Parents leading on-the-go lifestyles are often finding ways to combine their daily fitness routine with spending time with their little ones. Convenient products created to make activities such as walking, running, and biking baby-friendly need to be used properly in order to avoid injury for both parents and children.

Biking

Parents who enjoy biking with their small children likely adapt their bikes by using trailers, which hitch to the rear of bicycles and are towed behind them, or passenger seats, which mount on the frame of bicycles. But which is safer for a small child? The American Chiropractic Association recommends using a trailer, because it adds stability to the bicycle. Passenger seats are less safe because they can decrease the ability of a parent to steady the bicycle and increase the chance of the bike tipping.

To further ensure a child's safety while biking, The American Chiropractic Association recommends these safety tips:

• A safe trailer will have safety restraints for the child that he/she cannot unhook or free themselves from easily.
• Trailers with screens provide protection for the child against debris kicked up by the bicycle.
• Large tires, similar to those of an adult’s bicycle, will add stability to your ride.
• Ensure that your child is protected with a sturdy helmet that can be adjusted to fit properly.
• Avoid biking on bumpy, unstable surfaces such as gravel. Smooth surfaces provide the most control for you during your ride.
• Any person planning to use a trailer should practice riding their bike for two weeks with the trailer attached before a child is allowed to ride along. This will help ensure that the adult has the proper strength and control to maneuver the bicycle with the added weight.

Running

The safest and most convenient way to bring your child along with you for a run is to use a baby jogger. A jogger is very similar to a stroller, but offers more stability for the pusher. To ensure the safest ride for your child while you jog, consider these tips from the American Chiropractic Association:

• The handlebars of the jogger should be adjusted so that they are most comfortable for the jogger to ensure optimal control.
• The jogger should have handbrakes in good, working order and a lock for the wheels.
• A good jogger will have a secure harness for your child.
• Large tires, similar to those of an adult’s bicycle will add stability to your ride.
• Joggers with screens provide protection for the child against debris kicked up by the wheels.
• Avoid uneven surfaces.

Chiropractic Care Can Help

The activities we engage in during the summer can cause soreness or pain. If you feel discomfort after performing any of these activities, call your doctor of chiropractic. He/she is licensed and trained to help patients of all ages, and is able to offer advice regarding you and your children’s health.

Source: American Chiropractic Association