Best child bike seats and trailers 2025 — bring your little ones along for the ride

I've got one of these Qibbel Junior seats, which is great for slightly older kids (5-10 years). It needs a sturdy rack, but dutch/utility bikes usually have those. It's very secure, but equally can be removed in seconds when needed. You might need to buy seperate footpegs.

This company do a range of similar products:

https://hollandbikeshop.com/en-gb/bicycle-seat/qibbel-bicycle-seat/qibbe...

I've had a Feva Star top tube seat for about a year. Chose it because it is easy to swap between bikes, won't damage a carbon frame and is relatively cheap. When it arrived I was sceptical that a few bits of foam and some straps would do the job but it's been brilliant. I find it best on my mountain bike or cyclo-cross bike as the top tube is longer so there's more space and your riding position is more upright but no regrets at all on the purchase.

We have a doggyride trailer and the issue that will crop up more and more is through axle and indeed disc brake compatibility. The axle mount fits onto a QR or bolted axle but the secondary retaining strap is not recommended for disc equipped bikes owing to the potential to snag on the rotor. The axle mount won't fit my Cannondale Topstone, and the solution the DoggyRide people are working on is to make the attachment via one of their rear rack/carriers (i.e. over the wheel) so something else to buy to add to the cost.

Zombie posting 😁

I had a previous incarnation of the Burley Bee when my kids were smaller. Excellent trailer, I wish I'd kept it for cargo when they outgrew it. (hindsight, aaah).

Very solid, reliable, good space for 2 at 5-6 y. o. & a little 'boot' too. The linkage was able to accommodate the odd rear end of my Birdy folder as easily as a regular rear triangle & was completely secure.

I can vouch for how safely it kept them too when I got caught out by a mini railway track, wedged my front wheel and the impetus of me & bike falling over tipped the trailer on its side.
My two were perfectly safe, still strapped in and after putting them right, both asked to do it again.

If you are on the lookout for a trailer, I found the Burley excellent & a big mistake to sell it on once the kids grew up a bit.

Been using a qeridoo speedkid2 for 3 years now and could not be happier with the purchase. Thing 1&2 (6y & 4y) are now a bit cozy, but still the best option when going further than they can cycle! (And significantly cheaper than Thule )

I have a Chariot Lite and whilst I haven't yet used it for cycling, it's brilliant as a running buggy and allows me to get out and exercise without the guilt of leaving the little one at home with her mum. Only negative I have with it thus far is the rain cover, which attaches via hooked loops and is so tight against the frame that it steams up on the inside, as there aren't any ventilation holes

Debating on whether to go to a tailor's/camping shop to see if they can get some holes in it without completely ruining it. Any thoughts, fellow commentors?

Halfords own single bike trailer is pretty decent, probably not as fancy as the Burly but its about £80

If you find the price of a Burley trailer too painful the Bellelli Bike Taxi is very good. Don't pay more than £200 for a twin though. Hard base it pretty bombproof, some storage at the back, very waterproof covers, roll back the rain cover to reveal insect netting for summer. Holds a 2 year old and a 4 year old easily. My one gripe is they changed the latest model so that you cannot put a single child in the middle by using one piece of each seat belt, they now have to be on one side which affects handling. Also folds down very compactly with wheels stored inside. They also have excellent customer support from Italy if you need e.g. replacement removable reflectors which snap too easily when loading kids/ parking (I modified mine to be magneticly fixed).

We've got the WeeRide - it's not without it's problems.

If you have a small frame/short head tube and suspension forks, you have to be careful the foot rests don't foul the tops of the forks, which somewhat cuts down the range of adjustment. My wife is also pretty much resting her chin on little one's helmet (don't start, you know who you are!), so there isn't much growing room.

I've also tried putting the WeeRide on my bike, but have had to lower my saddle a chunk to be able to get my feet down solidly when stopping, as you can't slide off the front of the saddle as you normally would. That also robs you of some leg power and you end up riding a bit like John Wayne to avoid banging your knees.

That said, they get a much better view and it's easier to chat with the little'un. I had my friend's 5-year old on it while my little one was having a sleep in their chariot.

We ran a Chariot CX1.  Superb piece of kit.  Sold it on eBay for not much less than we bought it 3 years later. Probably cost 30 quid a year.  Could have easily doubled-up as a pram too, but my wife insisted on a 'proper one', and then another.... They didn't sell so well. 

We ran a Chariot CX1.  Superb piece of kit.  Sold it on eBay for not much less than we bought it 3 years later. Probably cost 30 quid a year.  Could have easily doubled-up as a pram too, but my wife insisted on a 'proper one', and then another.... They didn't sell so well. 

We ran a Chariot CX1.  Superb piece of kit.  Sold it on eBay for not much less than we bought it 3 years later. Probably cost 30 quid a year.  Could have easily doubled-up as a pram too, but my wife insisted on a 'proper one', and then another.... They didn't sell so well. 

I'm surprised the FollowMe Tandem (https://www.followmetandem.co.uk) wasn't mentioned.

It's a somewhat heavy solution when compared to tag-alongs (about 8kg for the gadget, plus your kids bike), but technically is very very good: The center of gravity remains low, hence the whole system is stable; it tracks your bike without any surprise lines; its easy to attach/detach...

I'm already starting to think about this now that mini-me is sleeping in his rucsac, seems he's ready for a child seat! My concern is which bikes can take the Hamax style seat tube bracket?

I have a Trek Superfly, not crazy light carbon exotica, but still a relatively racey aluminium frame. How do you know when your frame is too light for a seat-tube mounted child seat?

Will consider getting an extra long seatpost to provide some overlap, but I'm already near the top of the stock 400mm post...

I've ridden with a couple of dog trailers (occupied and not, and also full of shopping) and didn't think they were that bad. Yes, a bit more work but not drastically so. Dog trailers are a little different though - the CoG is lower to the ground as they don't have to have seats in, or as many 'safety' concerns, so they're probably lighter. 

However, one dog disliked the trailer so much, he fought his way out. I believe the same applies to children as I've used them too - some are OK, and some hate it. 

Child sears are easier to use with a wide and straight bar bike - if your handling is twitchy with drop bars, it's even worse with more, high weight on the rear. Ditto trailabikes, especially if the coupling lets the bike rock. 

If you are using a child seat without solid leg sections (as the readers recommend above), please be aware that it increases the chance of clothes or body parts getting caught in the wheel, so make sure everything is tied down tightly.

We bought a Burley trailer for our dog a few years ago, removed seats and made flat carpeted deck for her. We bought it for casual rides to the beach, not serious riding. Even with the trailer empty, that thing is like a parachute​... Huge airbrake. Add a 80 pound retriever, now that's a workout! Mad respect to anyone who does serious mileage with one.