Top 10 Best Child Bike Seats On The Market In 2022 Reviews

If you want to take your child out with you on your bike, your primary consideration will be for your safety and that of your child. Factors that come into play, amongst others, will include the comfort of the cyclist and child, as well as the overall practicality. Happily, successfully achieving all of this is easily possible, as we will show you in our review of the best child bike seats currently available.

These days there are plenty of great options, and thankfully you don’t need to break the bank to get something suitable.

So, let’s take a closer look and find a child bike seat that’s perfect for you, your child, and your bike…

Top 10 Best Child Bike Seats For All Budgets In 2022 Review

1 Thule Yepp Maxi Bike Seat – Best Solid Rear Mount Child Bike Seat

Thule is a Swedish company specializing in bike racks, trailers, seats, and associated accessories. They manufacture premium products and make some of the very best child bike seats that money can buy.

The Thule Yepp Maxi Child Bike Seat is a rear-mounted single seat. It’s suitable for children between nine months to six years and has a maximum weight limit of 40lbs. That’s around 20 kgs if you prefer.

How does it work?

It attaches directly onto the downtube of your bike and can be mounted in just a couple of minutes. It’s suitable for most bikes though it may not fit if you are riding a carbon framed bike with a non-standard shape.

For practicality, the seat’s bracket is made from aluminum, so it’s fine to use in all weather and is guaranteed to stay corrosive free. Similarly, the seat is made from hard-wearing plastic and is also water repellant. This is a seat that can be used in all weather conditions, including bright light, without deteriorating.

Safety features…

The seat has a five-point harness to keep your little one safely on board. It’s nice and comfortable with built-in shock-absorbing qualities. What’s more, the footrests are also adjustable, which is very handy as your child grows.

It comes with a reflector, though you might also want to consider adding a daytime running light. You can buy one separately from Thule though many are available independently and significantly cheaper.

No reclining…

There’s very little to fault with the Thule Yepp Maxi other than the seat doesn’t recline. If you consider this an important feature, you should take a look at the Thule RideAlong instead.

2 Peg Perego Orion Child Seat – Best Lightweight Child Bike Seat

The Peg Perego is a front-mounted child seat that attaches to your bike’s headtube. It uses a clever and innovative attachment mechanism that is suitable for just about any and every size and style of frame. It will fit any headtube that is between 1.3” to 2”.

Once the bracket is mounted, the cool thing is the seat fits into place with a single click. This quick and straightforward system means that when you’re not taking your child with you, taking off the seat is child’s play.

Sorry, couldn’t resist!

This bike seat is designed to accommodate children from 12 months old. From that point, there is no age limit, though it does have a maximum weight capacity of 33lbs. By that time, your legs will very probably need a rest anyway.

The harness has just three points of attachment, which is a small bone of contention. Even at this relatively low price-point, we’d have expected a five-point harness. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s undoubtedly something that needs to be considered.

On a positive note…

The front of the seat has a solid plastic bumper for protection. It’s a handy feature. Plus, it doesn’t impede your little one from slightly leaning forward to hold the bars when they want.

Happily, there are adjustable footrests. These can be angled into three different positions. Additionally, they can also be altered for height as your child grows.

Light as a bag of feathers…

One of the other great things about this child seat is that it isn’t heavy. It weighs a very light 4.85lbs. That’s substantially lighter than most other bike child seats. On those hilly rides, it’s something that you’re liable to be very grateful for!

3 Thule Yepp Nexxt Mini Bike Seat – Most Comfortable Front Mount Child Bike Seat

This is lighter than the Thule Yepp Maxi. It also is designed for smaller and younger children. It’s recommended for children from nine months to three years old and weighing no more than 33lbs.

It fits on the front of the bike and can be fitted in seconds onto just about any standard seat stem. Taking it on and off is done in mere seconds and can be done easily with your child still in the seat. Very useful for the times when your little one has nodded off as you head for home.

More great features…

Another great feature is the integrated child handlebar that makes carrying the seat around with your child inside simplicity itself. It also serves as a handy grip for them to hang on to when you’re on the move.

This seat is durable, water-resistant, and also very well padded. It’s constructed from a shock-absorbing material to soak up the lumps and bumps of the road. It’s super comfortable for their backsides, as well as for the rest of their little bodies.

How about the harness?

The five-point harness is well-padded and one of the best we’ve seen on any child bike seat. There’s no doubt that they will be both comfortable and properly secured once the buckle is clicked into place.

Like virtually all child bike seats, it has adjustable footrests. They have plenty of adjustable lengths, but they don’t look very aesthetically pleasing and are not up to the smooth looks of the rest of the seat. They look surprisingly similar to the types of straps they use on their car bike racks, and honestly, that’s where they should stay.

