A bike helmet is essential for young riders — whether on a balance bike, pedaling, or riding in a bike trailer. But know how challenging it can be to find well-fitting helmets for our little ones.
So we polled the experts to get recommendations for the best bike helmets for babies and toddlers to keep our kids safe and comfortable while riding.
We evaluated each helmet to narrow down the selection to seven options. We’ll explain the features of each helmet and teach you to size your little one for optimal comfort and safety properly.
There’s no need to wait until your child gets bigger. Start cycling now with one of these top-notch bike helmets.
- Numerous color options
- Lightweight at 8.1 ounces
- Shock-absorbing
- Bright colors and textures
- CPSC- and ASTM-certified
- Aerodynamic vents
- Cute, girly designs
- Comfortable interior
- Protective exterior with visor
- Excellent first helmet for toddlers
- CPSC approved
- Chin strap pinch guard
- Features high-impact reflectors
- Includes pinch-free buckle
- Extended rear coverage
- Adorable teddy bear theme
- Safe and features extra padding
- For babies up to 3 years
- Adorable theme
- Comfortable lower molded shell
- 360-degree interior padding
The Best Bike Helmets for Babies & Toddlers of 2024
Here are seven of the best bike helmets for babies and toddlers.
TurboSke CPSC-Certified Adjustable Bike Helmet
Best Bike Helmet for Toddlers
For young and old toddlers, this helmet from TurboSke is excellent. It’s a CPSC-certified helmet, suited with a lower molded shell and shock-absorbing padding. It provides complete protection, even for the smallest user.
It comes in two sizes, with the smaller size fitting heads that measure 18.8 inches to 20.5 inches and the larger size fitting 19.8 inches to 22.5 inches. It includes 14 air vents on the top with removable inner padding to absorb shocks and extra sweat.
It’s fully adjustable to accommodate a growing head. The chin strap is also adjustable to ensure a secure fit.
TurboSke offers a one-year warranty on this helmet.
Pros
- Cute designs for girls and boys.
- 14 air vents for a comfy fit.
- Adjustable head width.
- One-year warranty.
Cons
- The strap tends to slip
Product Specs
| Recommended age group | Toddlers |
| Adjustable width | Yes |
| Color options | 9 colors |
| Weight | 8.1 ounces |
Our Ratings
User Experience
Raskullz Toddler Dinosaur Helmet
Best 3D Design
A fun helmet for little boys gets a big boost if it includes dinosaurs or sharks, like this example from Raskullz. It’s a helmet they will always want to wear, and it’s functional too. It’s made from a non-toxic thermoplastic rubber.
The helmet consists of a smooth expanded polystyrene shell that’s molded and shaped to resemble a dino head. It has a textured and scale-like appearance with big eyes, nostrils, and a mouth with teeth. On the inside, there are layers of shock-absorbing EPS to minimize injuries in a crash.
This helmet is light, weighing 0.8 pounds. Another fantastic feature is the adjustable strap— you can change it as your baby grows, with settings ranging between 50 and 54 centimeters.
Your tot will love to wear it, as the interior padding is soft and comfy. Also incorporated are aerodynamic vents to keep little heads cool.
However, the helmet is not suitable for small babies. Raskullz recommends it for toddlers.
Pros
- Cool helmet with bright colors and textures.
- Lightweight.
- Adjustable width.
- Aerodynamic vents.
Cons
- The sizing runs on the small side.
Product Specs
| Recommended age group | Toddlers |
| Adjustable width | Yes |
| Color options | 2 dino styles |
| Weight | 0.8 pounds |
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
Bern Kid's Niña Helmet
Most Practical
For active girls, we recommend this offering from Bern. It’s an adorable helmet that offers multiple color choices.
The helmet is comfy and protective. It’s suited with a quick-adjust, hook-and-look stabilizing adjustment, ensuring the perfect fit. At the front, it features a soft and flexible visor for sunny or rainy weather.
On the helmet’s interior sits a layer of polyester, which keeps moisture at bay. It’s removable and machine washable too.
Bern constructed it using the ZipMold method, injecting high-impact liquid foam into the interior for protection. Then it’s fused using the lightweight PVC outer shell. It’s a low-profile fit, which is sturdy and provides complete protection.
This helmet also comes in a style for boys — the Niño.
The helmet is also compatible with cold and warm weather liners, so your toddler can bike all year round.
Pros
- Comfortable interior.
- Protective exterior with visor.
- Adjustable width.
Cons
- The size runs big, so it’s not suitable for babies.
