It’s a widely accepted fact among experts and parents: kids need to wear a helmet every single time they hop on a bike. Finding a Kids Bike Helmet that your child actually wants to wear is crucial. Fortunately, advancements in helmet technology mean that today’s children’s bike helmets are safer, more comfortable, and even stylish.
While some helmets now include rotational impact protection like the Mips system, it’s important to know that all bike helmets sold in the US must meet the minimum safety standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). These standards differ slightly for toddler helmets (ages 1 to 4) and kids helmets (age 5 and older).
To help you choose the best kids bike helmet, we put 13 different helmets to the test with kids aged 2 to 7. Our research indicates that the Giro Tremor Child Helmet stands out as the best overall kids bike helmet for most children, while the Giro Scamp II Helmet is the top pick as the best toddler bike helmet.
Regardless of which kids bike helmet you choose, a proper fit is paramount for safety and comfort. We’ll provide essential tips on how to achieve the perfect fit further below.
Our Top Kids Bike Helmet Recommendations
Top Pick for Older Kids
Giro Tremor Child Helmet
The Best Overall Kids Bike Helmet
The Giro Tremor Child Helmet is a top-tier kids bike helmet, known for its breathability and high-quality construction. It features a universal size that comfortably fits a wide range of head sizes, making it a versatile choice for growing children. While it’s available in only four simple colors, its performance and comfort are unmatched.
Buying Options
$55 from Amazon
$55 from Giro
Giro Tremor Mips Child Helmet
Enhanced Protection with Mips Technology in a Kids Bike Helmet
For parents seeking an extra layer of safety, the Giro Tremor Mips Child Helmet offers the same excellent features as our top pick but includes a Mips liner. This additional layer provides enhanced rotational impact protection, making it an even safer kids bike helmet choice.
Buying Options
$70 from Amazon
Buy from BackcountryMay be out of stock
Budget-Friendly Kids Helmet
Joovy Noodle Kids Toddler Bike Helmet S-M
Affordable Comfort and Safety in a Kids Bike Helmet
The Joovy Noodle Kids Toddler Bike Helmet S-M provides a more budget-conscious option without sacrificing comfort or breathability. It offers a comfortable fit and ventilation comparable to higher-end models. However, its construction with exposed foam and a less robust plastic shell may mean it’s not as durable over the long term as other kids bike helmets.
Buying Options
$35 from Amazon
$30 from JoovyMay be out of stock
Top Pick for Toddlers
Giro Scamp II Helmet XS
The Best Toddler Bike Helmet for Safety and Fit
For toddlers, the Giro Scamp II Helmet XS is our top recommendation. Outperforming five other toddler helmets in our tests, it features a flat back design that is particularly comfortable for children riding in trailers or bike seats. While adjustments can be a little tricky, its overall quality and safety features make it the best toddler bike helmet.
Buying Options
$55 from Amazon
$55 from Dick’s Sporting Goods
Giro Scamp Mips II Helmet XS
Toddler Bike Helmet with Mips for Extra Safety
Similar to the Giro Tremor, the Giro Scamp Mips II Helmet XS offers the same great design and fit as the standard Scamp II but includes Mips technology. This enhanced toddler bike helmet provides extra rotational impact protection for the youngest riders.
Buying Options
$75 from REI
$55 from GiroMay be out of stock
How We Choose the Best Kids Bike Helmets
Our selection process for the best kids bike helmets focuses on several key factors to ensure both safety and user satisfaction:
- Adjustability: A quality kids bike helmet should be easily adjustable to accommodate a child’s growth over several years. Simple adjustments are crucial for achieving and maintaining a perfect fit.
- Breathability: Effective ventilation is essential to keep kids comfortable and cool, especially during warmer weather. Well-designed vents in a kids bike helmet prevent overheating.
- Kid-Friendly Design: Making helmets appealing to children increases the likelihood they will wear them willingly. Attractive colors and designs play a significant role in a kids bike helmet’s appeal.
- Certified Safety: We rigorously test and only recommend kids bike helmets that meet or exceed the safety standards established by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Safety certification is non-negotiable.
Top Pick for Older Kids (Again)
Giro Tremor Child Helmet
Reaffirming the Top Choice: The Best Kids Bike Helmet
The Giro Tremor Child Helmet remains our top pick for a kids bike helmet due to its breathability and high-quality construction. Its universal size and adjustable fit system make it suitable for a wide range of children, ensuring long-lasting use. While color options are limited to solids, its performance and reliability are outstanding.
