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Household Biking: Strolling with a child, rolling with a toddler

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Cycling

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Noël and I on considered one of our strolls.

(We’re thrilled to have our Household Biking columnist Shannon Johnson again within the fold after a couple of months of maternity go away!)

Let me introduce you to the most recent member of our biking household: Felix Noël. He was born on December 28, 2021. (Do not forget that actually snowy day after Christmas? Yep, that’s when he arrived!) We’ve had few months of rocking and cuddling, however I’m desirous to get out using once more.

Felix and I haven’t been on the bike but, and I positively miss it. In the meantime, my toddler loves the chance to journey his steadiness bike to the park, as an alternative of taking his regular bakfiets journey, although I discover supervising a toddler on a steadiness bike to be a brand new realm of parental stress. I do know steadiness bikes are a lot beloved, however it offers my two-year-old a stage of velocity and independence that I’m not all the time prepared for (see his completely satisfied little face under). I now spend our walks repeating, “keep proper subsequent to Mommy, wait, wait up, Mommy goes first, okay, good job, keep proper subsequent to Mommy,” (as I don’t need him rolling behind a automotive backing out of a driveway with restricted visibility to see a two foot tall toddler). It’s a reduction once we arrive on the playground and my little man can lastly “zoom” round on a carfree path. Perhaps once I get again to using I can tote the steadiness bike to the park and he can simply get pleasure from car-free zooming. That may make us each completely satisfied!

(How do the remainder of you steadiness bike lovers handle your speedy toddlers?)

For a much less disturbing stroll, I get pleasure from any alternative to take baby-wearing walks with simply Felix. I’m extraordinarily enthusiastic about my baby-wearing rain jacket, which has a zip-in panel to accommodate a child in a provider. Previous to this, it may very well be tough to determine find out how to preserve a child dry within the rain and drizzle. A baby-wearing jacket is kind of the improve from the standard technique of zipping a child into an outsized and ill-fitting husband coat. That is how we stroll for the time being.

How have the remainder of you dad and mom managed in the course of the postpartum interval? Did you stroll extra? Journey the bus? Drive round or simply keep dwelling? Did you get pleasure from slowing down, or did you go stir loopy? When did you get again on the bike?

Since I solely started household biking final April, I’ve been shocked at how a lot I miss it, and the way a lot part of our lives it has grow to be. My cargo bike is actually my favourite child toting transportation choice. It’s extra enjoyable than loading up the van, sooner than strolling, and simpler for toting armloads of child stuff. Whereas we slowly stroll our means by way of a pedestrian postpartum interval, I can inform we’ll be again on the bike quickly.

On that word, I’ve been engaged on a column concerning the “biking with child” debate, in order that’s one thing to sit up for.

Within the meantime, we’re strolling and toddler rolling, dreaming about new bike adventures, making ready to provide public transit one other strive, and signing our oldest up for bike camp: in the event you haven’t accomplished so but, now could be the time! (Please publish your fave summer season bike camp within the feedback, to unfold the enjoyable. My kiddo shall be using with WashCo Bikes Saddle Up Camp on the west facet, and we’re stoked!). Till then, get pleasure from your rides.