To quote the CPSC, “Bike accidents crash-land more kids in hospital emergency rooms than any other sport.” And since not wearing a helmet makes your child 14 times more likely to be involved in a serious or fatal accident, a helmet is an absolute must for even the youngest children. I have saved you valuable hours of research so you can focus on the important stuff — taking care of your kiddo and getting some exercise. Here’s a guide to the best helmets for your infant and toddler.
Best Infant Bike Helmets
Both the BELL Mini Infant Helmet and BELL Childrens Helmet complies with the U.S. CPSC Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets for children ages 1 and up, whereas the other helmets do not claim to meet such standards.
| Fits Head Sizes (cm) | |
| BELL Mini Infant Helmet | 47-51 |
| BELL Children’s Helmet | 47-52 |
| Schwinn Kids Helmet | 44-50 |
| LAZER BOB Infant Helmet | 46-52 |
| Giro Me2 Helmet | 48-52 |
| Giro Scamp Youth Helmet | 45-49 (XS) 49-53 (Small) |
| Schwinn Kids Helmet Classic Design | 44-50 |
| Schwinn Infant Bike Helmet | 44-50 |
Schwinn Infant Helmet
The first two things that come to mind when considering a helmet for a baby are safety and comfort. That is why the best choice (and best bike helmet) is Schwinn Infant Helmet.
This adorable helmet will not only cradle your baby’s noggin but keep your child looking up to see the world around them as you bike. The lightweight design offers six large air vents to allow your baby’s head to breathe, even on the hottest day. This helmet comes complete with 360-degree padding and a molded bottom for the perfect fit for comfort.
Why I Love It
The Schwinn does not sport a sun visor, giving your baby a full view of the road. The no-pinch design of the chin strap is essential to a proper helmet and the Schwinn rates highly in this department. This means that you don’t have to worry about pinching your little one’s neck when you fasten their helmet.
The Schwinn brand comes in multiple sizes to support multiple measurements and get the best fit for your little one. This adjustable helmet is certified for use for children age 1-3 with head circumferences between 17 3/8 inches and 19 3/4 inches. Adjustments are made with a built-in dial to ensure a good fit. It comes in 2 bright, fun colors.
It Is The Right Size: The back has a longer, extended design that provides whole skull coverage, in addition to the EPS foam lining. This longer back design means that it’s also more stable and won’t tip forward on your baby. Plus, the smaller design is perfect for infants. This is one of the smallest helmets on the market.
It Is Cute: This adorable helmet comes in two patterns, including a brightly colored jungle design that’s perfect for boys or girls and a purple polka dot design with pink bows that’s feminine and sweet.
Why I Don’t Love it
The only drawbacks to this otherwise magnificent product are a limited size range for infants under a year old and some faulty velcro straps.
While the small size is great for infants, your child will probably quickly outgrow this helmet and may not be able to use it into the second and third years of life, so you’ll have to invest in another separate toddler helmet.
Also, the velcro straps that hold the outer shell onto the chin straps are not glued down well, so some people have had the helmet fall apart. But at this price point and with a full warranty, you should be able to remedy any situations that might arise.
Schwinn Kids Bike Helmet
This is a great alternative to the Schwinn baby helmet, except this one, has a built-in sun visor. The Schwinn Kids Bike Helmet has most of the same features as the infant version and is just as highly reviewed. It does have a very slightly higher price and the trusted Schwinn biking name, but with a little bit larger size.
Giro Scamp Youth Helmet
The Giro Scamp is the next best helmet with a price that is a little easier to swallow. It’s our runner-up for the best helmet. This little hero of a helmet is the smallest available on the market, fitting a range of 45 to 49 centimeters plus extra padding. Toddlers can wear the next size up. What makes this helmet so marvelous is the flat back to support the baby’s head during a ride in the trailer. Another great feature is the matte finish to help avoid sunlight increasing the heat on your little one’s head.
Why I Love It
Giro implements a Multi-Directional Impact Protection System into each helmet to ensure a quality product. The turn dial adjustment system ensures a proper fit for a sturdy support system for your child’s protection.
This sleek helmet looks like a tiny adult helmet with fun colors to encourage children to ride safely. Stay simple with solid colors like black, pink, green, and blue, or branch out to multi-colored covers to show off your child’s flair.
While not the cheapest helmet, it does cost less than others, with similar features. The Giro brand is more expensive than the Bell (review below), but with a higher quality product to back up the price.
Why I Don’t Love It
The Scamp helmet only has a couple of cons. The straps can be a little difficult to adjust and the padding could be thicker for a more comfortable fit. Otherwise, this tiny-sized helmet offers all the same benefits of an adult-sized helmet – great ventilation, a sun visor to protect your child’s eyes from the glaring sun, lightweight for longer use, and a four-point attachment to the base.
