9 Best Kids Bike Seats & How To Choose!

There are so many kids bike seats on the market it can be overwhelming! And you might have a lot of questions such as:

What should I choose: a front mounted bike seat or a rear mounted bike seat? What seat is best for my baby, toddler, or older child? What kind of seat will fit on my bike?

The good news is that we’ve tested and reviewed LOTS of bike seats for you. In this article, we’ll share our FAVORITE bike seats as well as going over the different types of seats and what you should consider before buying.

Now get the kiddo a snack, find a comfy spot on the couch, and let’s dive right in…..

thule yepp mini in action

Table Of Contents

Types of Child Bike Seats
Our Top Picks
Honorable Mentions
Things To Consider Before Buying
   Front vs Rear Seats
   Bike Seats vs Other Options
   Age And Weight
   Mounting & Installation
   Harnesses & Shoulder Straps
   Washability
   Suspension
   Reclining
   Strorage Space
   Reflectors & Visibility
   Head Padding
   Seat Weight
   Arm Rests & Handlebars
Comparison Chart

Types Of Bike Seats

While there are LOTS of different bike seats on the market, they can be broken down into three basic categories:

  • Front mounted seats
  • Rear mounted seats
  • Open seats (these can be either front or rear and are intended for mountain biking and older kids)

I’ll briefly explain each type here, but for more information on the pros and cons of each and which might work best for you and your family, keep on reading.

Front Mounted Seats

hamax observer review

A front mounted child bike seat is installed at the front of the adult’s bicycle over the top tube and just behind the handle bars.  Depending on the brand, it attaches to either the headset, the seatpost, or the frame.

The standard front mounted seat has a harness to keep the child safely strapped in and these are appropriate for babies and toddlers (ages 1-3). 

Rear Mounted Seats

Biking with a child in the Yepp Maxi child sea

Rear mounted seats go behind the adult. These are the most traditional type of kids bike seat, and are probably what you thought of when you started your search.

A rear mounted bike seat can attach to either the frame (seat tube) of the bike OR a rack. They are appropriate for kids from 12 months to around 4 or 5 years old. (Height and weight tend to be the limiting factors).

Open Seats (For Mountain Biking and/or Older Kids)

Mac Ride Bike Seat

These seats are designed for slightly older kids (ages 2-6) and are “open” in that they don’t have a harness. Kids hang on themselves. These seats can be either front or rear mounted, although in the U.S. it’s easier to find the front mounted ones.

While the front mounted open seats are mostly marketed for mountain biking, they can also be used for around town riding. They have higher weight limits than traditional seats, and are super interactive.

Rear mounted open style seats are harder to find in the U.S. but are great for older kids on long tail cargo bikes or other city bikes. Two examples are the Yepp Junior and the Quibbel Junior. If you go this route, you may need to import the seat yourself or work with a shop that specializes in family cycling.

Our Top Picks

Now that you know a little bit about the different types of seats (and maybe have an idea of what you’re looking for, here are our top picks–3 in each category. If you don’t want to spend a bunch of time researching bike seats, consider one of these. They are, without a doubt, the best kids bike seats on the market.

SeatType Of SeatWhat We Love
1Thule Yepp MaxiRear MountedSimple, easy to clean
2Thule RideAlongRear Mounted Great for napping
3Hamax CaressRear Mounted Easy to load, reclining
4Thule Yepp MiniFront MountedWashable, handlebar
5iBertFront Mounted Low profile, simple design
6Hamax ObserverFront Mounted Easy to load, swap between bikes
7Mac RideToddler / MTBEasy on, easy off, high weight limit
8Kids Ride ShotgunToddler / MTB Optional accessories like mini handlebar
9DoLittleToddler / MTB Works well on most bikes

Thule Yepp Maxi

Yepp Maxi Sizing

The Thule Yepp Maxi is my top pick for rear-mounted bike seats.  The seat comes in two versions—the standard Yepp Maxi that attaches to your bike’s seatpost, and the Yepp Maxi Easyfit that attaches to a rack. This flexibility makes the seat workable for (nearly) any type of bike.

(If you’re not sure what you need, you can learn more about mounting options later in the article or in my review of the Yepp Maxi).

Both versions of the seat come in an array of beautiful colors, are comfortable for the child, and have a long lifespan and good resale value.

