for a safe and comfortable sleeping position. The extra-large spoke cover ensures complete protection for your child’s legs and stops anything interfering with the spokes.

One of the first brands to introduce front-mounted child bike seats, the WeeRide Classic sits on a cross bar attached to the seat post and head tube. The patented cross bar positions the weight on the centre of the bike, reducing impact on balance and handling. The seat is fully adjustable and features a ‘nap pad’, offering a large and comfortable space for little ones to rest their head and sleep.

Child bike seat stories

There's nothing we love more than seeing dads with their children riding together on their bike seats. Here are some of the stories we've loved and been inspired by. We hope it inspires you too!