Selecting Your Child's Bike Helmet

Choosing the Right Bike Helmet for Your Child Choosing the right bike helmet for your child is a decision that's as important as choosing their bike. Helmets generally come in two varieties: hard shell and soft shell. Hard shell helmets have either a fiberglass or hard plastic coating over a polystyrene mold.

Soft shell helmets consist of a solid polystyrene layer covered in cloth or other material.

Both styles offer similar protection and are approved for use. Always verify the helmet you select is approved by ANSI, CPSC or Snell as a safe product by checking for a sticker inside the helmet.

You will find that most retailers offer either a helmet specific to cycling or a multi-purpose helmet used in other street sports like skateboarding. Both are fine, but a cycling helmet tends to be lighter and is better designed for a front impact collision.

The helmet should fit comfortably and snug on the child's head. A good test is to place the helmet on the child's

head and twist gently left to right.

If there is a slight pull on the skin of the forehead, the helmet is properly sized. If it slides around the head it is probably too large.

Youth helmets are usually sized small, medium and large with some manufacturers providing infant helmets as well.

Choose a helmet with straps that do not touch or bind the ear and are not too tight. A strap should fasten snugly under the chin without causing discomfort. Make sure there is a little room to grow and adjust. Most helmets have a "pinch-proof" clip to fasten the strap, a feature your child will appreciate.

Allow your child to select the helmet they like best as long as it fits right. You’ll get less argument about wearing the helmet if they’ve chosen it themselves. Replace the helmet every three to five years, after a collision or if they have outgrown it.

It’s a great idea to let your child choose their own cycling helmet. Kids are a lot more likely to consistently wear a bike helmet if it’s something the picked out.

Replace helmets every four years, after a crash or if they’ve simply outgrown the helmet.

For a proper and protective fit, nothing should be worn under the helmet (hat, hair bows, etc). A helmet should rest squarely on top of the head and not move when the strap is secured.

A helmet that wobbles on the head is dangerous as it may obstruct a child's vision and won't protect the forehead or face. Give the helmet a good tug back and forth before every ride to make sure it is adjusted properly.

When choosing your child's bike helmet select a helmet that that fits well and has a safety approval seal. From there, let your son or daughter make the choice. The best helmet is one that a child is happy to wear on every ride.

This report brought to your courtesy of BalanceBikes4Kids.com. At Balance Bikes 4 Kids, our motto is “Just Say NO to Training Wheels.� Kids as young as two are learning faster and naturally with a balance bike, the pedal-free bike that puts balance first.

ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET!