Best bike helmets for babies and toddlers

If your little one is about to discover the joys of cycling, you may want to invest in one of the best bike helmets for babies and toddlers. 

There's a lot of not-so-great bike helmets out there saying they’re suitable for babies and toddlers, which is why we’ve spent years getting hands on with the best kids’ bike helmets, to confidently guide parents towards the better choices.

Whether you’re carrying kids by bike, or preparing to let them loose on one of the best balance bikes, the helmets we’ve listed below are all certified as safe, comfortable to wear, and lightweight enough for young necks to support.

The smallest helmet listed fits a head of just 44cm, and it’s important to know that helmet sizing refers to the circumference of their head. It’s important to get them a helmet that fits properly, so be sure to follow our guide on how to measure your child’s head for a bike helmet.

If you’re in a rush and don’t have time to peruse all the options, we’ve provided some quick picks to make things much easier for you. We’ve also included some top tips to help you know exactly what to look for. Following that, there’s a full list of the best bike helmets for babies and toddlers, ordered by price so you can find something within your budget, and then finally there are some frequently asked questions in case you want more information.

Contents

Use these links to skip to the most relevant part of the article, to save time.

• Quick picks: for parents in a hurry
• Top tips: to help you decide
• Best bike helmets for babies and toddlers
• How to choose from the best bike helmets for babies and toddlers

B'Twin Baby Cycling Helmet 500

Best budget baby helmet

• Price: £14.99
• Size: 44-49cm
• Weight: 170g
• Safety standards: EN 1078
• Colours: Pink, yellow

Buy if: you want something basic and affordable for your baby

The B’Twin Baby Cycling Helmet 500 offers excellent value for money, with its lightweight 170g design, EPS liner for shock absorption, and a PVC outer shell for impact protection. As far as we know, it's the smallest baby bike helmet available in the UK, making it an excellent first helmet for your little one. It's suitable for head sizes 44-49cm, and it meets the EN 1078 safety standard. It has adjustable straps, a rear dial for a secure fit, and three ventilation points for comfort. Ideal if you’re a budget-conscious parent looking for a reliable and affordable option for your baby.

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Hornit Helmet

Best designs

• Price: £29.99
• Size: 48-53cm (Small)
• Weight: 340g
• Safety standards: EN1078 and CPSC
• Colours: Choice of 15

Buy if: you want a great choice of patterns and colours

Featuring a range of playful designs, including flamingos, dinosaurs and unicorns, the Hornit Helmet makes wearing safety gear fun for kids. It's equipped with a fully adjustable fit system, a lightweight shell, and ample ventilation points. If you’re looking to entice your older toddler into wearing a helmet, you’ll appreciate the whimsical and vibrant design options available here.

You can read about it in more detail in our Hornit Helmet review.

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Abus Smiley 3.0 LED

Best for visibility

• Price: £36.99
• Size: 45-50cm
• Weight: 230g
• Safety standards: CE EN 1078
• Colours: Choice of 8

Buy if: you’re likely to be riding in low light conditions

The Abus Smiley 3.0 LED is designed to provide extra visibility in low light conditions, with an integrated LED light at the back. Perfect if you ride all year round and have to contend with the lack of winter daylight! It combines a robust, lightweight shell with excellent fit adjustments and plenty of ventilation. Ideal if you’re prioritising safety during early morning or evening rides, this helmet ensures your child is visible to traffic.

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Lazer Pnut KinetiCore

Best for bike seats

• Price: £39.99
• Size: 46-52cm
• Weight: 250g
• Safety standards: CE
• Colours: Choice of 6

Buy if: they’d benefit from a flatter back and neck protection

The Lazer Pnut KinetiCore has a smooth and flat back and extended neck coverage, making it perfect for little passengers. It features Lazer's KinetiCore technology, the brand’s answer to MIPS rotational impact protection, along with easy adjustability and ventilation. It’s a great option if you frequently ride with your little one in a bike seat or pull them along in a trailer.

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Specialized Mio MIPS

Best protection technology

• Price: £40.00
• Size: 46-51cm
• Weight: 290g
• Safety standards: CPSC Bicycle
• Colours: Blue, mint, geometric

Buy if: you want the best protection technology available

The Specialized Mio MIPS stands out with its Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) technology, providing superior protection against rotational forces. It's also equipped with an easy-to-use magnetic buckle, has lots of ventilation channels, and features a visor for sun protection. This helmet is perfect if you want the absolute highest level of safety technology for your child.

