Cycling and camping from baby till 7 years (2).

The baby comes along.

Fastened on your back or belly, babies can come with you on the bike at an early stage, but for long distances it is rather tiresome for the weary parent. And the baby himself does not want to sit strapped in such a sling for hours. If they can sit, you can exchange with a seat on the handle bar at the front.
A German acquaintance of ours, also a cyclist, had made something amazing, a cart bigger and with higher sides than a pram body or the bicycle wheels, so the same height as the carrier, with bedding and toys, very comfortable, but alas they only got as far as 60 km with it.....a broken shaft. In practice they could only ride on good and flat roads, so very restricted.
We see and hear sometimes that people transport their children in bicycle trailers. This seems a logical thought but it is much too dangerous. The carts are so low that they can easily be overlooked by a car and what to think of exhaust gases which are emitted exactly at that height. Not imaginary are the children's hands which grab the turning cart wheels!
They also limit your route choice; forest paths, footbridges, muddy roads, steep descends, and wading through a brook or through marshland, it is all out of the question with a trailer.
The first cycling tours we undertook, was when our daughter was about six months old, had a strong back and was very interested in the outside world. In a back sedan she hung high up on father's back, crowing enthusiastically. A harness was necessary to prevent her from slipping over his shoulder while she was turning around. When she became tired she fell asleep without any trouble, on the same shoulder.

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Toddler in the basket.

Pretty soon a basket was mounted on the back of the bicycle. A mattress in it to fill up the space and a harness for the agile lady who, when awake, stood up too often and when asleep lowered down too often to the bottom of the basket.
A cushion on the front of the basket, on which her head could lie for the inevitable nap and a few toys on an elastic band as an additional entertainment, if needed.
On the outside a hollow pipe is mounted, in which you place a dome shaped umbrella of transparent plastic, which covers the whole basket and goes down as far as the bottom. Comfortable when it is raining but also suitable when there is a cold wind blowing. For the sun, which can be rather too bright for the little child's head, a normal children's umbrella can be put in the tube. The revolving type for the pram are the most convenient ones.
In our opinion the basket is the most suitable means to take children with you on a cycling tour. Seats, front and back are convenient for shopping, bringing your child to school or paying visits in the neighbourhood, but are inconvenient for long rides. The basket faces sideways and gives the child more space to look around. Upholster it nice with cushions, on which the child can sleep, when camping.
The large size basket (they come in various depths), seem to have a longer life and user's time, about 7 years by the oldest, who spent roughly 7000 kilometers in it, but now she is much too large for it, but the next one can still use it for while.