Wearing a helmet is the best way for your baby or toddler to keep safe whether they are riding a balance bike, scooter, roller skating or are sharing your bike for a family bike ride. But what do you need to know before you buy one? Luckily, Mother & Baby are here with our guide to the best baby and toddler bike helmets for your little one.
Although headgear is not compulsory for children, they still need to pass the necessary safety standards in the UK. The British Standards Institution created requirements and test methods for helmets intended for use by young children.
Understandably, it’s important to get the right size helmet for your baby. To ensure a helmet fits your youngster, measure their head beforehand. Using a measuring tape, securely wrap the tape around the widest possible circumference of your baby’s head. Take the measurement three times and select the largest measurement to the nearest 0.1 cm.
Do babies need a bike helmet?
Helmets are not compulsory for babies or children and there is little legislation surrounding this. But that doesn't mean we don't recommend a helmet while riding a bike, though. To get a better understanding of your little one wearing the right headgear, it's worth knowing when should you first allow a baby on your bike in a seat.
Some will argue that a baby should not be put a baby in a bike seat before they are 12 months old. However, it's not so much a question of the age but the baby's physical development and when they can sit up unaided. This is likely for most babies around nine months old, but it all depends on you and your baby.
There is also the argument of bumps in the road. While you may not consider these to be too shocking, on a baby with soft bones and delicate brains, there can be a lot of impact forces coming from all over, not just on top of the head.
If in any doubt, consult your doctor or health visitor.
How much should I spend on a helmet?
Bike helmets can often be an expensive purchase. We always say buy what you can afford to buy but don't be conned into buying a cheap helmet just for the sake of it. A well-designed and built helmet can save your child's life, reducing the risk of brain damage and serious injury or death. The more you spend, generally speaking, the more research and development has gone into the helmet. A helmet with MIPS will be more expensive.
What is MIPS?
You may see the acronym when looking for adult helmets but now these have been welcomed into kids' helmets too. It stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. In essence, it's a low-friction technology that sits between the EPS foam and the helmet liner and allows for a sliding motion of 10 to 15mm in all directions. This aims to reduce the transfer of rotational motion onto your brain. MIPS works by using a moving layer to prevent rotational impacts from passing onto your brain.
Looking after your bike helmet
If a helmet gets dropped, check it over. The most important place to check is on the inside of the helmet, this is where you'll see cracks in the protection material, even if they're not cracked on the outside. Sometimes these can be very difficult to see, so look carefully and if you're in doubt, change it out.
Another really important thing to note is helmets have a use-by-date. This is because the materials which protect your head in case of an accident or incident can perish over time, therefore rendering them useless. If someone has given you a helmet, only take it if the tags are still on. You never know what might have happened to that helmet and it's better to be safe than sorry.
The best baby and toddler bike helmets
Covering a range of price points, these high-quality baby and toddler helmets are ideal for smaller heads. They come in a great choice of fun designs so your little one will no doubt be keen to wear their helmet. Check out our favourites.
Description
Vitus is Wiggle's Own brand because of this they can charge much lower prices for their products. It has a freestyle look with its matte effect paint and small air vents, of which there are eight, which should keep little riders happy, with its low-weight construction.
One reviewer said: "I have bought a few of these for my kids and they look awesome and match their bikes. They are very sturdy."
Pros
- Lightweight
- Low cost
- Well ventilated
- Large colour range
Cons
- Low cost doesn't always mean high durability
Description
Like the Noggin but the Noddle has more of a road rider feel, larger ventilation holes and a ratchet system on the back to help tighten or loosen the helmet for a perfect fit. There are 19 ventilation holes on this helmet, making it an ideal summer rider.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Well ventilated
- Plenty of colours on offer
Cons
- The low cost doesn't always mean reliable
Description
We love this helmet. It's lightweight and well-ventilated, what's more, there is a large range of colours on offer, too. Specifically designed for 5-year-olds and up, the Pinch Guard buckle is a dream, stopping fingers and bits of skin from getting caught in the buckle, no more tears.
One reviewer said: "Bought it for my son's 8th birthday (blue dinosaur helmet). It is a great helmet and fits him perfectly. Easy to put on and use, easy to adjust, and the quality is good (not as good as some of the top notch helmets, but still very good, especially for this price, good value for money). It covers well the back of his head too, which was important for me. Also love the design. Worth buying."
