Infant Helmets

We’ve had many parents asking us for infant helmets this summer and with an infant of our own in the family, we know how hard it is to find one for those little guys!

The good news/bad news is this:

GOOD NEWS!  The smallest helmet we have found for infants and toddlers is for heads starting at 18 inches in circumference.  Tikes Bikes sells Little Nutty Helmets that adjust for head sizes from 18 inches to 20.5 inches  or 46 – 52 centimeters.   This allows you to use the helmet for several years as your child grows.  Additionally, Oregonians will be happy to know that Little Nutty Helmets are made by Nutcase Helmets, a Portland company. 

BAD NEWS… Many infant heads are smaller than 18 inches!  Our little peanut’s head is a mere 41 centimeters making it impossible for him to wear a helmet safely.  In fact, the reason manufacturers may not make helmets that small might be because injury prevention specialists and doctors do not recommend that children under 1 ride in a trailer, child seat or sidecar.

We know people all over the world take their infants and toddlers on two-wheeled transportation so we’ll keep looking for peanut sized helmets but until then, if you have a child that fits into a Little Nutty Helmet – we highly recommend them!

For another view on infants and bikes, check out BikePortland.org.

Tikes Bikes Sells Little Nutty Helmets!

One of our primary focuses at Tikes Bikes is outdoor play safety.  We believe every child should be wearing a helmet when playing on any toy with wheels.  If you institute and enforce the rule when your kids are young, such as soon as they get their first ride-on toy, it becomes second nature to kids.

We’re excited to sell Little Nutty Helmets - they are the most unique, modern kid’s helmets on the market.  The helmets have a Spin Dial Fit System to ensure a proper fit.  Helmet size range fits children’s heads from 18″-20.5″ and each helmet has a fabric chin strap for comfort.   For proper helmet fit to ensure your child’s safety, print the Little Nutty Helmet fit guide.

Little Nutty helmets comply with US CPSC Bicycle Helmet Safety Standards for persons age 3 and older.  All helmets are glossy finish except for Urban Caution and Flower Power which are finished with matte.

Tikes Bikes carries all the Little Nutty Helmet designs – find one to protect your kiddo’s precious noggin!

Bike Helmet Safety

About 40,000 kids suffer SERIOUS bike-related head injuries each year – and 200+ die. The good news is that a bicycle helmet ( fitted properly ) can save your child’s life and reduce their risk of head injury by 88%!

When choosing a helmet for your child, look for a label that says ‘CPSC’. That means it meets the standards set by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. ALL helmets sold by Tikes Bikes meet this standard.

Make sure the helmet fits properly by trying it on your child. It should be snug, cover the forehead and should only move from front to back or side to side a little. Use the padding and straps to adjust the helmet until it meets this criteria. Each child and adult should have their own bike helmet.

Here’s a checklist from the Bike Helmet Safety Institute to see if the bike helmet fits well:

• Level – The helmet should be level on the rider’s head.
• Rim barely visible – The front rim should be barely visible to the rider’s eye
• Y below the ear – The Y of the side straps should meet just below the ear
• Snug strap – The chin strap should be snug against the chin so that when the rider opens their mouth very wide the helmet pulls down a little bit.
• Skin moves a little – Move the helmet side to side and front to back, watching the skin around the rider’s eyebrows. It should move slightly with the helmet. If it does not, the fit pads are probably too thin in front or back, or the helmet may even be too large.
• Stabilizer snug – If there is a rear stabilizer, adjust it until it is snug under the bulge on the rear of the head.
• Palm test – Have the rider put their palm on the front of the helmet and push up and back. If it moves more than an inch more fitting is required.
• Shake test – Have the rider shake their head around. This can be fun. If the helmet gets dislodged, work on the strap adjustments.
• Ask about comfort – Ask the rider if the helmet is comfortable and check to make sure there are no comfort issues that still need to be addressed.
• Be ready to switch – Not all helmets fit all heads. Be prepared to use a different helmet if the one you are fitting just will not work for this rider.

Children are, at first, resistant to wearing a bike helmet but if you make it REQUIRED for riding bikes, it will become second nature to them. Set a good example by always wearing your own bike helmet.