Giro Me 2 Infant and Toddler Bike Helmet
A good alternative to the Giro Scamp is the Giro Me 2, priced similarly, but comes with lower reviews than the Giro Scamp including issues with the fit, comfort, and quality. Still, it’s a good choice.
Lazer BOB Helmet
The Lazer Bob (Bob stands for Baby on Board) helmet falls short of the other three helmets in growth, airflow, and adjustability but still has decent ratings with a great price, making your dollars stretch without forgetting quality and safety. This model only comes with six air vents, which means your little one will be sweating in a few minutes under the sun. But with 360-degree reflective stickers, this might be the best model for nighttime bikers. Special padding to keep the chin cool is a thoughtful additive to help your child enjoy exercise!
Why I Love It
It is sturdy: While not the sturdiest helmet on the market other brands could follow suit on nighttime protection with more reflective tape.
It is pretty: Forget boring with the Lazer Bob! This cute mini helmet comes in fun patterns like festive dots, blue fishes, stripes, and geometric patterns.
It doesn’t cost much: You cannot beat the bang for the buck!
Why I Don’t Love It
Many buyers found this model fell apart far before it reached old age. The back adjustment band loosens, creating a wobbly helmet. The buckle pinches children’s sensitive neck and chin areas, which could lead to kids unwilling to wear protective headgear. Overall, the Lazer helmet received high marks despite these issues.
The Schwinn, our top pick, out-scored the Lazer Bob for its ability to fit baby and overall comfort, especially for baby’s chin.
Schwinn Teddy Bear
A strong alternative to the Lazer Bob is the Schwinn Teddy Bear helmet, which is more affordable but you get what you pay for with this plastic helmet. You can’t deny that it is cute, but it’s not at the same level as many of our other picks as far as overall durability and safety are concerned.
Bell Infant Sprout Bike Helmet
The last helmet is the most affordable but the lower price tag sacrifices a lot of necessary helmet qualities. The Bell Infant Sprout lost points for reliability and bulkiness. A bulk size and shape forces children to glance down while riding because of weight and size. This helmet was the least comfortable for riding within both a trailer and a bike seat. This runner-up also did not have enough extra cushions for growth and would have to be replaced the soonest.
Why I Love It
It is pretty: The Sprout sports fun colors and patterns such as girly bows, dragons, silver flowers, pink poodles, and green and blue puppies. Little ones will love the looks!
It doesn’t cost much: The Sprout is easy on the budget.
Why I Don’t Love It
While this helmet meets all the standards for support the quality is not as high to allow for a lower price. Spending a few extra dollars would get better quality and better support for your child’s head.
Bell Mini Infant Bike Helmet
An alternative to the Bell Sprout is the more costly Bell Mini. It comes in childish prints but at the cost of easier adjustments for fit. Plus, it has a sun visor.
Best Toddler Helmets
The BELL Pint Helmet and the Joovy Noodle Helmet are said to comply with U.S. CPSC Safety Standards for children ages 1 and up, unlike the other helmets below.
| Fits head sizes (cm) | |
| BELL Pint Helmet | 48-52 |
| Joovy Noodle Helmet | 47-52 (Small) 52-55 (Medium) |
| OutdoorMaster Skateboarding Helmet | 46-52 |
| Apusale Kids Helmet | 48-53 |
| DaCool Kids Helmet | 50-56 |
| XJD Toddler/Child Helmet | 46-51 (X-Small) 52-56 (Small) |
OutdoorMaster Helmet
You all probably know this, but it’s not appropriate to buy a “bike helmet” and wear it as head protection while skateboarding. If a helmet is designed to protect your head during a certain activity, it will let you know. Don’t take it upon yourself to guess. This is part of the reason why I picked the OutdoorMaster Skateboard Helmet as a good child’s skateboarding helmet.
Why I Love It
The manufacturer indicates that this helmet is dual-certified for use during skateboarding. Since skateboarding is specifically mentioned in the product name, I know they are covered and that a child will be equally protected no matter what they are doing!
Some other benefits of this helmet are that it:
- is lightweight
- has 12 air vents for cooling
- has a removable and washable inner liner
- has a thick EPS core
- has dual adjustments
- comes in 3 different sizes for kids thru adults
- comes in 11 colors
This helmet is meant to last your toddler until they hit age 5. It works for heads measuring between 18 and 20 inches or 46 to 52 centimeters around.
Why I Don’t Love It
This helmet isn’t expensive, and I think you get what you pay for. The quality isn’t as nice with this helmet. It isn’t on the same level as the big-name brands that also grace this list. If you need a helmet for one summer or something to use very rarely, this is a budget-friendly option.
Also, sizing this thing is tough, especially if you are trying to get it to fit a very small child.
