What bicycle helmet for a child?
Choosing a bicycle helmet for a child is a real challenge. Its purchase should be preceded by a verification of the products offered on the market. Why? Because the primary task of a helmet is to protect our child's head. Find out what criteria a good children's bicycle helmet should meet.
Before choosing this product for your little one, it would be easiest to ask an independent expert or find a reliable ranking that compares children's bicycle helmets. However, a minimum of knowledge about security and related parameters will always be useful. When buying a bicycle helmet for children, it is also worth considering the available sizes of the product.
Should the child have a helmet?
The question of whether a child should wear a helmet while riding a bicycle is often asked in various parenting forums, but also in stores with bicycle equipment. Probably you, as a parent, have also wondered about the answer to this question. Why does it keep coming back?
Polish law doesn't regulate this issue. More specifically, there are no regulations obliging parents to wear bicycle helmets on their children , either when the child is riding independently on a small bike or when the child is transported in a child seat mounted on an adult's bike. Furthermore, in Poland, adults are not required to wear helmets either!
Expert advises
A helmet, however, is an indispensable piece of equipment for every cyclist. Due to the fact that there are many accidents involving cyclists on a daily basis, it is worth protecting the most important part of our body. In addition, it is worth remembering that our children's bones are not yet fully developed and any damage to them may have negative consequences in the future. A head secured with a helmet is always a better chance to mitigate an injury or even save a life.
Which bicycle helmet is the safest for a child?
The safety of a specific product is confirmed by EU certificates and standards. This principle also applies to bicycle helmets. Every children's helmet must meet the safety requirements of the European Union. This is evidenced by the CE marking, which is usually found inside the helmet. Further proof of a helmet's safety is compliance with the EN 1078 standard (for bicycle helmets) and EN 1080 standard (for children under 7 years of age).
It's important that the model is new and purchased from a reputable manufacturer . Cycling helmets purchased secondhand or at marketplaces often don't fulfill their primary purpose. These products, while attractive and colorful, can simply fall apart in the event of a fall or impact.
What bicycle helmet will be comfortable for a child?
The comfort of our child is also a very important aspect - especially when the child is still small and cannot tell us that something is wrong.
Below we suggest what parameters to pay attention to when choosing a helmet for a child.
- First, a child's helmet must be light. It should not strain the cervical vertebrae or the skeleton, which is still very fragile. A helmet weighing too much will weigh on a child who will tire and struggle with his head tilting constantly. Such a situation will negatively affect his well-being, our child will become irritable and cranky, which may discourage her from further cycling.
- Second, the children's helmet should be ventilated. For this, special holes are needed in its shell - the more there are, the better. They make a bicycle helmet for a child more airy, so that the head of our child will not sweat so much in it. And on colder days, you can always wear a thin cap under the helmet.
So, when asked what would be the safest bicycle helmet for a child, the answer is relatively simple - one that has CE markings, complies with EN standards, comes from proven manufacturers and is simply comfortable.
Children's bicycle helmet - sizes
Not sure what size bike helmet to choose for your child? The helmet size depends on the size of your child's head. This can be easily checked with a tape measure or a piece of string and a ruler. The size of your child's head will correspond to the size of the helmet.
Children's bike helmets come in different sizes – to choose the right one, follow these 3 simple steps :
- Take a tailor's tape measure and measure the child's head at its widest point, approx. 1 cm above the eyebrows (you can also use a regular string and then put it against a ruler);
- The measure should fit snugly against the skin, but not fit snugly against the head;
- The obtained result, i.e. head circumference in cm, is the size of the helmet, which you should ask about in the store.
When choosing a children's bicycle helmet, you will find typical sizes in stores, but you always have a chance to fit it to your child's head. It is worth remembering about a few rules:
- bicycle helmets for small children should be changed every 2 yearsfor older people every 3-5 years;
- choose a helmet with a slightly larger span - if it is a little loose, it can be perfectly adjusted with the help of a special knob;
- however, do not buy "in advance" - the helmet must fit snugly to protect your headotherwise it will not fulfill its role.
A bicycle helmet for a one-year-old child
Finding a good and safe bike helmet for a one-year-old can be quite a challenge! However, before you start searching, it's worth knowing that it's only after 12 months of age, i.e., when your little one turns one, that the right time to start your child's cycling adventure comes.
Expert advises
The American Pediatric Society warns that jolting while driving can adversely affect the development of a child's spine. In Poland, on the other hand, we only have recommendations for monitoring the child's posture. If he can sit steadily and keep his head straight, he can travel with his parents by bike without any problems. The final decision in this matter will, of course, be made by you - as a parent, you know your child best.
So, which bike helmet is best for a one-year-old? Stores offer helmets in sizes ranging from 45 to 58 cm. As we've already explained, a helmet should fit snugly, so if the smallest size available is still too big, you'll have to wait until your child is older.
Since a helmet shouldn't weigh down a child's head, another important parameter is its weight . What does it mean for a helmet to be lightweight? For the youngest children, it's best to choose models weighing around 200 g.
Children's bicycle helmets: ranking?
If you're still not sure what the best kids' bike helmets are - an online ranking can be a useful resource. There you will find a comparison of the parameters of selected models, their prices and expert opinions.
Just remember that these types of rankings aren't always reliable . If you come across sponsored content, it's clear that the manufacturer or store is promoting their products. It's best to check specifications directly with the manufacturer and seek rankings from independent sources. Another parent—a cycling enthusiast—can be a good advisor.
The responsibility for your baby and his health rests on your shoulders. Therefore, you should check the sources and verify the information regarding children's bicycle helmets - ranking may not be enough to make a good decision.
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