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Giro Scamp II

Best premium baby helmet

• Price: £44.99
• Size: 45-49cm (XS), 49-53cm (S)
• Weight: 280g
• Safety standards: CE
• Colours: Black/red, purple, teal, octopus

Buy if: you want a more premium option than the B’Twin

The Giro Scamp II is another option for babies with small heads, and is a bit more premium than the B’Twin listed above. For the bigger price tag, you’ll get Giro’s Roc Loc Jr. fit system, which provides a secure and customisable fit. It's lightweight, well-ventilated, and designed with a pinch-guard buckle for added comfort. As specialists in helmets across the industry, Giro’s offering is ideal if you want to invest in a high-quality, comfortable, and secure option for your baby.

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Is it safe for a baby to wear a helmet while sitting in a bike seat or trailer?

Yes, it is safe for a baby to wear a helmet while sitting in a bike seat or trailer. It’s crucial that the helmet fits well, is lightweight, and doesn’t strain your baby's neck. Helmets designed for use with bike seats — rear and front mounted — and trailers, often have a flatter back to provide better comfort when they lean their head back against the headrest.

At what age should a baby get a bike helmet?

Babies tend to be ready to start riding in a bike seat or trailer from around 9 to 12 months old. This age range can vary depending on their physical development, particularly their neck strength and ability to sit up independently. There are two helmets in this guide that are suitable for babies: the B’Twin Baby Cycle Helmet 500 and the Giro Scamp II. As we’ve said above, proper size and fit is crucial, not only for your baby’s safety, but also for their comfort and — by extension — their willingness to wear it. So the biggest question to answer is: is your child’s bike helmet fitted correctly?

What size helmet does a 1 year-old need?

Even as young as one, babies’ heads will vary in size. A one year-old generally needs a helmet that fits a head circumference of 44-49 cm, which is a pretty wide bracket, especially at this age. That’s why it’s still important to measure their head to determine the right size helmet for them. Follow our guidance on how to measure your child’s head for a bike helmet, and use your measurement to choose a helmet with an appropriate adjustable fit range. Many helmets come with adjustable straps and dials to fine-tune the fit, so you can make sure it’s secure and comfortable as your child grows.

How do I choose a bike helmet for my toddler?

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best bike helmet for your baby or toddler. As a minimum, be sure that the helmet has been rigorously tested and meets UK safety standards (more on these below). All the helmets recommended here, and sold by bike shops and major retailers, will meet these standards.

Measure your toddler’s head to find the correct size, and look for a helmet with adjustable straps and a fit system (like a dial or cradle) to customise the fit. Prioritise helmets that offer good ventilation to keep their head cool, and a light weight. 

You also might want to find a fun and colourful design that appeals to them, to encourage them to wear it regularly.

How much should I spend on a bike helmet for a baby or toddler?

How much you spend on your child’s helmet will depend on several factors, like materials and technology used, adjustability, different design options, and overall weight. The options we’ve listed here range from £14.99 to £44.99, and all the helmets we recommend are of good quality and meet the minimum safety requirements.

If you can spend more, then for the higher price you’ll get more advanced protection technology like MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System), along with other details that make the helmet more comfortable to wear, like magnetic buckles.

What is MIPS technology and does my child need it?

MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. It’s an advanced safety technology designed to reduce rotational forces on the brain during angled impacts. In other words, it helps protect the brain from twisting injuries during a crash by allowing the helmet to move slightly on impact, absorbing some of the force.

It does this by adding an extra layer inside the helmet that allows the outer shell to move slightly during a crash, providing additional protection. While MIPS isn’t essential, it does offer enhanced safety, so some parents prefer to have it included in their children’s helmets. MIPS does add more to the price tag, though. If there’s room in your budget, opting for a helmet with MIPS can provide extra peace of mind around your child’s safety, but a cheaper helmet without MIPS will still provide adequate protection and will have passed numerous safety tests. For more on this topic, take a look at our article, does my child need MIPS in their helmet?

What are all the different bike helmet safety standards?

In the UK, bike helmets must comply with the EN 1078 safety standard as a minimum. There are other standards and testing that can be carried out by some brands, and we’ve written a full guide to the safety standards to look out for when buying a kids’ bike helmet.

Should my baby or toddler wear a full face helmet?

No, we don’t recommend putting a full face helmet on a baby or toddler. They are far too heavy for their little necks to support, and not designed for such young children. It’s better to opt for a helmet that’s purpose built for a baby or toddler, and designed to be comfortable for them to wear, than to give them something very large and heavy, no matter how protective it may seem.

We’ve got an article on this that explains the risk, so read this if you want some more detail: does my child need a full face helmet when cycling?

Other articles you might be interested in:

• Cycling with babies and toddlers: everything you need to get started
• How to start cycling with a small child in a bike seat, cargo bike or trailer
• Best balance bikes
• The best bike for a 1 year old toddler
• Carrying kids by bike questionnaire
• 7 ways to cycle with a young child, toddler or baby
• Does my child need stabilisers?
• The best rear bike seats for toddlers and small children
• The best front bike seats for toddlers and young children