Product Specs
| Recommended age group | Toddlers |
| Adjustable width | Yes |
| Color options | Red strawberry, seaglass polka dot, white, navy |
| Weight | 11.4 ounces |
Our Ratings
Joovy Extra Small or Small Noodle Helmet
Best Helmet for the First Bike
For your toddler’s first balance or training wheel bike, they need a helmet that looks cool and keeps them safe. The Noodle is an excellent starter. It’s available in six colors, suitable for boys and girls.
It comes in two sizes — small and medium. For toddlers, small is recommended, measuring between 18.5 and 20.5 inches. The helmet is for any activity, be it riding a bike, trike, or scooter or riding in a trailer.
Joovy’s Noodle meets the CPSC standards for helmets. It’s constructed with a large visor to provide frontal protection. There’s an adjustable nylon strap running under the chin to keep it secured, and it’s also suited with a chin strap pinch guard.
Your toddler will love the “grown-up” appearance. It features 14 air vents, similar to a big-kid helmet. Each of the 14 vents includes bug mesh.
Pros
- Excellent first helmet for toddlers.
- CPSC approved.
- Doesn’t look “babyish.”
- Features a chin strap pinch guard.
Cons
- The sizes run small.
- The straps are pretty long and require a lot of adjusting.
Product Specs
| Recommended age group | 1 to 4 years |
| Adjustable width | Yes |
| Color options | Black, blue, blueberry, greenie, orangie, pink, red |
| Weight | 0.5 pounds |
Our Ratings
First-Hand Impression
Bell Zoomer Bike Helmet
Best Baby and Toddler Bike Helmet Design
If you’re searching for a colorful bike helmet that will please your toddler, look no further. Bell’s Toddler Zoomer Bike Helmet is fantastic.
It’s available in several colors and prints, with many options for girls or boys. Our favorites are the blue pony, red jump house flowers, and orange tiger.
The Bell helmet will ensure your toddler stays safe. It features high-impact reflectors, so they remain visible at all times. On top of the headgear are seven air vents to keep their head cool while cruising.
It is fully adjustable — ranging between 18.9 inches and 20.5 inches. However, it’s not suitable for small babies — the manufacturer recommends this helmet for ages 3 to 5.
Under the chin sits a buckle with a pinch guard. The back features extended coverage to keep the base of the head protected.
Pros
- Vibrant colors and lots of options for boys and girls.
- Features high-impact reflectors.
- The size is adjustable.
- It includes a pinch-free buckle and extended rear coverage.
Cons
- Others find the helmets’ sizes run small.
Product Specs
| Recommended age group | 3 to 5 years |
| Adjustable width | Yes |
| Color options | Blue scribbles, blue pony, dino, orange tiger, pink/blue downy, scribble hearts, red jump house flowers |
| Weight | N/A |
Our Ratings
Schwinn 3D Teddy Bear Helmet for Infants
Cutest Baby Bike Helmet
What’s a better theme for a baby and toddler bike helmet than a cute, cuddly teddy bear? This one suits girls or boys, keeping them visible and safe.
It’s so adorable on babies and toddlers. The teddy has button eyes and a friendly nose and mouth. The two big ears are the perfect finish, giving it a three-dimensional look. If your little one isn’t into teddy bears, there’s also a panda bear or police helmet option.
The helmet is more than just cute — it’s innovative, featuring top-notch safety components. It’s CPS approved, with impact-absorbing foam and a 360-degree dial fit gauge at the back.
The bear’s ears function as extra padding in case of a crash. If your toddler falls, the ears will collapse into the helmet, increasing the cushioning. There are also several vents at the top for warm days.
This helmet is recommended for use on baby heads ranging from 6 months to 3 years. Its size ranges from 17.50 inches to 19.75 inches.
Pros
- Adorable themes.
- Safe and features extra padding.
- Suitable for small babies up to 3 years.
Cons
- Some of the teddy bear seems a little flimsy — not as durable as it should be.
Product Specs
| Recommended age group | 0 to 3 years |
| Adjustable width | Yes |
| Color options | Brown teddy, black/white panda, blue/white police helmet |
| Weight | 9.1 ounces |
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
Schwinn Infant Jungle Helmet
Best Bike Helmet for Babies Nine Months and Up
The infant bike helmet by Schwinn is cute and highly protective. It features 360-degree interior padding, optimizing comfort and safety.
We love the look of this helmet. It’s decked out in a jungle-inspired theme with adorable animals, trees, rivers, and vibrant colors.