Joovy Noodle Helmet
Keep your baby both fashionably sleek and comfortable in the Joovy Helmet kids will want to wear. The Joovy Noodle Helmet offers protection for your little one’s head with a more traditional style of a bike helmet. If you or your spouse are biking enthusiasts, this helmet style will be a closer match to what you may use for yourself. This could be very exciting for your little one to get a helmet that resembles that of a parent.
Why I Love It
The adjustable fit dial tailors the fit of this helmet. This half-pound lightweight helmet fits kids age 1 to 4, with heads 18.5 inches to 20.5 inches. It also features nylon straps and a pinch-proof chin strap. 14 air vents with bug mesh and lots of cushions will keep your child secure and happy. It’s completed by an extended visor for sun protection.
It is sturdy: Helmets should have a sturdy base that attaches securely to the outside foam cover. The base should fit snuggly without weighing down the head. Enter Joovy Noodle. Thi sturdy helmet does all these things with panache to ensure that if your little one falls, they will get right back up again.
It is pretty: This adorable helmet keeps life simple with several solid color choices sure to meet your needs in pink, black, orange, red, and teal. There are 7 colors in total.
It doesn’t cost much: The Joovy Noodle is priced lower than many options on this page around the midpoint level.
We love the Joovy toddler tricycle, too! Check out our whole list of best toddler tricycles.
Why I Don’t Love It
The Noodle runs into a few problems – the dial and straps can be difficult to adjust to the contours of your baby’s noodles and the strap does not offer a chin guard for extra comfort. Otherwise, the only other complaint from buyers is the red color appears pinker than advertised. While in third place, the Noodle is a strong contender for protection and quality.
XJD Toddler Helmet
The alternative to the Joovy Noodle is the XJD Toddler/Child Helmet, available in both toddler and youth sizes. Available in 11 fun colors, it has a super fun shape that your child is sure to love, plus it is highly rated for safety. Plus, the normal shape makes it easy to fit in child bike seats.
DaCool Kids Helmet and Pad Set
The DaCool Kids Bike Helmet is very lightweight at only 7 oz which helps little ones keep it on longer without fussing.
Why I Love It
This helmet is of high quality. It’s made of a PVC shell with shock absorbing EPS foam to provide durability and safety. There are also extra spongy pads for comfort and they provide two extras with this helmet. It fits heads from 19.65 inches to 22.05 inches.
The helmet design features 14vents for extra airflow. The fastener is fully adjustable with a comfortable chip strap so the helmet is easy to adjust for safety and comfort.
This helmet comes in both pink or blue that would be suitable for both boys and girls.
Why I Don’t Love It
The pads are smaller than expected. This isn’t a big deal for most toddlers, but beware if your kiddo is a chunky monkey or big kid for their age. Also, this multi-sport helmet has different, not less coverage than a traditional bike helmet. Some parents may not like the type of coverage this provides.
Bell Pint Multi-Sport Helmet
As I mentioned before, you should only use a helmet for its listed purposes. For that reason, I wanted to have a category for multi-sport toddler helmets. The best multi-sport helmet for toddlers is the Bell Pint Multi-Sport Helmet.
Why I Love It
This helmet, which is listed as a multi-sport helmet, is approved for lots of sports, like rock climbing, cycling, hiking, skateboarding, riding scooters, BMX bike riding, and inline and roller skating. Basically, if you can do it, this helmet will work for you. Except for skiing. You should always buy a separate kids ski helmet.
The helmet is made of a sturdy plastic exterior with EPS foam and a soft antimicrobial liner inside. This means that the exterior of this helmet is very durable with the necessary foam interior to keep your child’s head safe and ensure a good fit. There are 10 vents throughout the helmet and extended rear coverage to keep the back of the head safe for spills on their backside.
The chin strap is easy to adjust and keeps your child comfortable. The Easy Buckle system makes it quicker and easier for parents to clip and unclip the straps without pinching the super-sensitive skin underneath the chin.
The toddler-sized helmet comes in four color choices. The helmet is for head circumferences of 48 to 52 centimeters.
Why I Don’t Love It
It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but this helmet runs pretty large. There’s no dial or anything to get the fit to be super snug, so some parents say that this one doesn’t fit as snugly as some of the other options.
The chin strap is the only way to tighten the helmet, so it’s a good thing that it has the extra no-pinch feature.
Apusale Kids Dinosaur Helmet
Some of the other helmets are colorful or have a colorful design, but none of them are quite as fun as this one. The best toddler helmet with a fun design is Apusale Kids Bike Helmets Dinosaur Helmet.
As I mentioned earlier, my oldest had a really great Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle helmet. Personally, I value a fun helmet. In my opinion, many helmets are going to provide similar safety with similar comfort, so you might as well wear something fun.
