Helmets

How do you measure a child for a helmet?

Run a tape around the head about 2cm above the eyebrows and around the widest point at the back, and buy to that number in centimetres rather than to an age. Toddler helmets typically start at 44cm to 50cm, junior sizes cover roughly 48cm to 54cm and youth sizes 52cm to 56cm. Buy at the lower end of the range so the retention dial still has room to open as the child grows; a helmet already wound out to its limit has one season left in it.

Which type of kids' helmet do you need?

For a child in a rear seat or trailer, a helmet with a flattened back is the one that stops their head being pushed forward against the seat. For general riding, an in-mould road-style shell with plenty of vents is lightest, which matters because a child's neck is carrying proportionally more weight than an adult's. Skate-style half shells give more coverage at the back of the head and suit pump tracks and scooters. Full-face helmets with a fixed chin bar are for BMX racing and downhill. Giro, Bell, Lazer, Met and Abus all make children's ranges.

What safety standard should it meet?

Helmets sold for cycling in the UK carry the EN 1078 mark, printed on a label inside the shell along with the size range and date of manufacture. Some also carry the American CPSC mark, and some add a rotational management system such as MIPS, a slip layer between liner and head. A cheaper certified helmet has passed the same impact test as an expensive one; the extra money buys weight, venting, fit adjustment and finish rather than a higher standard.

How do kids' helmets differ from adult ones?

Beyond size, the details that matter are the buckle and the fit system. Magnetic buckles such as Fidlock close one-handed and do not pinch the skin under the chin, which is the single most common reason a child complains about a helmet. Kids' shells also extend further down at the back and temples, and good ones keep the weight near 250g or below so the head is not being pulled about. Pair one with knee and elbow protection if they are riding a pump track.

How long does a helmet last?

The expanded polystyrene liner works by crushing, and it crushes once. Any helmet that has taken a hard knock should be replaced even if the outer shell looks untouched, because the damage is in the foam underneath. Straps stretch, the pads flatten and the dial mechanism cracks; the manufacture date inside gives you the age. Most makers suggest replacing after a few years regardless of use.

How does a helmet fit alongside the rest of the kit?

It should sit level, two finger widths above the eyebrows, with the side straps meeting just below the ear and no more than a finger's gap under the chin strap. Shake the head and the helmet should move the skin on the forehead rather than sliding on it. A child learning to balance will fall sideways at low speed more often than they crash forwards, which is why coverage at the temples matters as much as at the front, and why a helmet goes on before the stabilisers come off. The rest of the kids' kit follows from there.