The Yepp Maxi doesn’t come with all the features of some of the other seats on this list (suspension, reclining, etc), but we actually appreciate the simplicity. No muss, no fuss.

Pros:

  • Seat is easily washable and water-resistant
  • Fits on a wide variety of bikes
  • Sleek, attractive design

Cons:

  • Standard version is time-consuming to install
  • Doesn’t recline for naps

Read Our Review: Thule Yepp Maxi

Price: $229.95 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 20:01 – More Info)

Thule RideAlong

hule ridealong 3 point harness

Here’s another Thule bike seat–this one with all the features. The Thule RideAlong offers a reclining seat, suspension, and a sturdy quick release bracket for installation.

Our favorite thing about the RideAlong is how well it works for napping. With a single hand, the seat can be reclined up to 20 degrees. And the suspension means you can hit a pothole or two without waking the kiddo up.

The seat itself it comfortable and the padding is removable for machine washing. The foot and shoulder straps and quick and easy to adjust and can be done on the fly.

The RideAlong easily mounts to your bike’s frame (via the seat tube) and installs easily to most bikes with the exception of full suspension mountain bikes and carbon fiber frames. Also, if you want to mount to a rack, pick a different seat instead–this one is frame mounted only.

Pros:

  • Sturdy attachment to bike frame
  • Easily reclines for naps
  • Support arms provide shock absorption 
  • Rider weight is balanced

Cons:

  • Becomes bouncy on climbs and trails
  • No storage space, backpack can crowd child’s seat

Read Our Review: Thule Ridealong

Price: $299.95 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 23:01 – More Info)

Hamax Caress

The Hamax Caress child bike seat is unique in that the back adjusts to grow with your child.  Easily adjustable footrest and harness systems make further additional adjustments a cinch as well. And once it’s been dialed in, you can load this seat mostly one-handed.

We appreciated that the seat not only reclines, it also has suspension. This makes it a great option for kids who like to nap while on the bike. Our one knit-pick with the seat, however, is that the neck pillow is almost mandatory due to the lack of padding at the top of the seat.

The Hamax Caress can mount to either an existing rack or to your frame.

Pros:

  • Works with existing rear rack or frame mount
  • Suspension and reclining features are nice for napping
  • Buckle is easy to operate one handed

Cons:

  • No cushioning around neck and head
  • Can be difficult to install on some bikes

Read Our Review: Hamax Caress

Price: $209

Thule Yepp Mini

thule yepp mini in action


The Yepp family of products are stylish and functional.  These seats come in bright, fun colors and are exceptionally well made. 

The one thing I really like about the Thule Yepp Mini when compared to other seats is the high back that provides neck support.  Combined with the optional “sleep roll” the Mini allows kids to sleep in the seat, something I’ve learned toddlers love to do. 

The seat is easy to wash and keep clean, and there are plenty of ventilation holes to keep kiddos cool even in hot weather.

The Mini fits kids up to 33 pounds.

Read Our Review: Thule Yepp Mini

Price: $159.95 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 19:02 – More Info)

iBert

ibert bike seat

The iBert seat is the one we chose to use when our son was young. We LOVED it!

The back of the seat is low which provides less support for your child, but also gives the adult rider a lot more room. This makes it easier to maneuver and possible to use in any situation–including for mountain biking on singletrack!

In addition to being easy for the adult to use, kids love the “steering wheel.” It gives them somewhere to put their hands and be interactive on the ride.

The seat’s simple design means it is easy to install, to keep clean, and to afford.  It fits kids up to 38 pounds.

Read Our Review: iBert Bike Seat

Price: $90.34 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 23:01 – More Info)

Hamax Observer

hamax observer review

The Hamax Observer is simple and sleek. Our favorite thing about the seat is that it is easy to bucke and strap the child one-handed, so you can use the other to hold your bike up right.

The seat is also easy to swap between bikes if you choose to do so. (You just need to buy an extra mount for the second bike). Once it’s mounted, you can lock the seat in place to protect against theft.

The biggest drawback of the Hamax Observer is that there isn’t a handlebar or steering wheel for little kiddos to hold on. Not a big deal for some, but other kiddos could use the extra engagement.

Read Our Review: Hamax Observer

Price: $149

Buy at HamaxUSA.com**

Mac Ride

mac ride child bike seat
Mac Ride
Mac Ride Todder Bike Seat

The MacRide is our favorite toddler bike seat.  The seat has a high weight limit (60 lbs), is quick to install and remove, and can be used with carbon fiber and dropper seatposts.

