It’s our responsibility to raise the next generation of riders. Children today will get to love and appreciate nature more if we take them outside to do fun activities in the great outdoors.
To make kids love the mountains, one thing that you can do is take them bike riding. While they are young, it could be wise to invest in a special bike seat for kids that you can install on your mountain bike. This will make riding safer and more comfortable for you and your child.
In today's review, we’ll go over the top 5 bike seats for kids. Make sure to stick around and see which were our favorite bike seats that earned a spot on the list!
Education - How to Choose the Best Bike Seat for Kids
When choosing a bike seat for your child, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, consider the type of seat suitable for your child depending on their age. Then, see if your favorite bike seat is suitable for your bike frame. Finally, we recommend getting a bike seat with as many great features as possible.
Child Age and Preference
There are three general types of child bike seats: front-mounted, rear-mounted, and mid-mounted seats. The front-mounted seats are best for children starting from 9 months and going to the age of two years.
Consider getting a rear-mounted seat if you have a child between 12 months and two years, but these seats are only compatible with kids weighing around 40 pounds. So, keep the weight in mind when making your decision.
The mid-mounted seats are suitable for children between two and five years. These are usually the least safe seats because they don’t come with a harness. We recommend these seats only for older children who have good balance.
Also, consider the seat your child likes the most. If they’re fond of exploring their surroundings, it would be better to get a mid-mounted seat with no view obstructions. You could get a back-mounted seat if they want to look at you while riding. It’s up to them and their preference, too!
Bike Compatibility
Each bike seat comes with instructions regarding the type of bike you should use it with. Some rear child bike seats might be suitable for electric bikes or mountain bikes, while others are not. It depends on the seat, seat post, and bike. Make sure to consider everything when making your decision!
Extra Features
Nowadays, you can find great seats with a three-point harness or a whole five-point harness system. The seats can also have features such as adjustable backrests and footrests, hand rests, a good ventilation system, and comfortable padding.
When investing in a seat your child will use often, try to get as many of these features as possible. It’ll make riding with your child much more convenient!
FAQ on the Best Bike Seats for Kids
How can I make my child's bike seat more comfortable?
If your child's bike seat is less comfortable than you’d like, you can always add extra padding or change the existing one to a better one. Make sure the padding is as comfy as possible while also wrapping it in comfortable material.
Can a 3-year-old go in a bike seat?
Yes, there are bike seats suitable for children from the age of nine-twelve months to the age of over six years. Each bike seat has its own age range, so make sure you get one that’s suitable for your child's age, weight, and size.
Top 5 Bike Seats for Kids: Detailed Reviews
The Thule Yepp Maxi Rack Mount Child Bike Seat is just what today's parents need - a smart and functional solution for taking their kids out on rides. With its comfortable and shock-absorbing seat, it offers your child the best level of comfort at all times. It's designed for everyday use, so it can handle virtually any conditions parents will encounter on their journeys.
There are several colors to choose from, so you can pick one that suits your own style! Additionally, its design offers great ventilation during hot weather so not only will your little one travel in comfort, but they'll look cute doing it too.
The innovative design makes it super easy-to-mount and unmount, and its lightweight construction makes it perfect for everyday use. The water-repellent material is also easy to clean, giving parents one less thing to worry about.
Things we like:
Comfortable and shock-absorbing seat for a smooth ride
Choice of colors to suit your style
Great ventilation during hot weather
Easy mounting and unmounting
Water repellent material easy to clean
Things we don’t like
There are only two height adjustments on shoulder straps
Not many child bike seats are comfortable - they’re made from plastic and nothing more. But that’s not the case with the Burley Dash Child bike seat - it comes with armrests and seat padding. These two features allow your child to sit comfortably while you ride.
Another great thing about the Burley Dash Child bike seat is that it comes with a safety harness that will give you peace of mind knowing your child will be safe throughout the ride. Just strap the child in and you’ll be good to go.
The lightweight design will also allow you to ride comfortably without feeling any excess weight - you can change the seat's position so it fits your bike best.
Things we like:
Adjustable seat position
Lightweight design
5-point harness system
Comfortable seat padding
Easy to install and maintain
Things we don't like:
Pricier than other child bike seats
Velcro straps might become unusable after some time
Not suitable for all bike frames
The Schwinn Deluxe bike seat for kids is an excellent, if not the top, choice from this well-known company. One of the reasons why so many parents are drawn to this seat is because the large size and weight capacity make the seat suitable for children up to 40 pounds.
Also, the seat's design makes it very comfortable for a child. There are footrests and a headrest that your child will love, while the comfy padding makes the seat even better.
It’ll take only a few minutes to install the seat, but you’ll need an adjustable wrench and a Phillips screwdriver to complete the installation. So, make sure you have these tools before you get the seat.
Things we like:
Adjustable footrests
Removable headrest
3-point harness system
Vented design
Cushy padding
Things we don't like:
Installation requires specific tools
Not suitable for all bike frames
Kids Ride Shotgun is a well-known company that’s created quite a unique child seat for mountain bikes. Using this seat, you and your child could explore the most exciting mountain tracks. But be careful - this bike seat is not for children below the age of 2.
There’s no harness on this seat, but you can always pair it with the company's tiny handlebars. You can also adjust the seat's position, so there’s enough space between you, your child, and the handlebars.
Don’t worry - even if you have an expensive mountain bike, this seat will fit like a glove and won’t cause any damage. There’s rubber protection on the seat that ensures the frame and paint also won’t suffer damage. How cool is that?
Things we like:
Suitable for children up to the age of 5
Adjustable seat width and angle
Rubber frame protection
Easy installation
Grippy footpegs
Things we don't like:
Not suitable for children under the age of 2
No safety harness
Hamax is a company that prides itself on creating extremely safe child seats. The Scandinavian design and safety certifications make the Hamax Caress child bike seat one of the best to have ever been created.
Choose between getting a seat that you can install on your frame or your rear rack. The design will be nearly the same, with a different mounting technique.
Few child seats come with suspension, but this child bike seat has an ultra-shock absorbing suspension that will make your child comfortable, even when you ride on uneven terrain. Thanks to the sliding and adjustable backrest, your child can be sound asleep as you ride around.
Things we like:
Shock-absorbing suspension
One-handed adjustments
Sleep recline
Recyclable design
3-point harness
Things we don't like:
Not suitable for all bike frames
Difficult to install
Sometimes wobbly when riding
There are few seats like the UrRider bike seat. This front seat allows your child to see everything you see when you ride around. The seat is completely open, with nothing obstructing the child's view, which makes riding even more fun.
Unlike other seats, this seat can easily be mounted to any frame, meaning the installation and removal take only a few minutes. The seat is also compatible with most frame sizes and forms.
Whenever you don’t need the seat, you can fold it or remove it and place it in the convenient bag that comes with it.
Things we like:
Soft handrail
Footstraps and mudguard
Protective silicone liner
Lightweight and foldable design
Suitable for most adult bikes
Things we don't like:
Due to the lack of a harness, might not be as safe as other bike seats
Might not be very comfortable for the child
Not fully adjustable
Wrap Up
We hope you liked the bike seats we chose for this review. As our top pick for the best bike seat for kids, we single out the Thule Yepp Maxi Rack Mount Child Bike Seat. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option with nearly the same quality and features, you can also look into the UrRider Front Bike Seat for Kids.