It consists of a lower molded shell, which provides additional protection. The back is flat, enabling your baby to wear it comfortably in a bike trailer.
Although it’s advertised as 100% adjustable for small heads, it measures 17.32 inches to 19.29 inches. It’s not suitable for tiny infants. The recommended age range is 9 months to 18 months.
Pros
- Adorable theme with bright colors.
- Comfortable lower molded shell.
- Features 360-degree interior padding.
- Constructed with a flat back for use in bike trailers.
Cons
- Not suitable for babies under nine months.
- The straps don’t stay in place well.
Product Specs
| Recommended age group | 9 to 18 months |
| Adjustable width | Yes |
| Color options | One — jungle theme |
| Weight | 10.4 ounces |
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
| Product | Best | Recommended age group | Colors | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TurboSke CPS Certified | For Toddlers | Toddlers | 9 | 8.1 oz |
| Raskullz Dinosaur Toddler | 3D Design | Toddlers | 2 dino styles | 0.8 lbs |
| Bern Nina Helmet | Practical | Toddlers | 5 | 11.4 oz |
| Joovy Noodle Helmet | For the First Bike | 1–4 years | 7 | 0.5 lbs |
| Bell Zoomer | Helmet Design | 3–5 years | 7 | N/A |
| Schwinn 3D Teddy Bear | Cutest | 0–3 years | 3 styles | 9.1 oz |
| Schwinn Infant Jungle Helmet | For 9 Months and Up | 9–18 months | Jungle theme | 10.4 oz |
How to Choose a Baby Bike Helmet
The Perfect Fit
Your baby is precious cargo. Whether riding in the bike trailer or on their own bike, a fitting helmet is essential. But finding the perfect fit for small children, especially babies, can prove challenging. This is because there aren’t enough small sizes available to fit tiny heads.
Allows for Adjustments
Adjustability is a great feature to look for, and most helmets include it. Babies and toddlers are continually growing, so an adjustable helmet will enable them to wear it longer. That will give you more bang for your buck.
The best adjustment system to invest in is one with a dial. These sit at the back of the helmet and are easy to readjust while your child is wearing the helmet. Some helmets feature an auto-adjust system that sizes to your toddler’s head automatically.
Weight
Babies’ and toddlers’ necks are still developing (1). Since their necks are frail, the helmet you choose must be light. Manufacturers comply with this requirement, and most baby and toddler bike helmets weigh between 8 and 11 ounces.
The Shape
Baby and toddler helmets come in different shapes. Some are more oval, with a protruding back, whereas others are completely flat.
The best shape depends on where your child will use it. If your toddler or baby sits in a bike trailer or bike seat, a flat back is best. This will enable them to rest their head comfortably.
If they’re going to use the helmet for riding their bikes, a more significant back can provide additional protection.
Buckle
Be mindful of the buckle — your baby’s skin can get pinched. We recommend looking for one with a pinch guard. These prevent any skin from getting stuck and nipped and will prevent your child from hating their helmet because they associate it with pain.
Sizing a Helmet for Babies and Toddlers
1. Measure the Head
Get a soft measuring tape to determine the circumference of your baby’s head. Look for matching numbers when searching through helmets.
Keep In Mind
2. Verify the Size
Once you have the helmet, make sure it fits snugly around your child’s head (2). Let your toddler sit or stand as straight as possible with the helmet on top of their head. Then grab it and try gently moving it from side to side — if it moves, it’s too big.
Before you return it, try sizing pads. Some helmets include these, and they can help to fill in the last millimeters.
3. Position
While your baby is wearing the helmet, ensure that it sits low on the forehead. You can measure this by fitting two fingers between the helmet and eyebrows.
4. Shape of Side Straps
The side straps should create a “Y” shape, meeting just below the ear. It’s easier to adjust these when your child isn’t wearing the helmet.
Alter them by tightening the strap adjuster as close to the earlobe as possible. This will prevent slipping.
5. Chin Strap and Buckle
When placing the helmet on your child’s head, start by buckling the chin straps. Then tighten them until they fit snugly. Try to fit one finger between the band and the chin — if more than one fits, it’s too loose.
FAQs
What Age Can a Baby Wear a Bike Helmet?
Babies can typically start wearing bike helmets around one year old or when they can hold their heads up steadily and fit into the helmet properly.
How Do You Measure a Toddler’s Head For a Helmet?
Using a pliable measuring tape, measure around your kid’s head above the eyebrows and ears, and use this measurement against the helmet’s sizing chart.
