These Are the Best Child Bike Seats for New Adventures on Two Wheels

Best Overall Front-Mounted

iBert Child Bicycle Safe-T-Seat

4.7

View On Amazon

The bright colors of this bike seat will be fun for your child—and also help drivers and fellow riders see you on the road—and that's just one of several factors making this our top pick. The seat is a center mount, which fits behind the handlebars to ensure stability and visibility for the adult rider.

“Front-mounted seats are typically sized only for younger kids," pediatrician Amy Liu, MD, MPH, an assistant professor in the Department of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, reminds us. Keep this in mind when you make your purchase.

Designed to hold a child up to 38 pounds, it's made of durable plastic resin, and the seat comes equipped with a 3-point safety harness made of nylon. It also has adjustable foot cups, so it can grow with your child. An extra feature we can't resist: Your little one will have fun pretending to drive with the attached toy steering wheel, which also happens to be padded for added safety.

As for bike compatibility, the brand notes that it works with most bikes, but it is not compatible with drop handlebars or bikes with odd-shaped stems. Reviewers note that it's easy to assemble and lasts for a long time.

Price at time of publication: $120

^{Key Specs:
Weight Limit: 38 pounds | Age Rec: 1 year | Front or Rear: Front}

Best Overall Rear-Mounted

Burley Dash Rack Mount

View On Amazon

There are different models of this seat so you can pick the one that fits your needs the best, but all of them have easy, tool-free installation. Kids up to 40 pounds can ride in the seat, which can be placed into three different positions to ensure the rider has enough space.

The bike seat also has removable and washable padding—a necessity for young, messy kids—and an adjustable five-point harness strap. It’s also designed with armrests, a storage compartment, and a back reflector for visibility. The footrest adjusts to four positions, ensuring that you and your kiddo are both comfy.

Price at time of publication: $170

^{Key Specs:
Weight Limit: 40 pounds | Age Rec: 1–5 years | Product Weight: 6.4 pounds | Front or Rear: Rear}

Sturdiest

Thule Yepp Mini Child Bike Seat

View On Amazon

For the rugged rides of a road bike, you want to make sure you choose a child seat that can keep up, like this one from Thule. Thule is often touted as the one to beat when it comes to a child seat. Both the front-mounted Thule Yepp Mini and the rear-mounted Thule Yepp Maxi get high marks all around for durability, safety, and comfort. While the Mini is designed for kids from 9 months old through 3 years old, the manufacturer does recommend checking with your pediatrician before using with babies under 12 months old, which is the standard all around.

The seat, which you mount in the front of your bike, is soft and designed to absorb shock for a comfortable ride, while a five-point harness keeps kids safe. (Note: Many bikers believe that having your child ride up front when tackling tough terrain is beneficial as there’s less dirt flying up there, though you may want to add goggles, too.) It also features foot straps and adjustable footrests, so the seat can grow with them. While this bike seat is more expensive than many other models, online reviewers say it’s worth every penny.

Price at time of publication: $160

^{Key Specs:
Weight Limit: 33 pounds | Age Rec: 9 months–3 years | Front or Rear: Front}

Best Affordable

Copilot Cabbie Child Carrier

View On Amazon

There aren’t a ton of bells and whistles on this front-mounted bike seat, but it gets the job done (and does so safely). Its design gives the rider a clear line of vision. The seat is easy to install and brightly colored to ensure visibility on the street.

The seat has a three-point harness to buckle your child in, and it can be adjusted to fit them as they grow. However, the maximum weight for the seat is 33 pounds—which includes your child, their helmet, and any bags or toys they want to bring along.

Price at time of publication: $101

^{Key Specs:
Weight Limit: 33 pounds | Age Rec: 1–3 years | Front or Rear: Front}

Best for Younger Toddlers

WeeRide Safe Deluxe Baby Bike Seat

View On Amazon

Once your child hits that one-year mark, you can feel comfortable taking them for a ride in this child bike seat, which is lined with extra padding, features a five-point safety harness, and has a padded front bumper where your little one can rest their head for naps. The padded bumper also offers extra protection in the event of an unexpected fast stop.

The seat is designed so the child is visible to the rider at all times without impairing the rider's line of vision. This model is great for younger toddlers up to 33 pounds. According to Dr. Liu, a child should be at least 12 months old to ride with an adult on their bike, and they also must be able to sit up unsupported with a bicycle helmet on.

Price at time of publication: $100

^{Key Specs:
Weight Limit: 33 pounds | Age Rec: 1–4 years | Front or Rear: Front}

Best for Older Toddlers

UrRider New Upgrade Child Bike Seat

View On Amazon

Bigger toddlers who are stable on their bikes who are also able (and willing) to sit still can ride on this front-facing seat, which securely attaches to the bike’s frame and folds down when not in use. The handle on the seat is lined with a nonslip material so you don’t have to worry about your kid losing their grip.

The foot pedals are adjustable to meet your child’s comfort needs. One important note is that, while this seat can hold a child up to 110 pounds or 4.1 feet tall (whichever comes first), bike mounts should really only be used for kids who are 12 months to 4 years of age and less than 40 pounds, according to Dr. Liu.

Price at time of publication: $100

^{Key Specs:
Weight Limit: 110 pounds | Age Rec: 2–6 years | Front or Rear: Front}

Best for Mountain Bikes

FenglinTech Child Safety Carrier

View On Amazon

If you own a mountain bike, you may find that a lot of child bike seats aren’t compatible with your model. This seat works well with mountain bikes but is best for tots who are a little older and have some stability since they are not strapped in. The seat can be easily attached and detached, has adjustable pedals for your child to rest their feet, and can hold up to 55 pounds.

As a general rule for all bikes with child seat attachments, but especially for parents who ride mountain bikes off-trail, Dr. Liu suggests that adults stick to bike paths, park trails, quiet streets, and only ride in good weather conditions to prevent injury.

^{Key Specs:
Weight Limit: 55 pounds | Age Rec: 2.5–6 years | Front or Rear: Front}

Best For Growing Toddlers

Schwinn Deluxe Child Carrier

View On Amazon

If you’re hoping to get a bike seat that will grow with your child from ages 1 through 4, this is the one you want. It’s easy to assemble and is safe for kids as young as 1 and up to 40 pounds (or 4 years old, whichever comes first).

It comes equipped with a three-point harness strap, leg restraints across the adjustable footrests (so they can’t kick and throw off your balance), a padded crossbar for added safety, and a removable headrest for comfort. The seat is also designed with air vents so it won’t create resistance for the rider, and it will help keep your child cooler.

Price at time of publication: $130

^{Key Specs:
Weight Limit: 40 pounds | Age Rec: 1–4 years | Front or Rear: Rear}