4 Thule Yepp Nexxt Maxi Child Bike Seat – Best Rear Mount Child for Fast Growing Children

This is the third and not even the last Thule child bike seat we’re going to include in our review. That’s a clear indication of just how good and how dominant Thule is in this market sector.

It’s a rear-mounted seat that fits onto your bike’s downtube. The bracket is included with the seat and fits your frame in the same way as the Yepp Maxi. This means it’s compatible with most standard frames.

Who is it suitable for?

The seat can be used for toddlers and children between nine months and six years. It is possible to use the seat for even younger children, but you need to consult your pediatrician first before going ahead with this.

The seat slides smoothly into the bracket and can be taken off for the time you are riding without your little one. It can be taken off with your toddler still in the seat, but it’s not as smooth to operate as some.

Is it comfortable?

The harness and buckle are adjustable and well padded. In our experience, it’s one of the best in the business. Plus, it has the added security of having a childproof safety buckle to prevent inquisitive little fingers from inadvertently releasing themselves.

The seat is beautifully made and crafted with a shock-absorbing inner shell and a durable and impact-resistant outer shell. It’s all waterproof and designed to allow your child to enjoy the smoothest ride possible.

Rest the feet…

Finally, it comes with adjustable footrests that, although similar to the ones found on the Thule Yepp Nexxt Mini Bike Seat, are nicely integrated into the rest of the seat.

5 Thule RideAlong Bike Seat – Best Rear Mount Bike Seat for Toddlers

This is the last Thule seat in our review, and we think possibly the best.

Here’s why…

You get all the same premium build quality and the same rock-solid quick release bracket that is found on all the other rear bike child seats. Like every Thule product, it’s built with excellent materials that are likely to survive everything thrown its way.

But what we particularly like about this child bike seat is… well, the seat!

Let us explain…

It has the same shock absorbing qualities as the other Thule seats. Plus, it also has the same excellent adjustable five-point harness with the childproof buckle. However, one of the things that set it apart is the shape.

Unlike most other Thule child seats, the Thule RideAlong Bike Seat wraps around at the sides to better hold your child. In comparison, other Thule seats have an open-edge design. The more contoured seat found on the RideAlong seat is undoubtedly better for smaller children.

There is, of course, an argument that the shape of the seat may be less suited for kids at the higher end of the age-range. Although we agree with this, we feel, in most circumstances, a more contoured seat is a better choice.

Plus, it tilts!

Finally, the seat can also be tilted back, which is a huge advantage when your little one gets tired. This is again a significant advantage for smaller children and why we think this child bike seat is so suited for younger ages.

6 iBert Bicycle Child Safe-T-Seat – Not Recommended

This mounts onto the front of the bike using a rather crude clamp. It looks like it’s been made from a piece of cheap cast metal, and there have been reports of it breaking with a child on board. The quality doesn’t inspire too much confidence.

This seat is cut from a single piece of plastic. The positives are that it weighs just 3.7lbs, making it one of the lightest child bike seats on our list. It’s also durable and waterproof.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few negatives…

Firstly, the leg rests are built into the seat and are not adjustable. This means that your child’s legs will either be left dangling down or they will spill over the end.

As if this isn’t bad enough, the backs of your child’s legs are left in full contact with the seat. On hot days, particularly if they’re wearing shorts, this is liable to be very uncomfortable. There are a few holes drilled into the backs of the leg rests to help with ventilation, but quite honestly, they’re a complete waste of time.

The rest of the seat is not much better…

The base and the back of the seat have low-quality padding, which is far from great. However, even worse, the seat is low cut, so it only comes to just above the middle of your child’s back. This leaves them with inadequate back support and questionable protection in the event of an accident.

The seat comes with a cheap-looking three-point harness. It’s also not childproof, so it could be quite easily opened by even a very young child.

On the move, things are not much better as there are a significant number of reports the seat is liable to wobbling. We put it down to a less than well-made and designed bracket.

The ONLY thing we like…

The iBert Bicycle Child Safe-T-Seat does have a nice steering wheel for your child to play with as you’re riding along. Though, other than that, there’s not a lot positive to say. Even the price is ridiculously expensive. It’s priced as a premium product, which it clearly is not?

Why this has made it onto a list of the best child bike seats, we’re not entirely sure.

7 Burley Dash Bike Seat – Safest Child Bike Seat

The Burley Dash is a lightweight rear-mounted child seat that comes with two different mounting options. The child seat we’re reviewing here is for the cyclist who has a rack already installed on their bike. If you don’t, you should check out the frame-mounted version.

Both racks are easy and straightforward to mount. Plus, once they’re mounted, they offer high levels of stability with minimal wobble once you’re on the move.

We love the safety features…

For extra security and protection, the seat also has a second fabric mounting strap that acts as a backup in case the main mounting system fails. It gives you great peace of mind, though, with the excellent quality of Burley’s products, it’s something you’ll almost certainly never need.

