Though a family bike ride with baby in tow can be a fun way to get exercise, it can also be dangerous.
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these safety suggestions when biking with baby:
- Only allow young children to ride with an adult. Babies 12 months and younger shouldn't ride on a bike at all, even in a seat or carrier.
- Children older than 1 year should ride in a rear-mounted seat or trailer for children, and always while wearing a helmet.
- Make sure that a rear-mounted child seat is properly and safely attached, and the child is properly strapped in.
- Stick to low-traffic streets, parks or bike paths.
As with any exercise equipment or sporting gear, a bicycle should fit a rider properly, especially if the user is a child.
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these suggestions to make sure your child's new bike is safe:
- Seat your child on the bike with hands placed on the handlebars. The balls of your child's feet should touch the ground.
- Ask your child to stand over the bar located at the center of the bike. The child should stand with both feet flat, and the child's crotch area should be about one inch above the bar.
- An older child should be able to easily grab and apply enough pressure to use the hand brakes.
- Never buy a bike that's too big for your child, thinking that the child will "grow into it."
No comments:
Post a Comment