Bicycle riding isn’t just a hobby. It’s a passion. A way of life. If you live and breath bicycle riding then chances are that you will want to get your baby involved.
Whether you want to bring your baby along for the ride or want your toddler to race around on a tricycle; you are going to have to buy your little one a bike helmet.
The problem with bike helmets is that they are generally designed to fit school aged kids. Unfortunately, school aged children generally have a much larger head than your baby. Unless your little baby is sporting a freakishly huge melon, you are going to have to hunt around to find the perfect bike helmet for your little one.
That’s where this guide comes in. Not only do we cover things to look for when choosing a bike helmet but also take a look at some of the best baby bike helmets on the market.
Table of contents
With the introduction out of the way it is time to jump right into the guide.
Best toddler helmets
Lets start by taking a closer look at the best helmets on the market. These helmets are popular amongst parents from all over the world. Lets take a look at what makes them so great.
Best value for money helmet
- Lots of air vents.
- Bug mesh on front vents.
- Adjustable fit dial.
- Sleek look.
Joovy Noodle Helmet
Style: Black, Blue, Pink, Red, Green and Orange
Brand: Joovy
Fits head size: 18.5 – 20.5″
If you are looking for the best value for money then you simply cannot look past the Joovy Noodle toddler helmet. Sleek, comfortable and protective; the JOOVY is one of the best all rounders available.
If you live where the weather is warm then this toddler helmet is incredibly suitable. 14 air vents will allow air to circulate around your baby’s head resulting in a cool and comfortable ride. The front air vents are covered in mesh, preventing bugs from flying into the helmet while you ride along.
Where the JOOVY toddler helmet really shines is the adjustable straps. A simple turn dial at the front of the helmet allows you to easily adjust the length of the chinstrap.
The helmet has a visor which will help keep the sun off his face. Unlike the plastic visor you see on mountain biking helmets; the visor is solid. A solid visor will help protect your little one in the event of a fall.
The Joovy Noodle helmet comes is available in 6 different color choices. Whether you have a boy or girl, there will definitely be a color to suit.
It was a tough decision between this and the Giro Me2 Infant Bike Helmet are competing for the same market. While the Giro has fun designs and bug netting over all 6 airvents, the JOOVY wins out with it’s superior air circulation and easy to adjust straps. Click here for extra information and price
Best Helmet for bike trailers
- Lots of air vents.
- Flat backed.
- 6 vents.
- Soft fit pads.
Baby on Board infant helmet
Style: Many different patterns availnle
Brand: Lazer
Fits head size: 17.7- 20.1″
Do you bring your baby bike riding in a trailer? If so then this helmet is specifically designed to keep your baby comfortable while riding behind your bike.
You may be wondering what makes this helmet so special. If you were to look at the rear of the helmet you would notice that it is flatter than a regular helmet. The flatter design allows your baby to lean right back without the helmet hitting the rear wall or seat of the trailer.
While the helmet really shines for trailer use, it is also suitable to protect your baby when worn outside of the trailer as well.
Best toddler helmet for cold weather and snow
- Adjustable Straps for Custom Fit .
- Funky 3D Design.
- Cooling Vents.
Raskullz Monkey Miniz Helmet
Style: Boys and girls styles available
Brand: Raskullz
In this guide I have talked about ventilation a lot but what happens if you want to go bike riding when the weather starts to turn cold?
The problem with other bicycle helmets is that they are designed to fit your baby’s head without any other layers between. This makes the helmets unsuitable to wear over the hood of your baby’s jacket.
For those of you who are brave (or crazy) enough to keep cycling through winter; Bern helmets allow you to keep your baby’s head warm and protected. Bern helmets use inserts that can be swapped out according to the climate. Below is an example of a cold weather insert.
The insert method allows you to add a warm insulation liner to the helmets in winter; keeping your baby toasty and warm. The liner can be removed in summer and replaced with a visor insert which allows you to use the helmet all year round.
This helmet is also very handy if you are planning on taking your toddler to the snow. In such a slippery environment; head protection is a must!
As you might have guessed, this is one of the more expensive toddler helmets on the market. The summer insert is sold separately which will add to the cost. If you want to take your baby with you on a cold bike ride then there is no better helmet on the market. Click here for extra information and price
Best Themed Helmet
- Adjustable Straps.
- Custom fit.
- Funky 3D Design.
- Cooling Vents.
Raskullz Monkey Miniz Helmet
Style: Boys and girls styles available
Brand: Raskullz
Fits head size: 18.90″- 20.47″ (other sizes available)
Do You have trouble getting your infant to wear his helmet? Raskullz has released an awesome range of themed bike helmets that will definitely appeal to your baby. The best way to get your baby to do something is to make it fun. The appealing look of these bike helmets will have your toddler wanting to wear the helmet even when he isn’t riding a bicycle!
If you are a parent that likes to stick to color stereotypes for genders then you will be impressed that this toddler helmet is also available in a pink bird style for girls.
