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How To Select Kids’ Bike Helmets

How to Select Kids Bike Helmets

We don’t like to focus on the negative aspects of life, but let’s face it; accidents do happen and are inevitable. Therefore, it is essential to ensure your child wears a helmet when riding a bike. In fact, a helmet should always be a top priority even when the child is riding on the driveway. Buying the right helmet for your child will help prevent traumatic brain injury or death in the event of an accident. But there are so many kids’ helmets out there, and many people have no idea how to select kids’ bike helmets.

Learn How to Select Kids’ Bike Helmets

How do you pick the right helmet for your kid? If you have been asking yourself this question, worry no more. This piece will give you some time-tested tips that will help you select a helmet that meets your child’s needs. Here are the tips.

Involve Your Child

Today’s kids are stubborn and want things that match their tastes and wants. The design and the color of the helmet should meet your child’s standards. If they don’t like it, they will not wear it. Therefore, as long as it fits, let them chose the helmet they want. They will more likely wear it and be excited if they choose it themselves. Involving your child will also help you pick the right size. Parents who allow their children to pick their own helmets do not regret this decision.

How to Select Kids Bike Helmets

Make sure to involve your child when selecting a kids bike helmet!

Size

When selecting a helmet for your kid, you want to make sure that you get the right size. Too big or too small helmets are uncomfortable to wear and won’t protect your child as they should. Some parents think that buying a larger helmet for their child to grow into will save them money, but that’s not true. Buying an oversized helmet puts your child in danger, and you may end up spending more on medical costs in case your child is involved in an accident. It is, therefore, important to ensure you select the right helmet for your kid.

How do you measure a helmet to ensure you pick the right size? Helmets are usually sold with their sizes measured in centimeters. The size equals the circumference of the head. Follow these steps when measuring your kids head:
• Take a measuring tape and wrap it around your child’s head about an inch above her eyebrows.
• Ensure the tape is level all way around.

Don’t have a fabric measuring tape? Don’t worry. You can use some string instead. Cut or mark then straighten it out next to a measuring tape to get the measurements. You should also let your child wear it before you leave the store.

Does It Really Fit?

Most people think that when they select the right size, it will certainly fit on their child’s head perfectly. This is not true. To ensure that it really fits, check for these things when your child wears the bike helmet.

• When your kid wears the helmet, look at how it sits on the head. If the helmet is level, your child should see its very edge when she looks upward. There should be a gap of about two fingers or an inch between their eyebrows and the helmet.
• Your child should feel the helmet pull down on her head when she opens her mouth.
• Ask your child if she can see and hear clearly when wearing the helmet.
• When you try to move the helmet up and down or side-to-side, it should stay snug.

The salesperson will try to convince you that the helmet will feel comfortable with time. Well, that’s a lie! Don’t take their word for it. If the helmet doesn’t fit at the store, it won’t fit when the child wears it at home.

Safety Sticker

You should also ensure you pay attention to safety stickers when buying a helmet for your child. Safety stickers will help you know if a helmet will keep your child safe or not. Go for helmets with a Consumer Product Safety Committee sticker.

Expensive Does Not Mean Safer

There is a perception out there that expensive helmets are safer than the inexpensive ones. Again, this is not true. The only difference between expensive and inexpensive elements is the design. Expensive helmets come with sophisticated designs and have an elegant look. Whichever helmet you choose, as long as it has a safety sticker, will help keep your kid safe. However, you should avoid cheap helmets because most of them are made of substandard materials that can expose your child to injuries in case of an accident.

High-Quality Material

Will the helmet material keep your child safe in case of an accident? Is the material durable? Will the material affect your child’s skin? These are some of the questions you should ask the salesperson when the material topic comes up. You should also ensure you conduct a thorough research to find out which materials are the best before you visit the helmet store. Buy a helmet made of high-quality material likely to last long.

Now you know how to select kids’ bike helmets. If you apply the guiding tips discussed above, you will help your child reduce the risk of head injury, traumatic injury, and even death from an accident.