Your child’s precious little head might not seem so fragile when he’s arguing about wearing a bike helmet. You might be tempted to give up and let his thick skull protect him. And he might be tempted to wear it only until he’s safely out of your sight.
But don't give in. Of the 630 bicyclists killed in 2009, one-eighth were between 5 and 15 years old. Children’s fatality rate is lower than older cyclists’ – but their injury rate is higher. Children under age 16 made up 20 percent of the 51,000 Americans injured in traffic accidents while riding their bikes in 2009.
Your son is more likely than your daughter to need a helmet’s protection – 87 percent of those killed and 80 percent of those injured in bike accidents during 2009 were male.
An easy way to make your child aware of helmets’ benefit is to strap a melon into his helmet. Drop it onto asphalt from the height of his head. Then take it out of the helmet and repeat. Splat!
A common argument – at least in my household – is that the helmet feels funny. My 4-year-old in particular wants to wear his as far back on his head as possible, leaving his forehead exposed and thus unprotected.
Helmets should be no higher than two fingers above your child’s eyebrows. The straps should form a V shape over the ears. There should be no more than two fingers’ width between the strap and chin, and the whole helmet should be tight enough that it’s snug (not loose) when you move your head. Often it’s possible to add padding to get the right fit.
What to buy
The first and most important rule is to measure your child’s head first and then look for that size, not your child’s age, when shopping. If your child is along, test the helmet out. (Make sure it’s facing the right way – not recognizing the front or back is a surprisingly common problem.)
Round-shaped helmets help protect your child’s neck because they slide in a fall. Likewise, it’s better not to use fabric-covered helmets. Always buy a bike helmet for biking and use other helmets for the sports activities they are sold for.
Children under age 1 shouldn’t wear a helmet (or be on a bike, for that matter) due to the risk of neck injury.
The Safe Kids St. Louis Coalition, sponsored by SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, has tips for selecting a helmet, as well as advice on when to wear a helmet, what kind to choose for your activity and when not to wear a helmet (for example, climbing trees, due to a strangulation risk).
The American Academy of Pediatrics goes into detail on the hard shell versus soft shell question, saying that both offer protection and meet safety standards, but hard shell helmets, though heavier, are more durable.
Bike helmets are made of compressed Styrofoam that’s designed to break in a crash, transferring force away from your head. If your child’s helmet has done its job and saved his noggin from impact with a hard surface, replace it even if there’s no visible damage.
Bike helmet fittings
Ongoing helmet fittings include:
By Amy De La Hunt, Health Blogger for SmartParenting
Amy De La Hunt is a journalist and editor who lives in the St. Louis metro area and works across the country as a writer, copy editor, project manager and editorial consultant on everything from fiction books to monthly magazines to blog posts. When she's not chauffeuring her teenage sons to activities, Amy is an enthusiastic amateur cook, landscaper, Latin dancer and traveler. Follow Amy on Instagram @amy_in_words
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