4 Bike Seats & Trailers for Kids Who Are Too Young to Bike Alone (But Too Big for Baby Seats)

As the weather warms up, I’m looking forward to getting outside with my brood and enjoying the sunshine. One of my family’s favorite outdoor activities is biking, but my 4-year-old is juuuust getting started on a two-wheeler of his own (we ran with him up and down the street sans training wheels yesterday). Which means if we want to take a family bike trip that’s more than five minutes long and completely flat, we need to find a solution for him. If you have kids who are too big for a baby seat, but can’t ride on their own yet, or an older kid who isn’t capable of riding solo, you need to get creative. Here are four age-appropriate solutions for getting non-riders out with the whole family for some biking fun.

Weehoo iGO
Our family has loved the Weehoo iGo, available in both a single and dual child model. The iGo doesn’t provide any protection from the elements (though they do offer a separate rain canopy to protect their head), but we’ve found it is much lighter and easier to maneuver than many of the covered bike trailers. The Weehoo iGo has an adjustable seat making it suitable for kids ages 2 to 9, a 5-point harness, and total weight limit of 80 pounds. Your child can sit and check out her surroundings or pedal which isn’t just for show; the pedaling actually helps to power the bike forward. The iGo doesn’t fold down conveniently, so it’s not a great option if you need to put it in your trunk, but it can attach to most bike racks.

WeeRide Co-Pilot Bike Trailer
This trailer creates a tandem-style ride for bigger little kids who just haven’t mastered their own bike yet but don’t want to feel like a baby. With adjustable handlebars, pedals, and a bike seat at the same level as mom or dad, it will let your kid feel like he’s riding a regular bike and also get a better view of his surroundings. Recommended for kids 4 to 9 years old, there is no harness with this one, so your child needs to be able to hold on and balance (Sorry — no mid-ride napping!).

Burley Child Bike Trailers
This company doesn’t make cheap bike trailers, but they are smartly designed and high quality. This trailer is especially good if you like to bike in a wide range of weather, and offers protection from sun, snow, wind, and rain. I especially like Burley’s middle-of-the-line Encore trailer. It offers seating for one or two children, a 5-point harness for each, tinted UV protected side windows, reclining seats, a sunshade, and a weather-resistant cover. The Encore also has a height-adjustable handlebar that doubles as roll bar and allows you to convert the trailer into a jogging stroller or 4-wheel stroller with Burley’s accessory kits (sold separately). There’s also an optional Baby Snuggler kit that provides added support for babies 6-24 months, allowing siblings to ride together.

Thule Yepp Junior
Most bike seats that attach to a parent bike have an upper weight limit of about 40 lbs., but the Yepp Junior is one of the few seats that is suitable for kids between the age of 5-9 years old (or up to 77 lbs.)! The Yepp Junior attaches to most standard bikes and comes with a sturdy backrest, folding footrests, an anti-theft lock, rear reflector and a lap belt. There are two different mounting options so be sure to check the website to see which system works with your bike.