How to choose a children's bike helmet

A bicycle helmet should be an integral part of every cyclist's equipment, and is required by law for those under 18 years old. Head injuries are very common in cycling and, of course, dangerous. Therefore, equip your children with a good quality bike helmet, even if they are still only riding the smallest 12-inch bike or even a bicycle.

If you don't know what to do even then, remember that we are not just an e-shop. We will be happy to welcome you directly in our brick-and-mortar shop Ski a Bike Centrum Radotín, where our cycling specialists will help you with the selection of a children's bike helmet.

Bike helmet technology and certification

Children's bicycle helmets, like adult helmets, are usually made using so-called in-mold technology, i.e. by injecting expanded polystyrene foam into a hard plastic shell. Occasionally, you will come across cheaper helmets that are made with an older technology called bonding, which is less durable and not as high quality.

From a safety point of view it is important that the helmet is certified. Helmets sold in the Czech Republic must meet the ČSN EN 1078 standard.

Child helmet size

A bike helmet should fit comfortably on the head without pushing anywhere, but it should also be tight and should not fall off the head when unfastened. Children's helmets are always equipped with a mechanism to adjust the size, whether it is a swivel wheel or just elastic bands that adjust to the circumference of the head. The smallest children's bike helmets have an inner circumference of 44 cm when the mechanism is fully tightened.

Correct helmet position and fastening

The helmet should preferably sit horizontally on the head, with the front of the helmet extending to about the middle of the forehead. The chin strap must be fastened when worn and no more than two fingers should be able to be tucked in. The helmet must also be tightened so that it does not move on the head.

Weight of children's bike helmet

The weight of a child's bike helmet is very important, as the child may wear the helmet for several hours while riding. The lightest quality children's helmets weigh around 220 grams.

Children's bike helmet and ventilation

The helmet will be used mostly in the summer months, so it is very important that it is well ventilated. You can read more about the ventilation of bike helmets in the article how to choose a bike helmet.
Also pay attention to the fastening system. The chin straps should not come into contact with the ears, as they could chafe the child during a longer ride. Good quality helmets have the ability to adjust the space around the ears as well as the length of the chin strap.

Accessories

For colder days, it's a good idea to complement the helmet with a scarf to protect your child's head from the cold wind. On warmer days, a scarf will prevent sweat from running down the face. For children, it is very advisable to add a rear helmet flasher. As the child is small and easier to miss, placing the flasher on the helmet - i.e. on the highest point of the child cyclist - can greatly help his visibility and therefore safety. Some children's helmets have a mount in the back for the flasher, or are even sold with the flasher built right in.

For more information on bike helmets, see our article on how to choose a bike helmet.