The 12 Best Kids Bike Helmets in 2019 (for 5 to 8 Year Olds)
Looking to buy a bike helmet for your 5 to an 8-year-old child?
You’d probably come across many different types and models, each with its own pros and cons. But the question is, which one suits your child?
And more importantly, will they like it?
After all, kids tend to like helmets that look cool and don’t really care much about safety. That’s your responsibility as the parent.
I’ll cover the important things you should know before getting your child a helmet and also share some of the popular ones among kids today.
A Quick Glance : Our Favorite Bike Helmets for Kids
Kids Bike Helmets Buying Guide
Before purchasing a kid’s bike helmet, you must consider some factors.
- Are you getting the right size?
- Does the helmet have enough vents to keep your child’s head cool?
Let’s take a deeper look into the things to consider before buying bike helmets for your child.
1. Size and Fit
How a helmet fits on the head determines if it’s going to be useful or useless. That’s why a good helmet should fit on the head without leaving any extra space that can make it lose.
Unlike road bike helmets for adults, most kids’ bike helmets are small and medium-sized, whereas a few are one-size-fits-all.
You should know the measurements of your child’s head if you’re planning to purchase a helmet. Determining the size of your child’s head can be done in two different ways.
- Wrapping a tape measure around your child’s head just an inch above the eyebrows.
- Use a string to take measurements. After wrapping it around the head, take the string and place it on a ruler to get accurate measurements.
Perfectly fitting helmets are comfortable, and they greatly decrease injuries if an accident happens compared to fit helmets loosely.
Fortunately, different types of helmets have been designed for different age groups that kids fall in. They vary in circumference depending on the age of your child.
2. Helmet Weight
Which kind of helmet do you want your child to possesses in terms of weight?
Is it a heavy helmet or a light helmet?
Generally, light helmets weigh about 200g. Your child won’t notice if he or she is wearing a helmet if it’s light.
Here’s a quick comparison between light and heavy kids’ helmets.
- A lighter helmet is comfortable as the neck isn’t strained by too much weight. But they’re generally more expensive.
- A heavier helmet is cheaper, but you sacrifice comfort, especially with younger kids.
3. Breathability and Ventilation
Cycling will make your child sweat a lot. That’s why you have to look for a helmet that has enough vents to keep them cool when they goes biking on a hot summer day.
Vents increase the airflow to the head and make it easier to ride a bike on a hot day. The number of vents on a helmet is determined by the type of helmet you choose.
Geek Tip : Traditional bike helmets have more vents than skater helmets. A helmet with more vents is more breathable than a helmet with fewer vents because it lets in more air.
4. Safety Certifications
Bike helmets have safety standards to make sure that they are fully effective. As you go out there looking for a kid’s bike helmet, be keen on the safety sticker.
Below are the 3 most commonly found helmet certifications today.
5. MIPS vs non MIPS
Multi-directional Impact Protection System also referred to as MIPS, is a technology designed to protect the brain from harmful forces during a fall.
If your child happens to fall at an angle, the ground’s impact may be very damaging to the brain.
How does MIPS work?
A helmet with MIPS technology allows the helmet’s outer layers to move, while the inner layers remain snug around the skull. This way, the head is protected while the helmet absorbs the impact.
Read More : Do You Really Need A Bike Helmet with MIPS?
6. Design
Last, but most importantly, you’ve to know which design your child likes before purchasing a bike helmet.
Sporty-like, kitty-like, and skull-looking helmets are some of the designs that kids like.
It would be best if you also considered which color is favorable to your child. Some kids may also prefer helmets that have good cartoon drawings on them.
Nutcase Little Nutty
To boys who like street-styled helmets that serve the purpose of providing safety, this might be a good option. It’ll fit a wide range of head circumference thanks to the dial-fit system. You can adjust accordingly.
You also won’t need to worry much about breathability during hot days. There are 11 cooling vents for maximum airflow through the helmet. Durability is achieved by the injection-molded ABS shell, which is lined with EPS foam. Plus, it’s 360º reflective to increase visibility.
It’s available in 9 different artistic designs and colors. So there are plenty to choose from!
Bell Rally
This helmet has a lot to offer for its affordable price. It’s available in different colors, allowing you to choose one that matches your child’s style.
It’s a suitable helmet for kids between 5 years and 8 years.