Due to the fun design of the helmet, there is only a small amount of air vents located towards the top of the helmet. If you live where the weather is always warm then this may not be the best choice for you.
Baby helmet features
Below we will explore the different features you should take into consideration when choosing an appropriate toddler bike helmet.
Size
Sizing is going to be the major thing that limits your choice when it comes to choosing a bike helmet for your baby. Particularly annoying is that most brands size their helmets by age. That’s all well and good but if my 1 year old has a smaller than usual head on his shoulders then the size guide is as good as useless.
How to measure your baby’s head for a helmet – Because each child’s head is a different size you are going to have to measure it. Simply wrap a vinyl tape measure (you know; the one you use when sewing) around your baby’s noggin. Measure an inch above the eyebrows, right on the thickest part of your baby’s head. Now that you have your measurement; it’s time to go helmet shopping.
Weight
A lightweight helmet is a comfortable helmet, particularly at this young age. Hard shell helmets should be avoided. Instead go with an in-mold helmet. Confused about the difference between the two? Let’s take a closer look at each.
In-mold toddler helmet
The lightest style of helmet, in-mold gets it’s name from it’s construction. The foam interior is injected into the mold while the hard exterior shell is still inside. Hence the name “in-mold”.
In-mold helmets are lightweight, very well vented and can come in a variety of interesting shapes.
Hardshell toddler helmet
Hardshell helmets are made from two separate pieces. The hard shell and foam are then laminated together. Hardshell helmets will all look similar to one another and are suitable for sports other than bike riding.
It is important to note that no style is safer than the other. The key difference is weight and ventilation.
Ventilation holes
Air vents will allow fresh air to circulate around your baby or toddlers head while you are bike riding. The air circulation will help prevent your baby’s head from becoming hot and uncomfortable during the ride. Trust me, you don’t want to be around a toddler who is hot, sweaty and irritated!
While all modern day toddler helmets will come equipped with air vents, some will have more than others. More air vents means better circulation. It is a simple as that. If you live in a hot environment, more vents are very appreciated
Some toddler helmets come with an integrated bug mesh to help stop bugs from flying into the vents. Either I am missing something or there are not enough bugs on my biking route to justify the need for bug mesh. If you have lots of bugs near your home then it is something to consider.
The Visor
Some toddler helmets come with a built in visor. The visor is great for keeping the sun out of your baby’s eyes. The downside to visors it that they can impact the view of your baby as they look around, particularly on a younger infant. If you want your baby to be able to see the world it may be better that you apply sunscreen and hold off buying a helmet with a visor until he is older.
The chin strap
A regular chin strap can irritate your infants sensitive skin. Because of this, many infant bike helmets actually come padded. The result is a strap that stays secure but feels soft against your baby’s skin.
You are going to make sure that the chin strap can be adjusted so that your helmet sits tight and secure on your baby. When you clip the chinstrap together it can be easy to pinch your baby’s skin. To prevent this; look for a strap with a pinch guard.
How you adjust the bike helmets fit will vary from brand to brand. Below are the two most common adjustment methods.
The traditional adjustable chin strap
Nothing special here, the chin strap is adjusted the same way you are used to adjusting your own helmet. Simply feed the strap through a ring until the helmet sits tight against your baby’s head. While it can be fiddly, with trial and error you will eventually be able to get the perfect fit.
The adjustable dial chin strap
A new feature found on certain brands of toddler helmets (such as the JOOVY) is the adjustable dial chin strap. This is by far the easiest way to get the perfect custom fit for your toddlers head. Simply turn the dial to tighten or loosen the chin strap on the helmet. It doesn’t get easier than that!
CPSC Certified
All helmets sold in the United States must be certified by the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission). While just about all helmets available here are CPSC certified, there have been reports of cheap knock-off helmets being imported from china. When in doubt, shop at a reputable store.
Other helmets rely on changing foam panels on the inside of the bike helmet. From my experience this method of adjusting a helmet results in an inferior fit and is best avoided.
How the helmet should fit
With your new helmet sitting on your toddlers head, examine the following to ensure it fits correctly
- The helmet should fit snug but not so tight that is causes your baby discomfort.
- When your baby nods his head back and forward, the helmet should remain secure.
- The rim of the helmet should sit on the forehead, just above the eyebrows
- The helmet should not be tilted (either exposing forehead or tipped so that it covers the eyes).
Resources
- Safe Kids – Bike helmet fit test
- Two Wheeling Tots – What everyone ought to know about bike helmets
- Traffic Safety Marketing – Steps to fit a helmet
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This was a very thorough and helpful article. thank you!
Very helpful thank you. Yes I agree that the hard shell helmet isn’t good for young toddlers as we purchased one for our 14 month old thinking that the flatter back was better for him. The helmet feels light but is too heavy for his body as the weight pushes him around when riding his trike and just doesnt sit properly on his head for my liking.