The best bicycle trailers for kids help them to ride with you from a young age, right through until they can ride along with you on one of the best kids' bikes.
Many will have options to carry really young children, even before they're ready to sit up. Once they can sit comfortably, they'll love sitting in their buggy behind you and, who knows, they may soon want to pedal too. We've got options below that have that covered.
The best bike trailers for kids can be pricey, but they're durable and will see you through until all your offspring are self-propelled. Once that happens, you may be able to convert your trailer to carry pets or cargo. If not, there's a ready resale market to tap into.
Below, you'll find our selection of the best bicycle trailers for kids, all of which we've used extensively ourselves. Further down the page, we have recommendations on how to choose the best bicycle trailer for your children.
The best bicycle trailers for kids
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The Thule Courier is durable and comfortable, with options for very young kids. Once your children have grown out of it, you can easily convert it to carry pets or cargo.
The Burley D'Lite X is lightweight and short, so it's easy to move around. You can quickly convert it to use as a stroller once you reach your destination.
The Weehoo Turbo gives them pedals, so they can help with the riding. If they don't want to pedal, they can fall asleep comfortably in the reclined chair.
Stroller conversion: Ready to convert out of the box
Max weight load: 2x49 lb or 1x97 lb
Connection to bike: Axle
Reasons to buy
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Options exist for babies, pets, and cargo
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Conversion between stroller and bike trailer is fast and stable
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Adjustable handlebar
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Super high quality wheels
Reasons to avoid
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Lacks suspension
While most kids bike trailers have a somewhat limited use period, the Thule Courier could really be yours for a lifetime. While most bike trailers will require your child to be at least a year old, Thule offers an infant sling. When they are really tiny, start there. As they grow you can move to the baby supporter which adds neck support for kids older than infants but still too small to sit upright comfortably. After that, you've got the expected time period where kids are old enough to sit upright and support their own heads.
During this time, converting to a stroller is as easy as flipping the front wheels down. Even once your child ages out of it there's still plenty of use options though. The conversion to carrying cargo is as easy as the stroller conversion, and an extra purchase adds pet carrying capabilities too. It's an expensive purchase but it can last a long time and find a lot of use.
Weight: 30.4 lb / 13.8 kg (double), 27.6 lb / 12.5 kg (single)
Stroller conversion: Ready to convert out of the box
Max weight load: 100 lb / 45 kg (double), 75 lb / 34 kg (single)
Connection to bike: Axle
Reasons to buy
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Lightweight
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Short footprint is easier to store
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Adjustable suspension system
Reasons to avoid
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Passenger forward vision is somewhat limited
If you are looking for a lightweight trailer to pull and move around then the Burley D’Lite X bike trailer is the best option for you. Part of what makes it lighter is that it's short, which also makes it more manoeuvrable too. There is a single or a double size option and when it's time to convert between a bike trailer and a stroller it's just a matter of folding down the front wheel as with the Thule option above.
If you wanted to bike somewhere then lock the bike up and push kids around in the trailer you'd have everything you need to do that. The one downside to the design is that there is a lot of opaque areas that creep into the viewing area for the passenger(s).
Weight: 35 lb/ 16 kg (double), 26 lb / 12 kg (single)
Stroller conversion: N/A
Max weight load: 80 lb / 36 kg (single and double)
Connection to bike: Axle
Reasons to buy
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Huge age range
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Kids can pedal
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Single or double options plus rain covers
Reasons to avoid
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The heavier the load the less stable the adult bike feels
If you like the idea of a bike trailer for kids that lets them pedal but you want more of a traditional trailer, this is your best bet. My son started with the Burley Bee right around his first birthday but by two he was spending a lot of time in the Weehoo bike trailer. Since they are sitting down, they can fall asleep just like any other bike trailer. However, when they aren't sleeping, they can pedal. It's really a win-win situation and kids love it. The other helpful thing about the Weehoo are the options available; you can add a rain cover, and if you've got two kids then there's a two-seat model also.
The only downside is that the more weight you carry, the more it influences the feel of the adult bike. Meaning as they get bigger the shifting of their weight will move your bike around a bit. For this article my son and I actually spent time with the Weehoo again and at 10 years old and just below the weight limit he still loved it but my bike was a handful. It's a lot easier when they are little though.
Best for older kids
(Image credit: Josh Ross)
4. Burley 7-Speed Piccolo Trailercycle
The best bike trailer for kids if you’ve got bigger kids
Specifications
Size Options: Single
Weight: 18 lb / 8 kg
Stroller conversion: N/A
Max weight load: 85 lb / 39 kg
Connection to bike: Proprietary rack
Reasons to buy
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Lightweight
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Very stable for the adult bike
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Easy to store
Reasons to avoid
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Only works on bikes with rear rack attachment points
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Kids can’t sleep during the ride
Just about every list out there that covers bike trailers for kids has one big omission, there's no option for kids that are just a little bit bigger and more capable. We've covered some of the best options for kids when they are really young but it doesn't take many years before that age is gone forever. If you've got a kid that's big enough to sit upright and hold a bike position then you can get them learning to ride with a bike trailer for kids that's modelled after a regular bike.
You can start them pretty young and the act of pedalling will help them learn to transition to their own bike. There's even gearing on the Piccolo but if they are too young, they don't need to use it. The same is true of the actual pedalling. If they want to, great, and if not, that works just as well. The handlebars are adjustable in height as another way to accommodate a wide age range and the rear rack attachment does limit the adult bike selection but it's a much more stable way to connect a single wheel bike trailer to an adult bike.