The unremovable fin provides safety and acts as an improvised sun visor. Equipped with a pinch-guard to prevent pinching while strapping, this helmet takes comfortability to the next level.
To keep your child’s head cool, this helmet comes with 16 vents. Even though it cannot be adjusted practically, it has a stretchable feature that makes it fit perfectly.
Raskullz Kitty Cat
This is an interestingly designed helmet that you can surprise your child with. Its price is almost similar to that of Belly Rally, making it quite affordable.
Even though it’s designed for kids between 5 to 8 years old, it can be used by any kid who is as young as 3 years old. That’s because this helmet’s circumference can be adjusted to fit any head ranging from 48 to 52cm.
Safety-wise, this helmet has been certified by both ASTM and CPSM.
Ouwoer Kids Helmet
For a pocket-friendly price, you can get this helmet with a lot of features.
First of all, it has been certified by both EN 1078 and CPSC. To resist damaging impacts, this helmet has an ABS shell and EPS foam that absorbs shock.
With 11 vents on the top-side, your child’s head will always be kept cool when riding a bike.
Fit wise, it comes with 2 sets of inner pads of varying thickness, giving your child a better fit. The chin-straps are also adjustable. This makes sure that it fits comfortably without getting snug.
Bell Sidetrack 2
Simply put, this is a child’s version of an adult helmet called Bell Spark.
It possesses certain features to maximize the level of safety, such as the MIPS technology, which prevents impacts that may cause brain injuries. The outer shell is made from polycarbonate, making the helmet sturdier.
A common setback with many kids’ helmets is lack of breathability, but this helmet has large vents on the outer shell to maximize breathability. At the center of the helmet, there is a large airflow channel. The inner lining of the helmet is quite friendly because it’s porous and doesn’t hold sweat.
Furthermore, there is an extended visor to protect your child’s eyes and forehead in the case of an accident. Adjusting this helmet is quite easy. The easy-splitters around the ears take only a few seconds to adjust.
Giro Scamp MIPS
This is a perfect helmet for children who are outgrowing balance bikes.
This helmet can reduce rotational forces that cause brain injury because it has MIPS technology. This technology utilizes a layer that slides 15mm in all directions to reduce those rational forces. The outer shell is bonded to the inner EPS foam by in-mold polycarbonate, making this helmet sturdier.
A visor is also a part of this helmet. It protects your child’s eyes from sunlight.
There are 5 different colors to choose from; Pink, Green, Black, Blue, and Red, making it very attractive to kids.
Triple 8 Gotham MIPS
If you’re looking for a single helmet with dual usage, this could be the one. This helmet from Triple Eight is designed for both skating and cycling in mind.
To increase the safety levels, it comes equipped with MIPS technology, which is quite rare for skate helmets. And for it to be sold in North America, this helmet passes both the CPSC and ASTM certifications.
To make it more flexible for kids, it also comes with 2 sets of inner pads to increase comfortability. The outer shell is made from durable ABS material, which makes it more solid.
Nice C Kids Bike Helmet
One look at this helmet will clearly show you the artistic creativity of the designs.
It comes with various designs such as an alligator, dinosaur, and shark head. Even though the design is flashy, some superb safety features will come in handy.
It comes with a built-in safety LED light with 3 different modes; stable, flashing and rolling, which will help increase your son’s visibility while riding.
Breathability is not neglected. There are 4 large vents found on the outer shell to ensure your boy’s head is well ventilated during hot days.
BERN Nino
This helmet has amazing graphics and might be suitable for boys between 5 to 8 years old who love fashion. It comes in various colors ranging from the navy, white, black with either a satin or matte finishing.
It’s actually a scaled-down version of the very popular BERN Brentwood, designed for older kids. Unlike other helmet visors, this helmet’s visor can be flipped if it’s impeding their view.
Apart from that, this helmet is very light and perfectly fits the secure velcro adjustment system.
Kiddomoto Patterned Helmet
Not only is this helmet fashionable with numerous colors and patterns to choose from, but it also has some amazing features.
For starters, it’s made from a lightweight ABS material that is durable. Your daughter will be comfortable when she wears this helmet because it has an adjustable strap, little vents for cooling, and internal comfort padding.
Certifications wise have been certified by both CPSC and CE for sale in both North America and Europe.
It comes with 10 different designs, so your girl will definitely have plenty to choose from!
Julie Hammond
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