Thanks to Mammacangura for sponsoring this post. 

Do you want to start biking with kids but aren’t sure what gear you need to get started? We have you covered with a great bike seat option and all the safety tips you need!

I’m out of shape.

My twins are 2 years old now and I’m still recovering from my twin pregnancy. To get my fitness level up back up to where I want it to be, I know I have to do something active that I enjoy. That’s where biking comes in.

I’ve always loved biking but the last phase of my life has been filled with pregnancy and newborns,  so I set my bike aside.

I’ve been changing that lately and have LOVED being back on my bike. It’s so great to be able to get away and get active when you need a bit of stress-relief, especially when you have views like this in your backyard. Biking with kids can be such an adventure and a great way to create memories as a family.

Curious how I have been biking with kids? I have some great tips for you.

First of all, it has been YEARS since I have been on a bike. I used to ride all the time but I got out of the habit. I was nervous about riding a bike again, especially since my body is completely different than it was the last time I rode.

If it has been a while since you have ridden a bike, I recommend going for a ride without your kids first. Have your husband watch the kids or get a babysitter.

Once you get that out of the way, I know you are going to want to find a way to exercise with your kids (if you need some ideas to help you do that, we have a few for you here). If I wait to exercise until I have a babysitter I know it won’t happen on a regular basis so including my kids in my exercise routine makes a huge difference in how consistent I can be. It’s fun too! I’ve had great times with my kids while we are out being active.

Always wear a helmet

Safety is always a top priority. You can find some great quality child helmets for your kids. Make sure that the helmet fits snuggly so it won’t flop around. With kids, this often means checking for fit every time you ride because they grow so fast.

Don’t forget about yourself either. I know as moms, we tend to think about our kids first, but think about what your kids would do if something happened to you. I actually hopped on my bike (after getting my daughter’s helmed on and getting her strapped in safely, of course) before I realized I’d forgotten my helped. Oops. I ran back and put it on after this photo was taken.

If you are still on the fence about wearing a helmet, think about the example you are setting for your kids. If they see you riding with a helmet, they are more likely to grab theirs when they go biking as they get older.

Biking With Kids? Here’s What you Need to Know

Choose the right bike seat

I’ve used quite a few styles of bike seats and trailers over the years. When my older boys were little, I used a bike trailer. I liked that okay but it always felt a bit awkward having my kids so far away, especially when I was riding on roads near traffic. I always worried they’d get hit by a car because they were down lower or they’d try and climb out. I did a lot of awkwardly trying to look backwards while I rode.

I’ve since discovered that I like seats on the bike a lot better. My kids are close enough that I can have a conversation with them so, not only do I like having them closer for safety reasons but I love feeling like we are actually spending time together while we ride.

My top pick is the Tiger bicycle seat from Mammacangura. This company just started importing their child bike seats in from Italy and they are such a great option if you want to start biking with your kids.

First of all, the styling is on point. Every little design element is not only functional but stylish. The frame is made from Non-toxic certified plastic, which is important if you are putting your kids in it.

Your child’s legs are protected from the wheel spokes with extra-wide leg/feet protection. This is always one of my biggest worries with child bike seats so I loved seeing that. You actually strap your child’s legs into the seat so they can’t swing them around (and stick them places they shouldn’t be).

The seat is really easy to adjust, which is important. You want to make sure you can get your child into the seat securely and user-error is generally to blame so I liked having straps that were easy to adjust and latches that were easy to use.

There is an integrated helmet slot so your little one will stay comfy and won’t complain about wearing her helmet (my daughter actually refused to take hers off when we were done riding because she knew that meant she had to get off the bike).

I love that the seat is certified to use with children up to 48.5 lbs. My 4 year old is still under that and while she can ride a bike on her own, she is slow, and that makes it hard to ride with her for any extended distance. I rotate kids when I ride so next time I go out I’m going to be trying this bike seat out with her. I’ll let you know how that goes in the comments.

The backrest is height adjustable so the seat can grow with your child and the buckle has a one-handed release (which is handy since your other hand will be holding the bike.

Overall, this is the best bike seat for kids we have seen and it is sure to get lots of use by my family, especially as the weather starts to warm up a bit more.

Learn more about the Tiger bicycle seat from Mammacangura and buy it here.

Keep older kids between adults

If you are riding with older kids or kids who are just starting to ride a bike on their own, the safest option is to go with two adults and have one ride in front and one behind. That way your kids have someone to follow and no stragglers get left behind. For new bike riders, I like to ride on paths away from a road because it helps me keep my kids safe. Young riders can be a bit unpredictable so I like knowing they aren’t going to swerve in front of a car if they lose control of their bike.

Start with happy kids

If you want to have a good experience biking with your kids, make sure you plan to go when they are in a good mood. Be sure you feed them before hand and dress them appropriately for the weather. You don’t want your kids to have a bad experience and never want to ride with you again.

If you are riding in urban areas or areas with street traffic, you don’t want to risk cranky kids throwing you off balance or otherwise getting into trouble.

Bring snacks and plan for stops if you need to, especially the first few times you ride. Definitely keep a bottle of water on hand for both of you.

My daughter absolutely loved riding with me. She’s the more cautious out of my twins so I wasn’t sure how she would react but biking may be her new favorite thing. The whole time we were riding she was talking away and yelling “wheeeeeeeee . . .”.

When we finished and I went to take her out of the seat she refused. “We ride bikes more!” she insisted. I couldn’t say no to that so we took another lap around the park.

Biking is definitely going to get back to being a regular thing around here, which is a good thing for my kids (and my waistline).

Enter to Win

Want to win your own Tiger bicycle seat from Mammacangura? We have one to give away to a lucky reader!

This giveaway is open to the U.S. Winner must be 18+. Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions  for a complete list of our contest and giveaway rules. 

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