It’s designed specifically for mountain biking if you’re into that kind of thing, though it can be used for around-town riding as well.

One thing to be aware of before buying is that the Mac Ride requires the semi-permanent installation of a headset spacer and can’t be used with older quill-style headsets.

Fits kids ages 2-5 and will cost you $199.

Read Our Review: Mac Ride

Price: $229

Buy at Mac-Ride.com**

Kids Ride Shotgun (Original and PRO)

kids ride shotgun
parent and child with the kids ride shotgun pro seat

Like the Mac Ride, the Kids Ride Shotgun seat has been designed for mountain biking; and like the Mac Ride it works great for on-road recreational riding as well (as long as you’re using it on a mountain bike style frame).

They offer two different seats–the Kids Ride Shotgun Original and the Kids Ride Shotgun PRO. The original works well for anyone who doesn’t want to install anything to their bike, and it mounts to the frame rather than the headset or seatpost.

The PRO seat installs between the seatpost and headset, and offers a ton of adjustability. The PRO is also easy to transfer between bikes.

Read Our Reviews: Kids Ride Shotgun Original AND Kids Ride Shotgun PRO

Price: $150 / $250

Buy at KidsRideShotgun.com**

Do Little Bike Seat

Do Little Bike Seat Stirrups

Unlike a lot of front mounted seats, the Do Little can be used on nearly any bike and has very few compatibility issues.  It is suitable for use on cruiser bikes, road bikes, and even full-suspension mountain bikes. The “biggie” will even work on e-bikes.

Compared to similar seats, the DoLIttle is super affordable. Additionally, the seat can handle kids up to 66 lbs making it the sturdiest of the seats that we’re aware of.

Read Our Review: Do Little Bike Seat

Price: $85.00 (Last updated: 2023-03-13 at 08:02 – More Info)

Honorable Mentions

While these seats aren’t our FAVORITES, they are worth a look–especially if you can find a good deal on one.

CoPilot Limo

CoPilot Limo baby bike seat

Compared to many other rear-mounted bike seats, the CoPilot Limo is relatively easy to install and uninstall.  It has nice thick, WASHABLE padding and a reclinable back.  The only thing we don’t love about it is that the company offers limited replacement parts, so longevity is a concern.

Pros:

  • Easy to install and dismount seat
  • Thick WASHABLE gel padding and side protection
  • Fold-down grab bar, three-point harness, reclining backrest

Cons:

  • Limited space between child and rider, limited recline as well
  • No replacement parts

Read Our Review: CoPilot Limo

Price: $150.00 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 20:32 – More Info)

Burley Dash

The Burley Dash line of rear-mounted child bike seats comes in several versions to best fit your needs. The Burley RM mounts to your existing rack, the Burley FM is frame-mounted, and the Burley X FM is frame-mounted and features a reclining seat.

It’s a bit smaller than some of the other seats on this list and provides a really good fit for young toddlers. On the flip side, it’s probably not the seat you want to get for older preschoolers do the shorter back and lower weight limit.

Our favorite feature is the storage pocket on the back of the seat where you can stash some library books or granola bars. What else to love? The price. While not a “budget” seat, it does come in a bit lower than other high-end seats.

Pros:

  • Storage on rear of seat
  • Comfortable seat padding, easy to wash
  • Relatively affordable

Cons:

  • No ventilation holes in back of seat
  • Not a great fit for taller kids

Read Our Review: Burley Dash

Price: $169.99

Bellelli Pepe

belelli pepe

If you don’t have a big budget, consider the Bellelli Pepe.  For under $100, the seat offers durability and comfort. 

Little ones will appreciate the seat’s suspension, and parents will appreciate the highly adjustable shoulder straps.  It also has a ton of ventilation which makes it a good pick for hot climates.

Pros:

  • Affordable, best bet for under $100
  • Lightweight
  • Good ventilation

Cons:

  • Sub-par shoulder straps

Price: $69.99 (Last updated: 2023-03-08 at 02:41 – More Info)

Peg Perego Orion

peg perego orion

For the price, we love the Peg Perego Orion. It’s affordable but also functional.

The best thing about the seat is that it’s easy and quick to install and works on a wide variety of bikes including beach cruisers. When you take the seat off it also only leaves behind a very small mountain mechanism, which we appreciate.