Pros
- Fits really well
- No more pinching buckles
- Well-respected manufacturer
Cons
- Not many - colours are more geared towards boys and not very gender neutral
Description
Abus bring about funky kids' designs which would look good on a micro scooter or on a bike. Made for smaller heads, they have adult functionality and design in mind. They have a bit of smart thinking, as well, because they have ponytail compatibility and height adjustment.
Pros
- Ponytail compatibility
- Funky designs
- Enough ventilation for little heads
Cons
- They wouldn't suit a child above three
Description
If you want a funk design on your helmet then look this way, these will be sure to garner comments as your child scoots, or whizzes by on their balance bike.
One reviewer said: "The children each had a new helmet for Christmas- they adore them!"
Pros
- Great designs
- Relatively low cost
Cons
- Would wonder about safety considering the extra parts to complete the design
Description
If your child is into Disney, then this helmet could help negate the battle to wear one. With Cars, Star Wars and Frozen designs, there's something that will hopefully make wearing a helmet 'cool'. Thankfully the licensing of the Disney images hasn't rocketed the price too much and your child can cycle or scoot safely.
One reviewer said: "Really good helmet. My son has a small head so we're worried about the size but fits really well and easy to adjust."
Pros
- Reflectors are a nice touch for increased visibility
- Nice designs
- Relatively low cost
Cons
- A tumbled and scratching could ruin the images
Description
Some funky designs for the skater kids, this helmet is much more suited towards a BMX track or skate park with its rugged look and low ventilation. It's got some nice designs to suit most, but it's still not quite gender-neutral.
Pros
- Reputable brand
- Funky designs
- No-pinch buckle
Cons
- The gloss finish may scratch easily
Description
Bike manufacturer specialized has trickled down their tech from their adult range to little heads. This is reflected in a rise in price as we see more technology like MIPS added to the helmet. With a road bike-style design and some cool graphics, we think this helmet would be a big hit for kids who like to ride their bikes.
One reviewer said: "Really pleased with the helmet. My older two children already have a previous version of this model, and the quality is excellent, hence a repeat purchase for child number three. Love that it has the built in rear light - so useful for dull light conditions. Regarding the service from Tredz, this too was excellent. Best price I could find for this. Very happy all round (and another) product. Delivery must faster than anticipated too."
Pros
- MIPS technology
- Nice design
- Very reputable brand
Cons
- Some designs only available from the manufacturer
Best for the mini mountain biker
www.tredz.co.uk
Description
Giro is well respected in the helmet-making business, and the tech from their adult helmets can be found here, too. great for little risk-takers who want the added protection and sun visor capabilities of a peak. The Roc Lock system will allow you to make sure the helmet fits perfectly with your growing child and MIPS offers a bit of extra safety.
One reviewer said: "Ordered helmet for granddaughter and very pleased with service. Easy to order and pay. Came within 4 days and was packed well. Altogether very efficient."
Pros
- Quick dry padding
- Trickle-down tech
- mountain bike look
Cons
- Limited colour options
Description
POC makes helmets that are used by teams in the professional peloton, and this kid's Omne looks fantastic in POC's signature orange or fluorescent pink. Yes, the price is high on this one, but so is the protection, tech, and durability. And it looks great for a serious little road rider, too.
Pros
- MIPS safety
- Well respected brand
- Looks great
Cons
- The buckle might pinch skin or fingers
FAQs
At what age can a baby wear a bike helmet?
Baby bike helmet sizes usually start from around nine months old. Measure the circumference of your baby's head to get your measurement to the nearest 0.1cm.
What is the safest way to ride a bike with a baby?
If you are a confident bike rider and you feel that your baby can hold up its head unaided for periods of time, there are different baby bike seat options you can consider.
A front-mounted child and baby bike seat is installed at the front of an adult bicycle and the most common type of child bike seat is a back mount which is mounted to the frame of the bike or a rack.
How should a toddler bike helmet fit?
After measuring your child's head and finding a helmet to the nearest cm, there are a few things you need to check when making sure your toddler's bike helmet is secure.
First, the helmet should fit firmly and snugly to the head using the strap and it should be evenly tensioned. You can adjust the straps around the ears to make sure it is comfortable for them. One key way to check it is firmly in place is by putting one finger between the strap and the chin. If you can get your finger in between then it needs to be tightened.