When you’re not using the seat, it has a turn dial screw that will unhook it in seconds.

Other security features include an excellent five-point harness. It can be suitably adjusted as your child grows and is suitable for children up to 40lbs. At this kind of weight, you’ll probably be highly motivated to get them onto their own bikes anyway!

But is it comfy?

The seat is well-padded, and for your child’s additional comfort, it has four-way adjustable footrests. The padding can be removed for easy handwashing too. But even better, it has armrests, which are rarely seen on child bike seats.

Another unusual feature is a rear storage pocket behind the seat. It’s a great idea and one we’d like to see on a lot more child bike seats. The rear of the seat also includes a reflector and a place to attach a light.

8 WeeRide LTD Kangaroo Bike Seat – Best Well Padded Budget Bike Seat for Children

This is the most affordable child bike seat in our review despite having the best-cushioned seat on our list. The level of padding on the base and the back of the chair is first-class. It looks and feels plush. Happily, it should be easy to keep it that way as it can also be taken off for cleaning.

So, is this the most comfortable of the lot?

The seat claims to be the most comfortable on the market. We undoubtedly agree, but it doesn’t have the same shock-absorbing qualities as the Thule Yepp Nexxt Maxi Child Bike Seat. The WeeRide LTD Kangaroo Bike Seat is still comfortable, but the plastic base does nothing to help iron out the bumps in the road.

This is a seat that attaches in front of your saddle. It has a new mounting bar mechanism that’s undoubtedly an improvement over the outgoing model. Taking the seat on and off is now a relatively straightforward affair.

Is it safe?

The seat is long enough at the back to support your child and also features a five-point safety harness. The harness is good quality, and the padded straps are the best of any we’ve reviewed. Unfortunately, the harness isn’t adjustable for height, though, at this kind of price, it’s only a very small niggle.

The main body of the seat is made from molded plastic, which means it’s water-resistant and durable. Also, nice and light. It’s suitable for any child from one to four years with a maximum weight load of 33lbs.

Padded dashboard?

The seat comes with a padded ‘dashboard’ that sits in front of the child. We’re not sure why it’s there, maybe to lean on, but it seems completely unnecessary to us. Thankfully, it can be removed, and if we bought it, it would be the first thing we would do. The second would be to throw it in the bin.

9 Schwinn Deluxe Bicycle Mounted Child Carrier/Bike Seat For Children – Best Basic Affordable Child Bike Seat

This is a rear fitting child bike seat that’s suitable for any child over a year old. There’s no upper age limit though it has a maximum weight capacity of 40lbs.

Because it’s from Schwinn, we want to like it. We also want to like it because it’s affordable. However, quite honestly, the design is as old as the hills. It’s the kind of child bike seat that’s been knocking around for decades.

So, should you skip this?

Fundamentally, it’s a good seat. It’s strong and durable. Plus, the polypropylene shell makes it nice and lightweight. Other positives include a very useful headrest, adjustable footwells, and a padded bar for your child to hold onto.

Well, this is all good, we can hear you say, so what’s so bad about it?

Frankly, it’s a little basic…

The harness can’t be altered for height, and it’s only a three-point system. Both of these are a little underwhelming. For something from Schwinn, we expect better.

We also expect more from the seat padding, which is thin to the point of being too thin. The seat also offers no kind of cushioning effect, so your child may experience a bumpy ride.

Maybe too basic…

Finally, the mounting bracket is old fashioned and a bit of a chore to fix. Similarly, taking the seat on and off is not a smooth or easy experience. However, if you want a reliable, inexpensive, safe but unrefined child bike seat, this has your name written all over it. Otherwise, you need to dig a little deeper and take a look at seats from companies like Thule and Burly.

10 UrRider Child Bike Seat, Front Mount Baby Kids’ Bicycle Carrier with Handrail – Not Recommended

Where to begin?

Let’s start with a few positives…

It’s easy to install and can be mounted on most bikes providing there are no cables directly on the top tube. Since most cables these days either run under or are internally routed, that shouldn’t be a problem. If you have a bicycle with a step-through top tube, typically found on ladies’ bikes, there is a separate version for you.

It’s well made out of strong materials, and you can be sure it won’t rust or corrode. Another big plus is that it only weighs around 2lbs and so is highly portable. It even comes with a travel bag for transportation.

Now for the bad stuff…

There’s plenty to not like about this seat, and safety is the biggest issue. It relies on your child balancing on the seat, holding onto the rail, and correctly placing their feet on the pegs. Good luck with all of that!

For a smaller child, this will be hard to comply with. One of the biggest problems is if their feet slip or they inadvertently move them. There’s the potential for their feet to get caught in the spokes because their feet are too close to them in the first instance. If this happens, particularly if you’re riding fast, things could get nasty.