Why I Love It
The Apusale Kids Dinosaur Helmet is the best “fun” helmet for several reasons. The shell is PC injection molded with EPS foam inside. There are pads for the inside of the helmet and an adjustment knob to ensure proper fit. Like several other “best” helmets, the chin strap is easy to adjust and padded for comfort.
The helmet also offers four vents integrated into the fun dragon design. Plus, this dino-style helmet comes in several colors.
The manufacturer advises that this helmet fits head sizes 48-53 centimeters and a head width of 16.5 centimeters. They also say that this helmet is suitable for bike riding, roller skating, and scooter riding.
Why I Don’t Love It
Make sure to measure your child’s head before you order to ensure that this helmet will fit. This helmet runs quite small and will work well for kids 4 and under, despite the manufacturer advertising otherwise.
The outer shell of the helmet is surprisingly thin. If your child, say, dropkicks this across the driveway like a soccer star, it will probably crack. It’s cheap, and that price reflects the quality. But it’s perfectly fine for low-to-the-ground scoots and bike rides in the driveway. Try it out with one of our best balance bikes!
Infant Bike Helmets Compared
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed.
The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with
the product compared to others in the table.Giro Scamp Youth Helmet 9.9 9.6 54.95 Apusale Kids Dinosaur Helmet 9.6 - 35.99 XJD Toddler Helmet 9.9 9.6 32.98 OutdoorMaster Helmet 9.9 - 31.97 Bell Mini Infant Bike Helmet 9.3 9.6 29.99 Schwinn Teddy Bear 9.8 9.2 29.99 Bell Pint Multi-Sport Helmet 9.3 9.2 28.49 Lazer BOB Helmet 3.9 7.2 27.50 Giro Me 2 Infant and Toddler Bike Helmet 9.3 9.0 25.99 Schwinn Infant Helmet 9.9 9.4 23.33 Bell Infant Sprout Bike Helmet 8.3 9.4 20.99 Joovy Noodle Helmet 9.9 9.4 - DaCool Kids Helmet and Pad Set 5.5 - -
Guide to Selecting a Baby Bike Helmet
With so much activity and so little coordination, it’s important to protect your toddler’s head. If you have ever shopped for helmets you know that there’s a variety of shapes and styles available. These different styles indicate different sports when you should use the helmet.
Any time your child is riding a trike, bike, scooter, skateboard, or even skiing; you want them to wear a helmet. Likewise, your child should also wear a helmet for skating, skiing, or snowboarding. And don’t forget to strap a helmet on when your little one rides on your bike or in a trailer.
Helmets should come CPSC certified that is Consumer Product Safety Commissions – or the government’s stamp of approval that a child meets all the safety measurements for children’s products. The best features to focus on when shopping for a baby helmet include:
Safety
Keeping your baby’s noodle safe is the most important aspect to check for in a baby helmet. The quality of products used to engineer the protective head covering is essential to protect little noggins. The inner band should be secured to keep the outer shell intact and on the baby’s head. A quality helmet will avoid using flimsy methods to secure the inner casing to the outer shell.
Size
The size of the helmet matters. A helmet too small can hurt your baby. A helmet too big will not provide safety. Measure around the forehead just above the ears and over the eyebrows to get an accurate measurement of your child’s circumference.
Fit
The fit of the helmet should be snug without being tight to provide support and protection of the helmet coming off in a fall. The helmet should fit across the child’s forehead and not push up on their hairline.
Comfort
The helmet should come with plenty of inner cushioning to allow enough comfort for a baby to wear the helmet for the duration of a bike ride. Without cushions, the helmet would also be more likely to move around and be less supportive.
Ventilation
Baby helmets should have plenty of ventilation to keep baby dry and cool. Overheating can happen to a baby quickly. Check for several air vents and large openings all over the helmet.
Adjustable
No two babies come in the same size. Look for a helmet that has plenty of adjustable features on the back base support and the chin strap to ensure a proper fit in case you should fall while biking.
Flatback
Flatback helmets are easier for babies who will be riding in a trailer to cause less neck discomfort and allow babies a full view of their surroundings.
FAQs – Baby and Toddler Bike Helmets
Should I put a helmet rated for a one-year-old on my eight-month-old?
Most infant helmets are designed for babies over the age of one. However, since all baby heads come in different sizes, focus on finding a helmet that fits your baby best.
Should I look for a helmet with a flatback if I am going to use a bike carrier instead of a trailer?
Most infant helmets come with a flatback to accommodate trailer use. While unnecessary, a flatback would allow a better view of babies even in a bike carrier. It basically keeps the helmet from slipping forward over their eyes.
Is a magnetic buckle safe for my baby?
Magnetic buckles might not be the best option for children who fidget and they may play with the magnetic closure during a bike ride, which could lead to the helmet not being secured during a fall. If your child is willing to leave the buckle alone, then a magnetic buckle is less likely to pinch their sensitive skin or come loose like a traditional buckle.
