TestedHelmetsCheck the CPSC label
Every bike helmet sold in the US must meet the CPSC safety standard and carry a label inside that says so. The label comes in two versions:
- "For persons age 5 and older." Most helmets carry this one.
- "For persons age 1 and older (extended head coverage)." The helmet has to protect a larger area of the head in testing. This is the one to look for on a toddler's helmet.
Skip toy and costume helmets. CPSC warns they aren't made to any standard and offer little or no protection. Don't go by a product name or packaging claim either. Look for the label on the helmet itself.
Toddler and youth sizing
Kids' helmets come in sizes called toddler, child, kids or youth, but those names don't match from brand to brand. What counts is the centimeter range on the chart for the exact helmet. Measure your child's head the same way you'd measure your own, about an inch above the eyebrows and just above the ears. Our size and fit guide walks through it.
Bring your child along when you buy, if you can. CPSC recommends it so you can check the fit on their head, not on a guess.
Fitting a growing head
- Buy for the head your child has now. A helmet to grow into sits loose, and a loose helmet can slide off in a fall.
- Use the fit dial and the pads that came with the helmet. CPSC warns against adding extra padding that the maker didn't supply.
- Run the fit check every few months. Kids' heads grow, and straps loosen.
- When the helmet still feels tight with the dial fully open, or the front edge rides up off the forehead, it's time for the next size.
Take it off for the playground
A helmet belongs on the bike, scooter or skates. CPSC warns that a chin strap can catch on playground equipment or tree branches and strangle a child, so take the helmet off before your child plays or climbs.
Older kids and teens
Once your child's head fits an adult size, Virginia Tech's ratings apply to the helmets they can wear. Our best bike helmets picks and the full ratings list start there. Any helmet that takes a hard hit needs replacing, kids' helmets included. See when to replace a bike helmet.