If you stop suddenly or, heaven forbid, have an accident, there’s nothing to prevent your child from either impaling themselves on the rail or more probably flying over the handlebars. There’s nothing you’ll be able to do to stop them because you’ll have your hands on the handlebars.

There’s more…

Another problem is that the seat places the rider in a highly unnatural riding position forcing their legs out wide. This means that you’re not well balanced, which can easily lead to an accident. It’s also uncomfortable when you’re pedaling. Plus, it’s uncomfortable for the child.

Speaking of being uncomfortable for the child, the seat has minimal padding, and your child will also end up having to sit in a hunched-up position for most of the ride. This is because the seat doesn’t leave sufficient room between the child and the cyclist. For shorter parents with smaller bikes, this will be even worse.

Again, we’re not sure why this is on the list!

Best Child Bike Seats Buying Guide

Front Mounted Seats

One of the biggest advantages of a front-mounted child bike seat is that you can still easily talk with your child as you’re riding. It can make for a better and enjoyable ride for you both.

Mounting points can either be on the headtube or the top tube. A preferential mounting point is on the head tube as found on the Peg Perego Orion Child Seat. The advantage is that it allows more space for both cyclists and children.

A top tube mounting system, like that found on the UrRider Child Bike Seat, makes for a much more difficult riding experience for the cyclist, as they will typically have to ride bow legged.

If you have a smaller frame on your bike, you need to first check that there’s enough space for the seat. Another consideration is that having your child at the front makes the bicycle more difficult to steer and control.

Rear Mounted Seats

Rear-mounted child bike seats can be either mounted via the seat post, the down tube, or the bike rack. There is no great advantage over any of these methods, and they are all equally safe and secure.

One big plus for this type of seat is that your child is better protected against the elements. Something that they’ll be very grateful for when it starts to rain or gets especially windy.

In our experience, your bike is also easier to control. This means you’re more likely to be able to use a rear-mounted seat more safely with an older or heavier child. Or, for a child, that’s a bit of a wriggler!

One of the big negatives is that communication between you and your child is significantly more difficult. It’s something you must just get used to, as frequently turning around to talk with your child is a big no-no.

Mounting Mechanism

A mounting mechanism should hold the seat in a rock-solid position, which thankfully the majority of child bike seats do. Additionally, the mounting bracket can enable the smooth and quick removal of the seat. This is for the times you want to use your bike when you’re riding alone.

All of the Thule bike child seats are excellent in this regard. Taking off the seat and putting it back on again can be done quickly and easily in a matter of seconds. Exactly what you want in a child bike seat.

Harness

A five-point harness is ideal. Additionally, the harness should also feature a childproof buckle to prevent your child from attempting to unbuckle themselves.

Since children grow quickly, a harness that can be moved for height is also a useful feature. This will improve the fit of the seat and extend the length of time before you need to look for a bigger one.

The Thule Yepp Nexxt Maxi Child Bike Seat meets all of these criteria.

Footrests

Footrests are essential to prevent your child’s feet from dangling down and potentially coming into contact with a moving part of the bike. Happily, most of the best child bike seats have footrests that can safely meet these basic requirements.

Another important consideration is that they should be adjustable. This will improve their comfort and again extend the life of the chair.

Padding and Comfort

A well-padded and comfortable seat will vastly improve the experience for your child. We’re sure you’ll agree that in most towns and cities, the roads have a lot to be desired, so your child will need all the help they can get to soak up the lumps and bumps.

In terms of padding, we were very impressed with the WeeRide LTD Kangaroo Bike Seat, which offers high levels despite its lowly price-point. However, the Thule Yepp Nexxt Mini Bike Seat impressed us more. This is because the whole seat has a shockproof shell as well as good quality padding on the seat.

Love a bike ride with the kids?

We have a host of other gear well worth looking into! So, check out our comprehensive reviews of the Best Tricycles for 2 Year Olds, the Best Bike Helmets, the Best Trunk Mount Bike Racks, the Best Cycling Sunglasses, our Best Bicycle Seat Review for adults, or the Best Bike Lights currently on the market.

If you have very young children (or furry babies), you may also be interested in our reviews of the Best Wide Angle Mirrors, the Best Car Upholstery Cleaners, or the Best Car Vaccum Cleaner you can buy in 2022.

Back to the best attachable bike seats for children…

So, which of these Best Child Bike Seats would we choose?

There you have it. We hope you found a bike seat that will work for your child and you.

Although your choice will be dictated by the kind of bike you’re riding, your budget, and possibly the age of your child, there was one seat in our review we think stands out, and that’s the…

Burley Dash Bike Seat

It’s our top pick because it has excellent safety features and is also one of the most stable child bike seats we’ve reviewed. Additionally, the armrests and rear seat pocket storage are nice touches and not something you usually see on a child bike seat.

Enjoy your bike and enjoy your rides.