Having the first ride is probably one of the greatest turning points in the life of every child. It would bring a sense of accomplishment and independence to young kids and keep them engaged for hours.
However, this activities can also be dangerous and lead to many accidents if you don’t take the necessary safety precautions.
While most parents understand the importance of wearing a helmet for their kids, they might not realise how vital it is that the gear should fit properly. It’s not enough to purchase a helmet and put it on their heads.
Instead, it should be fitted, worn, and adjusted correctly each time the children ride. Keep reading our guide to learn how to fit toddler bike helmet and ensure the ultimate safety on the road.
The importance of wearing a helmet
Most children and toddlers enjoy riding themselves around the neighbourhood. However, an unexpected accident from a bicycle can occur to your kids at any time and might result in serious injuries, especially in their heads. In worst cases, these situations would lead to permanent disability or death.
The good news is that these issues can be prevented or minimised effectively by wearing the right helmet. Most models feature the MIPS technology with a layer of impact-absorbing foam which can rotate around the head slightly to reduce the impact on the brain.
Also, the puncture-resistant shells play a vital role in protecting the neck and head of your kids when falling on the ground. In fact, many studies have proved that a good helmet can lower the risks of head injuries by as much as 80% by providing full protection for this critical part.
How to choose the right size of bike helmet
Before wearing the helmet on your kid, it is essential to choose the right size which can fit snugly. Getting a too small or too big helmet might greatly reduce its ability to deliver protection during an accident.
The simplest way to size your kids for a bike helmet is to the circumference of their head. You can do this by using a string or measuring tape around their forehead, two centimetres above the eyebrows. After that, compare the measurement to the sizing table provided by the helmet manufacturer and choose an appropriate size for your children.
In case you cannot physically measure your kid, here’s a general guideline to refer:
- 12 months: 46 centimetres
- 2 years: 48 centimetres
- 3 to 5 years: 50 centimetres
- 6 to 10 years: 52 centimetres
- 11+ years: 55 centimetres
4 simple steps to fit a bike helmet for your children
Step 1: Position the helmet properly
Keep in mind to place the helmet low on the forehead of your kid. The gap between the eyebrow and the helmet should be only 1 or 2 fingers, which is enough not to limit the vision on the road and protect the forehead in a crash. Make sure they can look upward to see everything in the front.
Step 2: Adjust the helmet’s side straps
Once the helmet has been positioned properly, check if the right and left side strap meet below your kid’s year and create a “Y”. Also, roll the rubber band close to these side straps to keep it from slipping.
Step 3: Fasten the chin strap
Fasten and tighten the helmet’s chin strap snugly. Make sure your finger can’t fit the space between the strap and the chin. This will ensure the helmet always stay on their head and provide full protection in all cases.
Step 4: Check the helmet again
Once you’ve set up the helmet, make sure to check for the following things:
- Ask your kids to open their mouth wide. If the helmet pulls down on the head, then it fits properly. Otherwise, refer to step 3 and adjust the chin strap.
- If your kids can’t see the front part of the visor when they look up, you should tighten both side straps and the chin strap again.
- If the helmet slips and moves while your kid shakes the head, you should adjust the fit ring or place the sizing pad for a snugger fit.
Here’s a helpful clip that you might follow to fit or adjust a bike helmet for your toddler:
