Bicycle helmet size: which one does your child need?
You can easily determine the right bike helmet size for your child yourself. Find out here why the right size of a bicycle helmet is so important and what else to look out for.
Why is the correct size of the bicycle helmet so important?
Whether you take your child with you in a bicycle trailer, they gain their first riding experience on their balance bike or they discover the world with their children’s bike – a bicycle helmet should always be part of the basic equipment. Only with a helmet is your offspring optimally protected against serious head injuries in the event of an impact. However, it is crucial that the helmet fits your child perfectly. If it is too big, it can simply slip off the head in the event of an accident and will not adequately protect your child’s head. On the other hand, if the bicycle helmet is too small, it can pinch too much and cause headaches.
How do you determine the right bike helmet size?
The best way to determine the ideal bike helmet size is with a measuring tape. Take the band and wrap it around your child’s head at forehead height. It should run in a horizontal line about an inch above his eyebrows and ears. On the one hand, the tape measure must not slip, but on the other hand it must not be too tight. The centimeters correspond to the head circumference of your offspring.
To calculate the right bike helmet size, add one centimeter to this circumference. If you don’t have a measuring tape at hand, you can simply put a string around your child’s head and then measure this length with a ruler.
Common sizes for bicycle helmets
Bike helmet sizes can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. For example, the XS variant from ABUS has a circumference of 45 to 50 cm, while KED has a head circumference of 44 to 49 cm. For orientation, you can get an overview of the most common sizes for children’s bicycle helmets below.
helmet size | age | |
44 to 49 cm | XS | From about a year |
46 to 51 cm | S | From about two years |
49 to 53 cm | S/M | From about three years |
52 to 58 cm | M | From about four years |
When buying, use the lower end of the size as a guide
Once you have determined the right bike helmet size, you should use the lower end of the size as a guide when purchasing. This means that with a calculated circumference of 49 centimetres, your offspring should not try the size 46 to 51 cm, but rather the size 49 to 53 cm.
Not only the size of the bicycle helmet is important
Although the correct bicycle helmet size is the decisive criterion for optimally protecting your child in the event of an impact, it is just as important to adjust the helmet properly. You should pay attention to these things when adjusting the bicycle helmet.
- Correct position: The helmet is put straight on the head. Your child’s forehead, temples and back of the head must be covered. The bicycle helmet is pulled up to the eyebrows in the forehead.
- Adjustment system: The “head ring” is then usually adjusted to the head size of your offspring using a twist, slide or Velcro fastener. It should be tightened so that it encloses the head without pinching.
- Adjusting the strap: The strap of the helmet is adjusted so that it fits snugly against the head on each side and forms a triangle around the ear. The band should not touch the ears.
- Chin strap : The chin strap is closed and the length of the strap is adjusted so that it fits snugly on the chin. When closing you should make sure that just one finger fits between the strap and your chin. This also prevents the skin of the chin from being pinched when closing. If the helmet then fits correctly, the neck fastener is finally fixed. This buckle is usually located on the back of the helmet and connects the webbing ends together.
Dispose of helmet after an accident!
Please note that the bicycle helmet must be disposed of after a serious fall, even if there is apparently no serious material damage. Small cracks or fractures significantly reduce the stability of the helmet. In the event of another impact, the protection of your offspring would no longer be guaranteed.
Our article “ 6 tips for buying a bicycle helmet ” gives you an overview of which criteria you should also pay attention to when buying a bicycle helmet.