OK Baby 10+
Seat tube
Child bike seats tested: safety doesn't have to be expensive
26/6/2024
Translation: machine translated
Child seats for bikes are a practical thing if you want to have your offspring with you on a ride. But are they safe? ADAC and TCS have investigated this question.
When it comes to our children, safety is our top priority. Especially on the road, we spare no expense or effort to protect our offspring in the best possible way. I currently have the impression that more and more parents are focussing on cargo bikes and trailers to get from A to B with their child. On the other hand, I hardly ever see the good old child bike seats in everyday life. Yet they are still an effective way to pedal off with your child, especially when it comes to safety. Provided you choose the right model.
The test
ADAC and TCS, who put 16 child bike seats to the test, eight for seat tube mounting and eight for mounting on the luggage carrier, offer a decision-making aid. In addition to safety, the test criteria included installation and handling, comfort for the child and harmful substances.
The test results
Of the 16 models tested, nine scored "good" according to the ADAC, while the TCS described them as "highly recommended". The child bike seats from OK Baby performed best, both in terms of seat tube and carrier mounting.
The other ranks include models that pass the test with similarly good marks.
Five child bike seats received a "satisfactory" rating from the ADAC, which is still enough for the TCS to give them a recommendation.
The child bike seats from Qibbel have failed. The main reason for this is not even a lack of safety, but a potential health hazard. According to the ADAC, excessive amounts of the harmful substances benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(e)pyrene were found in the belt padding in the chest area of both models. It recommends replacing or cutting off the contaminated upholstery.
Conclusions
The low-cost child bike seats were largely convincing when tested, as TCS and ADAC conclude. Even if only the most expensive is good enough for your child's safety, it is always worth taking a more differentiated look. This also applies to bike seats. Of the two mounting devices for child bike seats, the luggage carrier is ahead of the seat tube. According to the testers, mounting on the carrier is usually more stable and more comfortable for the child. There are even models with a reclining function.
Despite the mostly positive test results, the two transport clubs see further potential for improvements to make the child even safer in the bike seat. In particular, they are focussing on accident protection in the head and shoulder area. For example, not all manufacturers have considered that their seat must offer sufficient space for the helmet in the head area. In addition, the child's head should not only be optimally protected in the event of an accident, but should also be better stabilised when napping during the journey.
Also make sure that your child is properly strapped in at all times. With some models, the harness may loosen slightly during the journey, for example if there is a lot of shaking on a gravel path.
When the child is sitting in the front
The ADAC and TCS did not test child seats in front of the cyclist, but only observed them out of competition. Both organisations state that such devices are only recommended to a limited extent. Because many bicycle forks are not designed for this purpose, safe installation is often difficult. In addition, serious injuries can occur if the weight of the rider hits the child sitting in front of them in the event of a collision.
Header image: ADAC
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