Gear to Transport Your Toddler
Things to Know Before Buying Wagons, Bike Carriers and Push Bikes
Tried and true advice on what you should look for when buying today's popular toddler gear.
Now that you are moving out of the stroller stage, you need ways to get around with your toddler in tow. There is a variety of gear available, so here are some suggestions to get the best quality and value for your money.
Wagons
Wagons are a great way to transport one or two children. They do take up space in the garage and car, so you may want to go for the ones where the handle folds under the wagon and the sides can be removed for easier storage. Seat belts are great options for smaller children if you are worried about them climbing out as you are pulling the wagon. You also want a handle that can stay upright. It is a nuisance to constantly bend down and pick it up.
Go for rubber tires. The plastic ones crack and you cannot get a replacement so the wagon becomes useless. Also, the front wheels have to move in unison so try it out in the store and make sure it is easy to turn corners. The final thing to look for is if you are planning to get one where two children sit in it facing each other, make sure there is enough leg room for both. Some offer very limited space and your children will find their legs squished. A good brand to try for wagons is Radio Flyer.
Child Bike Carriers
If you want to ride your bike with your child on board with you, you now have a variety of options. There are seats that sit directly behind your bike seat, ones that go in front of you but behind the handle bars, and ones that go directly in front of the handle bars. All of these options will affect your center of gravity in a different way so you need to think about where you are most comfortable for the baby to sit.
The seat definitely needs a secure, five point harness seat belt and the material it is made of needs to be a thick sturdy plastic, nothing flimsy. Make sure you can comfortably pedal if the seat is going in front of you. Some of these seats have the child’s legs come straight down which means you may have to pedal with your knees sticking out. Others allow the child’s legs to rest on an angle, out of your way. Finally, make sure the seat is easy to take on and off your bike, and very secure once it is on. Don’t forget, your child must wear a bike helmet. Preferred brands include iBert and Topeak.
Push Tricycles
Push tricycles come with push bars so you can help your toddler along if they can’t pedal yet. As such, it will need to have a seat belt. You will want to make sure the steering is easy and not wobbly, and you will want to be able to lock the front wheel or handle bars, otherwise it will be tough to push your toddler if you are pushing one way and he is turning the wheel the other. Also some of the push bikes don’t have brakes, and you will want that when the child rides it on their own.
If you want the trike to last, you definitely want rubber wheels over plastic as the plastic wheels are slippery and can break. You also don’t want a tricycle where the child sits too high or the front wheel is too large as the bike can tip, especially if your child is trying to turn a corner quickly. Noise can be a factor too, so try the one in the store as some can making annoying clicking sounds. Radio Flyer makes a variety of push trikes.
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