For many people, cycling is more than a sport. It is more than a hobby and a source of excitement and fun. For many people, probably even you, cycling is a way of life. It is the best way you know how to keep your health in check and relax. If you spend most of your time riding, you will want to tag your toddler along. This will give you the opportunity to bond. You could get your toddler his/her own toddler bike, or have them on a bike trailer. Check out our guide to getting the best toddler trailers here. But whichever you prefer to go with, one thing is for sure, you will need your child to be wearing a helmet for safety purposes. Safe fun is after all most rewarding.
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But here is the thing about bike helmets. They are designed to fit school going kids. The unfortunate bit is that kids who are ready for school have larger heads compared to toddlers. And not unless your toddler has an abnormally large head, you will have a problem choosing the very best bike helmet for your little prince/princess.
But not to worry, in this guide, we shall have a look at some tips to choosing the best toddler bike helmets as well as some reviews to help put the information into perspective. Without any more dilly dally, below are some of the toddler bike helmet features to be on the look-out for. Note however, that technology has come a long way and you might come across features that are not listed below. This is just the way technology works.
Toddler bike helmet features
Size
This is the one thing that is going to frustrate you when you are out shopping for your sweet one’s helmet. Babies are ever growing. Every part of the body s growing including the head. But the lucky thing is that the body grows and develops in a proportionate manner. The head size of a child going to school aged about 5 years is very different from that one of a child aged 3 or even 5 years.
It is because of this that many of the helmets brands size their helmets by age. It works perfectly, but it in ideal situations. Not all four years olds have heads of the same size. And if your 4 year old has a smaller head than most, then this sizing method for lack of a better word will be useless for you. Luckily there is a way around this – measuring your toddler’s head.
Given the uniqueness in every child, measuring seems to be the best option. But now, how does one go about it? Well, it is surprisingly simple. Wrap a tape measure around your toddler’s noggin. Have the tape measure rest just above the eyebrows and go round the thickest part of his/her head. This should give you a perfect measure of the size that will work best with your child.
Weight
Quick question, would you get a helmet that weighs heavy on your head causing your neck to sink in uncomfortably and probably even causing pain? Of course not right. A light helmet is best. Especially when working with toddlers whose bones are yet to harden as is required. Now, different toddler bike helmets come in different weights. The type also affects the weight of the helmet. When you are out shopping, you will come across two types; hard shell helmets and in-mold helmets. Of the two, hard shell helmets tend to be heavier. If you are new at this, you probably will be confused between the two. So here is how you can tell them apart.
In mold toddler bike helmets
These types of helmets got their name from their construction design. Their interior is comprised of foam which looks solid but is very light. The foam is molded into the exterior. Speaking of which, exterior is a hard shell as you would expect from any helmet. They come in a variety of shapes and are well ventilated.
Hard shell toddler bike helmets
These are made from two completely separate pieces; foam and the hard shell. The two are then laminated to create the final product. Hard shells for the most part look alike and are best for most of the sports one can engage in.
But while they differ in their weight, it is very important to note that no style has a particular advantage over the other with regards to safety.
Ventilation holes
Bike riding will get the body worked up and all sweaty. The body temperature will rise as a result. As such, air vents are very important. They will allow fresh air to circulate on and around the toddlers head for cooling while bike riding. This will keep your child from experiencing discomfort from the heat and probably even fainting as a result when the temperatures rise past a certain threshold. And even when situations do not escalate to such lengths, you surely will not want your toddler being all hot and sweaty around you. You love him/her, but truth be told, it would just be irritating.
Toddlers being designed in modern times feature air vents. Some however have air vents that are more advanced and pronounce than others. It will serve you well to remember that the more the air vents the better it is. Simple as that. If you live in an area with a hot climate, more vents will be to your benefit.
Some helmets even feature bug meshes to help keep and stop bugs from getting into the helmet though the vents. But this may not be as important as manufacturers want you to think.
The Visor
Some of the toddler bike helmets feature visors which help keep the sun from yours child’s eyes. Visors however have an up and down side. On one end, they help to improve your child’s safety while riding especially when the sun is shining bright ahead of them and on the other, they may obstruct your child’s view depending on their design.
Chin strap
When you are getting a helmet for yourself, you could care less about the chin strap. This is because your skin can handle any material you press against it. Toddlers however, have tender and sensitive skin. As such, a regular chin strap will not cut it. It will irritate your child’s chin. With this in mind, a padded chin strap will be best. The pad on the shin strap will also help to increase the security of the chin strap on the baby’s chin without causing irritation.
