Some young people ride their motorcycles through the elegant streets of the suburbs. Others relax in a seat or trailer. Some ride the city’s motorcycle trails like a pro, and others venture out on their own on quiet country roads. But regardless of context or distance, all young people deserve to wear a bike helmet every time they ride a bike. The key is to find a helmet that is comfortable, protective, and fits well, and that your child actually wears.
Every day, on average, more than 500 children injured while riding bicycles are treated in U. S. emergency departments. According to a study of injury data conducted between 2006 and 2015. Those who wear helmets are less likely to suffer head and neck injuries, the examinee found. And while young people tend to wear helmets more often than adults, many still ride without helmets, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In addition to advocating for safer, biker-friendly streets, it’s vital to choose a helmet that will help your child avoid injury in the event of a fall or accident. Here’s what you need to know about buying a motorcycle helmet for a kid, according to experts. Digital and All Access members can also check out our full reviews, which come with our testers’ ratings on 21 children’s helmets.
When opting for a helmet, focus first on the right compatibility. “Poor compatibility will have an effect on the coverage a helmet can provide,” says Angela K. Lumba-Brown, MD, a pediatric emergency physician at Stanford. Health Care in California and a brain injury expert. “It can also make the earbuds uncomfortable and therefore less likely to use. “
The best way to find the right length is to take your child to a motorcycle shop and ask them to try out helmets so you can see which one works best for them, as smart compatibility is a must for protection, says Susan Booth, who oversees motorcycle helmet testing for Consumer. Rapports. Si online purchase. Lumba-Brown suggests measuring your child’s head with a flexible tape measure about an inch above the eyebrows before opting for a length.
The length of the helmets is measured by the circumference of the head and the helmets have adjustable dials to make them compatible with a variety of circumferences. For example, a child between the ages of 3 and five can wear a helmet with a circumference of 50 to 52 centimeters. Choose one that has perfect compatibilities but also allows for a bit of growth.
Once a salesperson has helped you identify the correct length helmet, adjust the dial until it’s tight. If you pull it lightly, it shouldn’t get out of your child’s head, Booth says, but it probably won’t cause discomfort. To further check compatibility, Lumba-Brown recommends that the child gently shake their head back and forth if they fall without the chin strap in place. (Learn more about how to check a helmet’s compatibility. )
Next, attach the chin strap. According to Booth, while the strap should fit snugly, it’s possible to place a few hands between the child’s chin and the strap. Please note that the function of the chin strap is not to attach the helmet to your child’s chin. head while riding, but to hold the helmet in case of a fall.
Most helmets come with a hard outer shell and shock-absorbing foam on the inside. Some helmets also include a retention formula designed to minimize rotational impact, a type of force that can lead to concussions. (Learn more about the types of helmets that can prevent you from concussions. )
You also want ventilation, one of the features CR evaluates in our helmet tests. Good airflow is probably most vital for older young people who travel long distances.
If you have younger, fidgety children, ease of adjustment, indicated by the compatibility score and ease of use in our assessments, is key. The dial on the back of the headset will be large enough to make it easy to operate and turn.
The children’s helmets in our reviews range from $20 to $100. But don’t live too much on price. All helmets sold in the U. S. U. S. consumer safety officials will have to meet criteria set forth by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, says John Galeotafiore, associate director of product testing at Consumer Reports. Therefore, reasonable or low-rated helmets deserve to offer minimum degrees of protection. Counterfeit helmets that don’t meet federal protection criteria are rarely found for sale online, CR found. So consider buying a helmet from your local motorcycle shop or a trusted online retailer, such as REI or Performance Bike.
Once you’ve selected a helmet, keep an eye on how it fits over time. You may know you’re outgrowing if your child has trouble putting it on fully, exposes their entire forehead, or leans back. The rim of the helmet rests an inch above the eyebrows, thus covering the forehead.
Helmets deserve to be replaced after an impact, even if you don’t see any visual damage. And if your child is older and doesn’t outgrow their helmets as temporarily as a younger child, a well-worn helmet still deserves to be replaced every so often. and every five years, as the protective foam can become brittle over time.
As a general rule, make helmet mandatory even when your child rides a bike on the sidewalk or driveway. “Bicycle injuries don’t just happen in a direct collision with a car,” says Lumba-Brown. “The child can become uncontrollable when he makes a quick turn. “
One of the most effective tactics to help young children understand the importance of wearing a helmet is to wear it yourself, says Lumba-Brown. A CDC study published in 2016 found that 90% of children reported wearing a helmet when their parents wore one. They did too, but that number fell precipitously among young people whose parents didn’t wear helmets or wore them inconsistently.
According to Booth, it can also be helpful to involve your child in the process of buying a helmet. Let them have a say in the color and style, because the most important thing is that they are willing to use it constantly.
In addition to making sure the helmet is compatible and has the same old attire, Galeotafiore says there’s a rule to follow when preparing for a motorcycle trip. “You have to make sure that with any helmet, the buckle ‘never pinches the skin,'” he says. “Otherwise, they won’t need to wear the helmet ever again. “
Digital and All Access members can also check out our full youth helmet reviews.