Choosing a Baby Bike Helmet

When our pedal powered lifestyle with CZ, we wanted to make sure that she was protected. After choosing a baby bike seat, we began an exhausting search for the proper baby helmet. It was exhausting because we were new parents, and that means extra research, but also because of the mixed recommendations about putting babies on bikes, as well as smaller selection from the manufacturers. We include our learnings below to make it easy for you, when choosing a baby bike helmet.

Before we dive in, helmets are not widely recommended for babies under 12 months because the neck muscles required to support the head and added weight of a helmet are still developing. Consult with your child’s physician, if you are unsure about whether they are ready.  Once your child is ready for a helmet, make an informed selection using the information provided below.

Cecilia was pretty sturdy, and able to hold her head up well, so we took her on her first bike ride around 11 months. However we struggled to find a good helmet that fit her. We recommend looking online, calling shops, and even stopping to ask someone you see riding with their little one. In the end, we found a helmet, by finding the most family focused bike shop in our area.

Then, it was all about sizing, weight, adjustability, chin-strap, vents and visors to choose between the options in stock. Below is a quick checklist of factors to keep in mind when you are shopping for a toddler helmet (in order of importance).

Choosing a Baby Bike Helmet

Sizing – The fit of a helmet is essential to it’s effectiveness and protection. In order to get a starting place for sizing, measure your toddler’s head circumference. The smallest helmets are 45-47cm, which is within the median head circumference for one year olds. If your child has a smaller head, you will need to wait a bit longer before taking him/her for a ride!

Another thing to keep in mind with sizing is having a bit of extra space for a hat. CZ’s hair is taking its sweet time growing in, so we want to ensure sun protection in the summer and warmth in the winter. Most helmets will fit a 2-3 cm range, so test the helmet with a light-weight hat whilst in the store. Additionally, check for how the shapes of different helmets align with your child’s head. Some helmets and heads have a more rounded vs. more oval shape.

Weight – As I mentioned above, weight is crucial for little ones even after the more sensitive period of development. Helmet weights in this size range from 200g-500g depending on the price bracket and style. The in-mold style helmets are generally lighter than the hardshell (or skater) styles. However there are some notable exceptions, with Nut Case Baby Nutty line weighing in at an impressive 240g!

Adjustable – Babies and toddlers develop and grow at rapid rates, so find a helmet that can grow with them for a while. We prefer the dial adjust, because allows for more control than the elastic self-adjust. This is also helpful on those days when CZ adamantly protests the helmet and tries to rip it off her head mid-ride because we can make it extra snug. We love the adjustable dial on the RJays Bambino, and always feel like the helmet won’t be going anywhere. Many helmets come with multiple foam pads. They vary in thickness to  ensure a snug fit up top; however, they need to be switched out to function properly – which many parents fail to do.

Chin-strap – As any helmet wearer knows, getting pinched under your chin is an extremely uncomfortable experience, and for those little chubby chins it can create negative responses to helmet wearing. Our trick for avoiding the pinch is to loosen the chin strap, fasten, and then pull to tighten. This allows us to make sure the fit is perfect each ride, although it does add a bit of time to the adjustment process every time we ride. There are manufactured no-pinch options including magnetic straps and the revolutionary (and hard to describe) system on the Uvex Hero.

Vents – Depending on the climate where you ride, vents will be of varying importance. Without vents, the helmet can become really hot for your little one, and ours already has a predisposition for a sweaty head! Non-skater style helmets generally have more vents for a cooler ride, although they do require a hat in the winter months.

Visor – We keep a hat on Cecilia for all bike rides, but rarely have luck with sunglasses! Her eyes do need protection from the intense UV rays here in Sydney, so for now, we rely on the bike visor for shade. Her newest helmet, the Giro Rodeo offers a nice amount of shade protection.

Now that you know what to look for it is off to the bike shop! Our recommendation is to try on as many models as possible, go to a few stores, as most stores only carry one line of baby sized helmets. I think it allows you to really experience the options, and it provides opportunities for your child to get used to wearing a helmet before you make a final choice.

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