Both the leg length and foot straps are adjustable so you can get a good comfortable fit. And speaking of comfort, the padding is better than most, especially at this price point.

The only thing to keep in mind is that it’s smaller than some of the other seats on this list, and the detachable handlebar only works for kids up to 22 lbs.

Price: Price not available (Last updated: 2023-03-08 at 02:41 – More Info)

TykeToter

Tyke Toter

Unlike the other open-style seats listed above, the TykeToter is intended for around town riding.  It is super easy to install (no tools required) and to travel with. 

Full disclosure: we had an accident with this seat when we first got it (see my full review on this topic), but since then we continued to ride with this seat on a near-daily basis because it is so fun and easy to use. 

Fits kids ages 2-5 (although I’d recommend waiting until 3 or so).

Read Our Review: Tyke Toter

Price: $119.00 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 23:01 – More Info)


Things To Consider Before Buying A Kids Bike Seat

If you need a little extra help picking out a kids bike seat, this guide will help you do that. We’ll go over the pros and cons of each type of bike seat and features you should look for when choosing.

Front Mounted Bike Seats Vs Rear Mounted Bike Seats

Yepp Bike Seats

Front mounted bike seats have a special place in my heart.  They provide a very special, bonding experience with your child that you don’t get with a rear-mounted seat. 

Kids are nestled between your arms and you get to talk and laugh with them. It’s also very interactive for the child who gets a great view, rather than, well, a view of your plumber’s crack.

Another benefit to front mounted seats is the ability to travel with it.  In fact, we’ve flown with our iBert several times in a regular duffle bag.

Unfortunately, front mounted seats have a pretty limited life-span. The weight limit on front seats is usually around 30 to 35 pounds making them best for young toddlers.

Rear mounted seats fit a wider range of ages, making them a longer lasting investment. Rear mounted bike seats are generally thought to be safer, and they work well with a large variety of bikes—cruiser, mountain bike, cargo bike, etc.

The other benefit of the the rear mounted seat is that it doesn’t interfere with your pedal stroke like a front mounted seat does. With a front mounted seat you usually have to pedal slightly bow legged, and if your child is tall (or you’re short) it might be hard to see over them.

Bike Seats Vs Trailers (And Other Options)

Have you thought about other options for carrying your child by bike?  A bike seat may very well be the best option for your family, but it’s not the ONLY option.  Other child bike carriers include trailers, cargo bikes, and more.

In particular, a lot of you may be trying to decide between a bike seat and a trailer. This can be a tough choice, and both are great options for different reasons!

Compared to a trailer, a bike seat is lighter, cheaper, and more capable of fitting thru tight spaces. It’s a lot bulky and takes up less room in your garage.

On the other hand, a trailer can be much more comfortable for nappers and babies. There are also bike trailers than covert into joggers or strollers, making it a good investment if you want one piece of gear that can perform a lot of functions.

There’s also always a crash concern with a bike seat.  In the event of an endo (basically where you do a somersault over your bars), there’s a good chance your child is going to get hurt.  Of course, there is always a crash concern any time you are cycling with (or without) a child, but a bike seat does expose the child more than a trailer.

Getting on and off the bike with a seat is also a bit awkward, and requires a fair amount of good balance and bike handling skills.  Some parents like adding a kickstand for loading and unloading.

Age And Weight Limits

People often refer to bike seats as “baby bike seats.”  In reality, however, they are well suited for a wide range of ages. 

As for whether bike seats are appropriate for babies is a matter of debate.  They are certainly not appropriate for biking with infants. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until babies are 12 months old.  In other places (Europe for instance), it is more acceptable to bike with a baby once they have good neck control—around 9 months old.   It’s up to your own good judgment and comfort level as when to start biking with your baby.

While comparing seats, you may notice that some manufacturers list the minimum age as 9 months while others list it as 12 months. This is not a difference in the suitability of the seat for babies, it’s a difference in where the seat is manufactured and tested.

The European brands (Thule, Hamax, etc) are much more comfortable listing 9 months as their minimum age. For clarity sake, we’ve listed the minimum age for all front and rear mounted seats as 12 months in our comparison chart below. You can choose what makes the most sense for you and your family.

For more information, read our Guide To Biking With A Baby.