Still on chin straps, ensure that the helmet you choose comes with an adjustable chin strap ensuring that the helmet sits safely and securely. The type of clip is also very important. You should ensure that it will not pinch the skin.
Certification
Products that are certified have a certain guarantee of safety. Before products are put up for sale, they have to meet certain requirements determined by relevant government authorities. In the U.S, helmet quality is regulated and certified by the Consumer Product Safety commission.
With many brands available in the market, some producing cheap knock offs, it would be great if you were on the look-out for this mark of certification. It will guarantee you of quality.
Best Toddler bike helmet Reviews
Razor V-17 child Multi Sport Helmet
This is one great helmet. Parents who have bought it for their toddler in the past agree that it is. It has been designed to serve as a safe protective gear while biking as well as skating and while getting to many other relevant sports. Its quality is pretty much unrivaled.
For its comfort, the Razor V-17 features a well-constructed exterior with an ergonomic interior padding. Now you probably wondering how ergonomic fits into al this right? Well, for toddlers, it is important that the helmet sits just right. It should not be tilted to the front or the back. The padding also provides for comfort since it is soft. During a fall, the hard exterior will take the hit and the padding will absorb the shock before it gets to your child.
For those hot days, you will also appreciate this helmet. With an impressive 17 vets on the sides and top, your toddlers head will remain cool all through. He/she will not sweat too much while riding. Add to this the easily adjustable side buckles and you have yourself one of the best and perfect helmets there is in the market.
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Joovy Noodle Helmet
With this helmet, you will never have to worry about your toddler’s safety when he/she is riding. They can fall as many times as they need to before they get a hand of their balance and they will be perfectly safe. Taking away this learning process will take away the fun and the memories when they are all grown up. As such restricting them from riding is not an option.
The Joovy noodle, you will be pleased to hear meets all the CPSC requirements and is certified for quality and safety. With this product, you are sure that it is not a counterfeit low quality product. And with the market all flooded, there are many of those low end brands in the market.
It features 14 air vents on the front and top. The air vents feature a bug mesh to keep away tiny crawling bugs from making a home in your toddler’s helmet when it is in storage. In addition to this, it comes with a visor, a chin strap (with pinch guard) and nylon straps for added safety and security. And as though that is not enough it comes with an adjustable fit dial to ensure that it sits perfectly.
It is perfect for kids aged between 1 and 4 years and comes with a head size of between 18.5” and 20.5”.
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Lazer BOB Helmet
If you have a baby aged 9 months, you must be very concerned as to which helmet is best for your child. Worst part is that there are very few products to choose from. Many brands cater to toddlers aged two and above. And for the few that go lower to a year, their size just does not allow a baby aged 9 months to use. With the Lazer BOB however you are more than sorted.
The designers of the Lazer BOB had not only very young babies but also the smallest heads which seemed to be overlooked. It is very light which is more than perfect for a small baby. It is well ventilated and very easy to put on and remove. Now as for the ventilation, do not expect it to come with numerous air vents as many other helmets do. Why? Well, a baby aged 9 months will not be doing the riding himself/herself. And even if they do, their activity will not be enough to make them sweat as much.
This helmet also features soft pads and have reflective tape around it for added visibility and safety. For a 9 month old baby, the helmet is cute and of very high quality having the necessities and not overly exaggerated.
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Giro Me2 Helmet
This is a tiny helmet designed for babies aged 1 year -3 years. It comes with really cool features to keep your toddler safe while he/she is having fun. It is a no wonder it seems to be a favorite with many parents.
It comes with a micro shell to fit the smallest of heads and a built in bug mesh. Speaking of built in products, it features a built in visor which helps to keep the sun from blinding your young one.
The chin strap is padded, easy to strap on and adjustable. You can have it to any tightness you prefer just by turning the dial located at the back of the helmet. The strap also features a non-pinch technology. This keeps the baby’s skin safe when the helmet is being locked into place.
Needless to say, it is one of the perfect starter helmets there is in the market.
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Conclusion
Safety should be your number one priority when your toddler is riding with you or on his/her own i n the great outdoors. The above list should provide you with a starting point. Sure there are many other products available in the market but the 4 listed above are some of the best and the most likely to meet your needs saving you time and a lot of hassle.
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