Buying Options
$55 from Amazon
$55 from Giro
Giro Tremor Mips Child Helmet
Mips Version: Enhanced Safety Kids Bike Helmet
The Giro Tremor Mips Child Helmet offers the same exceptional qualities as our primary recommendation but includes the added benefit of Mips technology. This rotational impact protection system provides an extra margin of safety, making it a superior, albeit slightly pricier, kids bike helmet choice.
Buying Options
$70 from Amazon
Buy from BackcountryMay be out of stock
The Giro Tremor Child Helmet is indeed an excellent kids bike helmet for children aged 5 and up. It boasts the widest fit range among all helmets we evaluated (47–54 centimeters) and features an easy-to-use dial adjustment system, allowing it to grow with your child for extended use. We appreciate the fixed side straps, which simplify the fitting process and work effectively for most head shapes. Giro’s customer-friendly return policy includes a free shipping label should the fixed straps not suit your child’s head shape.
The buckle is designed for easy operation by kids, and the helmet includes a detachable visor that effectively shields from the sun. The in-mold construction, fusing the foam interior and plastic outer shell, enhances durability while keeping the helmet lightweight. Eighteen vents ensure excellent airflow, keeping children cool even in hot weather conditions, making it a breathable kids bike helmet.
Parents have the option to consider the Giro Tremor Mips, which is approximately $15 more and offers rotational impact protection. While our child testers didn’t notice a significant difference between the two models, some online reviews suggest that the Mips liner can sometimes catch on hair.
Budget Pick Revisited
Joovy Noodle Kids Toddler Bike Helmet S-M
A Value Kids Bike Helmet Option
The Joovy Noodle Kids Toddler Bike Helmet S-M remains a solid budget choice, offering similar levels of breathability and comfort as our top pick. Its ease of adjustment and thoughtful details like a color-coded buckle and a high-quality internal pad are commendable for its price range. For families seeking an affordable kids bike helmet, the Joovy Noodle is a great option.
Buying Options
$35 from Amazon
$30 from JoovyMay be out of stock
The Joovy Noodle Kids Toddler Bike Helmet S-M is indeed lightweight and comfortable, rivaling our top pick in these aspects, and we found it particularly easy to adjust. Given its more accessible price point, we were impressed by its kid-friendly features, including the color-coded buckle and a quality single internal pad.
The Joovy’s affordability is likely due to its hardshell construction. The solid foam helmet is attached to a thin plastic outer shell, which might compromise durability compared to in-mold construction helmets, although it still meets the same CPSC impact standards. It’s a safe kids bike helmet at a lower price.
The S-M size, which we recommend, meets CPSC safety standards for kids aged 5 and older and offers a fit range of 52–56 centimeters. This adjustability is somewhat less extensive than our top pick. The XS-S size, designed for kids aged 1 and up, is a suitable toddler helmet, but its pointed back might be less comfortable for trailer or bike seat use. (Note: Amazon lists the S-M as Medium and the XS-S as Small.)
Top Toddler Helmet Choice (Again)
Giro Scamp II Helmet XS
Solidifying the Best Toddler Bike Helmet Recommendation
The Giro Scamp II Helmet XS remains our top choice for a toddler bike helmet. Its flat back design and focus on safety make it ideal for young riders. Despite minor adjustment difficulties, its overall quality and toddler-specific features are unmatched.
Buying Options
$55 from Amazon
$55 from Dick’s Sporting Goods
Giro Scamp Mips II Helmet XS
Mips Option for the Best Toddler Bike Helmet
For enhanced safety in a toddler bike helmet, the Giro Scamp Mips II Helmet XS is an excellent upgrade. It provides the same great fit and features of the standard Scamp II, with the added rotational impact protection of Mips technology.
Buying Options
$75 from REI
$55 from GiroMay be out of stock
The Giro Scamp II Helmet is built with the same quality as the Giro Tremor, featuring in-mold construction and the option for Mips technology. It comes in XS and S sizes, but only the XS model meets CPSC safety standards for toddlers (ages 1+). We recommend the XS as the best toddler bike helmet.
The Giro Scamp II XS offers extended rear coverage necessary for toddler helmets to meet CPSC standards. It is one of the shallower helmets we tested, making it ideal for smaller heads. With a fit range of 45–49 centimeters, it’s our favorite kids bike helmet for the youngest riders. Its flat back design is also perfect for toddlers in bike trailers or seats.
This toddler bike helmet includes kid-friendly features like a pinch-proof ratcheting buckle and fun, bright patterns. Thirteen well-placed vents provide good airflow for cooling. However, adjusting the Giro Scamp II for a perfect fit can be slightly more challenging due to the dial-adjust knob and side strap placement.