Front Mounted

Personally, we started biking with our son in the iBert just before his first birthday. Front mounted seats like the iBert have a pretty obvious age limit with front-mounted seats and they work best with toddlers. Most of these seats with harnesses work to a max of 35 lbs, so their lifespan is pretty limited. 

Rear Mounted

Rear mounted seats are appropriate for kids from a year old until they get too tall and heavy. Many rear-mounted child bike seats advertise a “suggested age range,” but it’s really more important to look at the maximum child weight. 

One child might max out a 40 lb bike seat at 3 and another at 6.  Choose a seat that gives your child plenty of room to grow to maximize the value of your investment.

Open Style Seats

Open style seats are perfect for kids that have outgrown a traditional bike seat. These seats do NOT have harnesses so kids need to be old enough to hold and and pay attention. Expect these seats to fit kids up to around 60 lbs.

Planned Use

There’s no one best seat.  There is, however, a best seat for what you want to do with it. 

What’s your intended use for your seat?  The occasional Saturday afternoon bike path ride? (Consider the Peg Perego Orion).  The daily preschool drop-off? (Choose the Yepp Mini).   Do you want to use it offroad?  (Pick the iBert or MacRide).

Do you plan on leaving the seat on one bike, or do you plan on switching it frequently between different bicycles?  If you plan on the latter, choose a seat that installs quickly, like the TykeToter.

Mounting & Installation

Ah, onto the toughest part of picking a bike seat. Is it going to actually fit and work on your bike?!?

Unfortunately, this can be tough to tell without actually trying to install the seat. Our recommendation is to: 1) follow our tips below, and 2) buy from a local bike shop where you can see if the seat will work before buying OR buy from an online website that makes returns easy.

Rear Seat Mounting

Rear mounted child bike seats are either affixed directly to the bike (via the frame or seatpost) OR they are attached to a rack.  If you have a rack (or a long-tail cargo bike), this tends to be the easiest option. 

Even if you don’t have a rack, you can buy and install one easily. (Some bike seats even come with a rack).

When choosing a rack, make sure that it has a high enough weight limit to safely carry your child—some don’t.  I like the Topeak Explorer.  Another awesome choice is to convert your bike to a long-tail cargo bike with the Xtracycle Leap.

Beyond personal preference, you also need to consider the bike you are using and which type of mounting will work best.  Which brings me to our next point….

Consider the bike that you are using.

Before buying a seat, you need to take a look at the bike that you want to mount it on.

Rear Child Bike Seats
  • Frame Material:  If you have a carbon fiber frame (which is generally only found on more expensive mountain bikes or road bikes) you don’t want to use a rear bike seat at all.  Consider instead the MacRide or a trailer.
  • Cable Routing: Does your bike have cables on the seat tube?  If so, a frame-mounted bike seat won’t work.  Consider a rack-mounted seat instead.
  • Size of Your Frame: Generally, the smaller the frame, the more difficult it is to install a child seat.  This may be remedied by putting the seat on the larger spouse’s bike, or if that’s not an option, then looking at a rack-mounted seat instead.  Rack-mounted seats generally work better on very small bikes than do seatpost mounted seats.
  • Eyelets: Most commuter and cruiser bikes have eyelets, while most road bikes and newer mountain bikes don’t.  If your bike doesn’t have eyelets, installing a rear rack becomes much harder.  There are seatpost mounted racks, but they generally don’t have a weight limit high enough to use with a bike seat.  There are also special brackets you can use to install a rack, but we only suggest this if you have the time and know-how to figure it all out.
  • Brake Type: Does your bike have disc brakes?  If so, your options are limited if you want a rack-mounted seat.  The Topeak Babyseat II is your best bet.

Front Seat Mounting

Different front-mounted child bike seats mount quite differently. In fact, we’ve found that they tend to mount to 3 different places on the adult’s bike (or some combination of them):

  • Frame
  • Seatpost
  • Headset

Which is best is largely a matter of personal preference and the type of bike you have.

For seats that mount to the headset , the first step is to determine if you have adequate space to mount a bike seat. Front seats need from around 0.5″ to 1.5″ of open space to mount. If you don’t have that much space, look for a different option. Some seats are only compatible with threadless (ahead) or threaded (quill) headsets, so make sure you pay attention to what you have before ordering.

Seat on Bike
Hamax Observer

Seatpost-mounted seats tend to fit on a wider range of bikes, but may not be compatible with carbon fiber seatposts or dropper posts. Two that ARE compatible are the Mac Ride and Shotgun seat.

