Jack Tame: The one product I reckon parents should splurge on

I’ve come to appreciate there are some parts of parenting that come more naturally to me than others. 

Nappy changing? When it’s my own child, I’m happy to play the lead role. By lead, of course, I’m not suggesting I’ve changed more nappies than my wife, but merely noting that if both of us are there and a nappy needs changing, I’m happy to be the one to do it. I’d be lying if I said it’s my favourite activity on Earth, but it’s not the end of the world. 

I love reading books. Love playing rough and tumble. But strangely one of the things I’ve found quite tricky as a parent is sitting on the mat and playing. Whether it’s with soft toys or diggers or wooden blocks, I just struggle. I think it’s a patience thing. Sadly, patience is not a quality I’ve ever possessed in bountiful quantities. 

When it comes to playing with my boys, I’m usually at my happiest when we’re doing an activity. And for the ten thousand different products the baby industry tries to induce expectant parents to buy, I reckon there’s a standout for which I’m more grateful than anything else we purchased. 

It’s called a Shotgun. And before you panic, no. 

It’s a seat that attaches to my bike so my son and I can ride together. 

Outside of the big, fancy cargo e-bikes you see people riding these days, traditionally kids’ bike seats have to have been attached to the back of your bike, behind the person who’s doing the cycling. That’s probably the most efficient way of transporting a child. You strap them in and remind yourself to look over your shoulder after every speed bump to make sure you haven’t lost anyone. But a shotgun is a little seat that goes between my body and the handlebars. My version starts off as a little bucket seat with a harness and footrests, and transforms to a simpler, more streamlined little bike saddle with its own little set of handlebars for when my son’s a bit older. 

It’s great fun for heading out on adventures. But as I’ve discovered, the real secret is that unlike with a seat on the back of the bike, I can talk to my son as I ride.   

“Look!” I’ll say.   

“There’s a dog! Can you point to the dog?” 

I’ll warn him when there’s a big bump coming up, or “Weeeeeeeee” with him as we ride down a hill. 

“Digger!” He’ll tell me, the moment we come across anything resembling a construction site. And at all times, he’s right between my arms, and I’m so close that I can lean forward and kiss him on the cheek. 

I know what you’re thinking and I’ll be honest, it definitely takes a degree of bike confidence to want to ride your newborn child on the front. 

I don’t ride on the open road with him. But I do ride with him on a proper separated bike lane. It has to be said, bike lanes in our neighbourhood have been a bit of a game changer for us – we can go and visit many more places. And for the most part, we’re just riding for fun. So we’re riding on dedicated pathways or in the park, we’re never in a hurry, and we’re never riding very fast. 

Honestly, it is so much fun. For the both of us. And theoretically at least, it should make it much easier for him to understand how balance and momentum work when he’s ready for his own set of wheels. 

My son’s at the toddler age and stage now where he kicks up a fuss about a lot of things. He doesn’t like having his seat belt on in the car. He doesn’t like having his sunhat strap pulled tight underneath his chin. But when I take him outside and pull out the bike, he pumps his legs with excitement. When I strap him in, he never struggles. When I’m clipping up his helmet, he never struggles. He lifts up his chubby little chin and turns his head to the breeze. 

As we pull off for another mission down to visit the eels and the ducks in the local park, both of us are happy as to break up mat time once again.