Bike helmet rec for kids?

[noodleoo]

What kind of bike helmet do you get for your kids? DD2, age 5.5, needs a new one and I’m seeing them range from$20 to $75! She’s not doing anything crazy, just scootering and biking in our quiet neighborhood.

[Deleted]

We always just got the Bell (I think) ones from Target. Nothing fancy. Luckily they never fell and hit their heads so the helmet never got tested.

[Saudade]

We bike a ton so I spend a bit more on helmets. My kids have a Smith Wilder Jr, it’s $75.

Whatever you do, get one with MIPS, I don’t know if they make any without it but do it

[felicity]

May 5, 2024 10:18:36 GMT -5 @mrsgreeko said:

We always just got the Bell (I think) ones from Target. Nothing fancy. Luckily they never fell and hit their heads so the helmet never got tested.

These are what we have gotten as well. I like the elastic on the inside so they fit really well without slipping around.

[maudefindlay]

We go to a local bike shop and get Bontrager helmets. DS1 had a big wreck going down our hill when he was 7 or 8 and that helmet did its job. Our neighbor at the bottom of the hill is an ER doctor and was outside when it happened and he checked him over and he was very impressed by the helmet.

[plutosmoon]

DD has a bell from walmart. I always assumed helmets were like car seats, they all had to meet certain safety standards, but the more expensive ones may be more comfy with nicer features.

[loira]

I just make sure to get one that's adjustable on the inside to fit to my kid's absurdly small head. She's had the same helmet for 5 years and it still fits lol. I think it's at the largest size at the moment at least.

[daisyduck]

May 5, 2024 11:13:02 GMT -5 maudefindlay said:

We go to a local bike shop and get Bontrager helmets. DS1 had a big wreck going down our hill when he was 7 or 8 and that helmet did its job. Our neighbor at the bottom of the hill is an ER doctor and was outside when it happened and he checked him over and he was very impressed by the helmet.

We do this. I definitely do not think all helmets are equal when it comes to safety.

[Saudade]

May 5, 2024 11:13:02 GMT -5 maudefindlay said:

We go to a local bike shop and get Bontrager helmets. DS1 had a big wreck going down our hill when he was 7 or 8 and that helmet did its job. Our neighbor at the bottom of the hill is an ER doctor and was outside when it happened and he checked him over and he was very impressed by the helmet.

My helmet is Bontrager and I absolutely love it. I'm coming up on 5 years so will have to replace it. 😭😭

I highly recommend these too but they can be more expensive.

[lo]

I get the Giro with MIPS for my kids.

[AdaraMarie]

Whatever they picked out at target or walmart. I liked to see them and make sure they fit before buying.

[lilac05]

When mine were little, I took them to the bike store to get fitted for a helmet. I let them choose almost anything they wanted. My goal was to start them off with good habits of *always* wearing their helmets. If spending an extra $50 when they were 5 meant that they just put on a helmet without thinking when they were 13, that was money well spent! It worked for us. My oldest is 13 now, and I literally don’t think I have ever had to remind him to wear a helmet. For him, it’s like putting on a seatbelt in your car. Automatic & without thought.

I did try to steer them towards brightly colored helmets to increase their visibility.

[meanie]

Usually a Bell, but check with your pediatrician's office too - ours sells them for around $20

[brooke77]

We have a bontrager as well. It was a bit pricey, but DS rides FAST and safety is super important. It has a magnet clip instead of the pinch ones, which I LOVE because he can get it on and off himself very easily.

[waverly]

Make sure you are actually getting a bike helmet as opposed to a scooter/ skateboard helmet. They are made for the different ways of falling. I assume you are looking at actual bike helmets, but just saying it because I am pretty sure my neighbor had them in scooter helmets probably because they started with them first and just kept them for biking, and I was told that was incorrect.

[Susie]

Helmets are kind of like car seats.  They all have to meet the same certification standards, but some are more comfortable, nicer materials, better airflow, or different shape/fit than others, which may make one work better for your kid than another.  

Both of my kids have Bontrager helmets because that's the brand our bike shop carries and I could have them try them on in-store.  DD's has MIPS; DS's is a hand me down from DD and it does not.  My current helmet is a nicer Giro with MIPS.  However, I once was involved in a fairly gnarly bike accident in which I broke my ~$30 Bell in two places, front and back where it impacted the pavement when I went over the handlebars at 35 mph.  I left the scene in an ambulance out of an abundance of caution, but I was cleared of any head injuries at the ED.  That helmet was absolutely a lifesaver, and it was a totally basic one.

ETA:  I often see helmets at yard sales, Buy Nothing, etc.  Be aware that -- also like car seats -- they need to be replaced periodically due to age, and/or if they suffer a major drop on a hard floor or other not-on-head impact.  People seem less attuned to that with helmets than with car seats though.  It's good to keep back of mind.

[scm1011]

We have Bern helmets (both bike and ski versions), which are on the pricey side but we bike as a main mode of transportation so I wanted something solid and well-fitting.

[pandora89]

We used Nutcase for the kids the last 4 years but just replaced them this year with the Thousand brand. They are pricy but we bike/scooter a ton and the kids prefer a helmet with the magnetic clip.