Tyke Toter Bike Seat
Tyke Toter

Finally, frame-mounted seats are a great option but won’t work on women’s bikes with a step-thru frame. There is also always the possibility of scratching or damaging your frame with a frame mounted seat.

Kids Ride Shotgun Bike Seat Review
Kids Ride Shotgun

Finally, some seats use a combination of these mounting points. Both the Mac Ride and Shotgun PRO mount to the headset AND seatpost.

mac ride installation
Mac Ride

Harnesses & Shoulder Straps

What makes a seat great versus just so-so is how easy it is to use on a daily basis.  Strapping your child in is one of those things that really puts a seat to the test. 

You want the straps to be tight and secure on their shoulders and easy to buckle.  Most bike seats have adjustable shoulder straps but some are easier to use than others. 

The Thule RideAlong, for instance, has some of our favorite shoulder straps.  The height adjusts easily by sliding rather than having to re-thread the straps thru a higher hole.  Considering that kids grow seemingly overnight this is a nice-to-have feature.

If you have a really wiggly kiddo, you may also want to look for a harness that has a clip across the chest, or has a 5-point harness. (Most bike seats only have a 3-point harness). These designs can keep a determined kiddo from getting the shoulder straps off.

burley dash 5 point harness

Washability

Something parents don’t often think of when buying a bike seat: is it easy to clean?!? Bike seats are used outdoors which means that they will be subject to dirt, rain, and more.

I recommend looking for a seat that’s easy to wipe off like the Thule Yepp Seats OR one that has padding that is easily removable and machine washable.

thule yepp mini review

Suspension

Most seats don’t have suspension, but a few do.  Namely, the Thule RideAlong and the Hamax Caress.  Suspension makes for a more comfortable ride for your child especially if you tend to ride on rougher roads or unpaved rail trails.

thule ridealong

Reclining

Many of the more expensive rear-mounted seats recline.  This is NOT a necessary feature, but certainly nice to have.  For younger kids who are likely to fall asleep, the reclining seats also help keep their heads from flopping forward while they snooze.

child napping in the thule ridealong

Storage Space

Bike seats aren’t great for carrying gear (choose a trailer if that’s your objective), but a few bike seats do offer a bit of storage. The Burley Dash, for instance, has a rear pocket, and the Thule Yepp Maxi is easy to lash things to with carbiners.

burley dash storage space

Reflectors And Visibility

Front mounted seats don’t necessarily need reflectors, but rear ones definitely do. In addition to reflectors, we like seats that have the option to clip on a rear blinky light for extra visibility.

reflectors on the thule yepp maxi

Breathability And Ventilation

If you ride in warmer weather, make sure to look for a seat that offers plenty of ventilation. We like the Thule Yepp seats for this purpose.

Is there anywhere for your child’s head to rest if they take a nap? The Yepp Mini, for instance, has an optional sleeproll that can help if your kiddo falls asleep.

thule yepp mini sleep roll

Seat Weight

The weight of child bike seats varies quite a bit.  As a general rule, lighter is better.  You are already carrying quite a bit of weight in the form of a child; you don’t need to carry even more due to a heavy seat.

Arm Rests And Handlebars

We’ve found that kids like something to hold onto or a place to rest their arms while they ride. The iBert for instance has a steering wheel that kids like to hold on to. The Kids Ride Shotgun has a handlebar you can add. And the Burley Dash has arm rests.

parent and child with the kids ride shotgun pro seat

Helmet Recess

We always recommend your child should wear a helmet while on the bike. Therefore, it’s important to pick a bike seat that makes wearing a helmet easy.

Most rear bike seats will have a recess or otherwise provide room for the back of your child’s head where the helmet is. This is important so as not to push your child’s head forward.

Front bike seats, you’ll notice, tend to not come up so high, so you’ll rarely see (or need) a helmet recess on these.

Resale Value

Do you want to sell your seat when you’re done with it? If so, stick to a seat with a high-recognition brand name. In general, the Thule seats tend to sell pretty well in local Facebook swap and sell bike groups.

Comparison Chart

Still not sure which seat to pick? Here’s how they all stack up.

SeatType Of SeatMinimum Suggested AgeMaximum Child WeightMountingBest UseSuspension?Reclines?
iBertFront 12 months38 lbsHeadsetAround Town or MTBNoNo
Thule Yepp MiniFront12 months33 lbsHeadsetAround TownNoNo
Hamax CaressFront12 months33 lbsHeadsetAround TownNoNo
Peg Perego OrionFront12 months33 lbsFrame (Head Tube)Around TownNoNo
Mac RideFront2 years60 lbsHeadset/SeatpostAround Town or MTBNoNo
Kids Ride Shotgun OriginalOpen2 years48 lbsFrameAround Town or MTBNoNo
Tyke ToterOpen2 years45 lbsSeatpostAround Town NoNo
Do LittleOpen2 years66 lbsFrameAround Town or MTBNoNo
Kids Ride Shotgun PROOpen2 years60 lbsHeadset/SeatpostAround Town or MTBNoNo
Belelli Pepe Rear12 months50 lbsFrame OR RackAround Town NoYes
Hamax CaressRear12 months48.5 lbsFrame OR RackAround Town YesYes
Polisport GuppyRear12 months48.5 lbsFrame OR RackAround Town NoNo
Thule RideAlongRear12 months48 lbsFrameAround Town YesYes
Topeak Babyseat IIRear12 months40 lbsRackAround Town NoNo
Thule Yepp MaxiRear12 months48 lbsFrameAround Town NoNo
Thule Yepp Maxi EasyfitRear12 months48 lbsRackAround Town NoNo
Blackburn CoPilot LimoRear12 months40 lbsRackAround Town NoYes
Burley DashRear12 months40 lbsFrame OR RackAround TownNo Dash X FM Only

More Reading To Help You Out

About Us

rascal rides family

The Rascals are a family of three. Kristen (mom), Blair (dad), and Parker (kiddo). We started Rascal Rides when Parker was born and we didn’t want to give up our passion for biking. As we learned, we shared. Over the years, we’ve tested hundreds of kids bikes, helmets, bike trailers, and more.

Kristen is a USA Cycling certified coach and loves to share her passion for biking with other families. Blair is a bike geek, mechanic, and mountain bike junkie. Parker is our resident tester and inspiration.

If you see us out on the trail, make sure to say hi!

13 thoughts on “9 Best Kids Bike Seats & How To Choose!”

  1. Great post! CZ is topping out on her Yepp Mini and I will really miss our biking chats and sing alongs. I think we are going to get another cargo bike for the carrying capacity (beach time in the Southern Hemisphere!!) so she will be behind me.

    Reply
  2. Hi! So my daughter just turned 2, but she is very tall & already weighs 33 pounds. I don’t think she’s sturdy enough to be without a harness, but it seems like she’s too big for the other front facing seats listed here. Any suggestions?

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    • Hi Jackie, If I were you I’d probably just go ahead and get one of the open seats. Just spend some time with her practicing holding on on grass or in the neighborhood at low speed. We didn’t start with our son on one of these seats until 3, but I’ve since seen plenty of 2 year olds on them doing just fine. If in your gut, you just don’t think she’s ready, then your best bet will be gong with a rear mounted seat instead.

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  3. We ordered the Ibert and can not get it to fit on a mountain bike or hybrid bike. On the hybrid we can’t slide it forward as it hits the crossbar and on the mountain bike it hits the handlebars at the normal height, then if we bring the handlebars up it hits the crossbar. HELP! Any tips? Can you take a photo of how it’s mounted for you?

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  4. I followed a link provided on this site and purchased a Thule product. However, afterward I realized the entire link/site I was forwarded do was a scam and they just took my money. 3 days later the links are leading only to Amazon, not the site I was lead to on 6/22. Disappointed and robbed.

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    • Hi Lindsey,
      Wow, this is crazy. We havent changed any links on this site recently. Can you provide any more info so I can look into it further? What was the site you bought from?!

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  5. Which one of these is safest for a 3 year old that can get bored and relaxed going on longer rides on paved no car trails?

    We have been using an ibert seat up until now but he has out grown it.

    Thanks,

    John K

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  6. Our daughter is now 4,5 y.o., way beyond the max 15kg specified on the Thule mini she’s had since she was 6 months old. Best purchase ever, we’ve had the best times ever. Last week we fell sideways while riding, I took care of holding her between my arms, I took the blow, she not even a scratch, something impossible if the fall had taken place on a rear mounted seat. Still looking for a larger replacement to this perfectly engineered product

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