Best balance of price to function
(Image credit: Burley)
5. Burley Bee bike trailer
The best bike trailer for kids in most situations
Specifications
Size Options: Single or double
Weight: 20 lb / 9.1 kg (double), 21.8 lb / 9.9 kg (single)
Stroller conversion: No
Max weight load: 100 lb / 45 kg (double), 75 lb / 34 kg (single)
Connection to bike: Axle
Reasons to buy
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Lightweight
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Continuously adjustable shoulder straps
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Room for helmet when child is seated
Reasons to avoid
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No way to convert to a stroller
If you are thinking about a bike trailer for kids there is nothing more iconic than the Burley Bee. It's a product that's been around since the late 90s and it's not even all that unusual to see those early generations still in use. I used the Burley Bee for years when my son was little. It carried him through warm weather and through rain and when it was time to pass it to a friend it barely looked used even years later. The connection to the adult bike is simple to operate and works with a thru-axle with an optional adapter.
There isn’t any suspension in this model but compared to most budget options the wheels on the Burley are a big upgrade. Given that this is the least expensive Burley option, it's not luxurious inside but it's sufficiently comfortable and there's room for a kids helmet so they can sit upright. What's really nice about the Burley Bee is that it's small and simple with a low weight. The lack of features is actually a positive if that's all you want.
How to choose the best bicycle trailers for kids for your needs
Below, you'll find the key questions which we think will help you to choose the e-best bicycle trailer for your children.
What age can a child be in a bike trailer?
You'll want to make sure that they are old enough to support their neck and back as the trailer moves. The recommendation for when that happens, according to the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP), is twelve months of age.
This recommendation is exactly why we have the Thule Courier on our list as it has accessories for infants and for babies. With the right solutions it is possible to ride with kids younger than one year but if you are looking to make use of a standard seat in a standard bike trailer, that's the recommendation.
Can you convert a bike trailer for kids into a stroller?
Most bike trailers for kids do convert to a stroller, but not all of them. Among the options that do there are also a variety of conversion styles. Some choices will come with everything you need in the box and some will require an additional purchase. If you are looking for a running stroller then a single wheel that doesn't turn is the best option. That style will track straight while you run and doesn't require two hands at all times. If you are looking to use the bike trailer as more of a general use stroller then you'll want wheels that rotate easily and aren't far out front.
This question does require a warning though. Typically, the idea is that bike trailers are expensive and if you can combine the use that helps shoulder the cost burden.
The problem is that kids bike trailers don't really compete with strollers in even the best-case situations. They work well as running strollers but even an inexpensive stroller will tend to be a better choice for running errands. They are lighter, they fold smaller, and they are more compact. If you are the kind of parent that tends to use baby wearing options and only needs a stroller for an occasional trip then it works. It’s also a great area if you bike somewhere then want to transition to a stroller and leave the bike locked up. For everyone else, leave the kid's bike trailers to sports use and look for an everyday stroller.
Are bike trailers safer than bike seats?
Yes. A bike seat puts your kiddo up on your bike with you. It's easy because there's less to carry and manage but should you happen to fall, your child will fall with you and the distance is substantial compared to their size.
On the other hand, a bike trailer with two wheels will tend to stay upright even if the parent bike falls. There's usually enough mobility in the connection to the bike that the trailer won't flip. If it happens to flip, it's built like a roll cage and your child has a restraint system. They can happily hang upside down, or sideways while you get the situation in hand.
The extra safety extends to the single wheeled options on our list as well. If it's a trail-behind bike, it's much closer to the ground and they aren't strapped in. If they fall, they might catch themselves and if they do hit the ground, it's from a lower height.
Bikes are pretty safe though, so it's unlikely you will just fall. What's more likely is that you've fallen because a car has hit you. In that case, because a bike trailer keeps your child behind you, they may stay safe even if you don't. When a car hit me, my child fell as the bike fell but he was okay and out of the way.
Do kids need to wear a helmet in a bike trailer?
Our recommendation is that children wear a helmet on every bike ride, even if they are in a trailer. Bikes are safe and trailers are even safer but it's best to err on the side of even more safety. We always wear a helmet and we recommend the same for kids. Starting young with regular helmet use will also pay off later by normalizing the experience.
What kind of bikes do kids bike trailers connect to?
Kids bike trailers connect to bikes using either the seat post or the axle. The only one that differs from that is the Burley Trail Behind Bike that mounts with its own rack. For the vast majority of options, that means you will be able to attach to most bikes but there are some considerations. If your bike uses a thru-axle, you may need an adapter. That's becoming less of an issue as thru-axles become more ubiquitous but it's worth looking into.
For those that attach to a seatpost you will likely want a seat post that's not carbon and is round. As far as the rest of the bike, the more stable your bike is, the easier it's going to be to ride with a trailer. I rode for years on a Cannondale CAAD race bike with a Weehoo but it's not the best experience. In most situations one of the best hybrid bikes will work better.
How did we test the best bike trailers for kids?
My son is 10 now, going on 11 and my journey into fitness and cycling with him in tow is how I came back to cycling after he was born. We spent hours and hours riding with him attached to my bike in various bike trailers including the Burley Bee and the Weehoo Turbo Bike Trailer. For this collection I relied on my experience and we also spent some time riding with each of the options.
He's technically still below the max weight limits even though he's also much too big. We had a lot of fun figuring out how everything worked and seeing which options were the best for which situations. Anything you choose from this list is a product we feel good about recommending.
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Josh hails from the Pacific Northwest of the United States but would prefer riding through the desert than the rain. He will happily talk for hours about the minutiae of cycling tech but also has an understanding that most people just want things to work. He is a road cyclist at heart and doesn't care much if those roads are paved, dirt, or digital. Although he rarely races, if you ask him to ride from sunrise to sunset the answer will be yes.
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 140 lb.
Rides: Salsa Warbird, Cannondale CAAD9, Enve Melee, Look 795 Blade RS, Priority Continuum Onyx
