Helmet in trailer?

[tjkirn]

Hi All -
I take my 2 year old daughter on frequent trips around the neighborhood and on some lightly traveled roads (35 mph speed limit) in either her trailer or her rack mounted kiddie seat(15 miles max). In the kiddie seat she is very comfortable wearing her helmet (which she always does). In the trailer, however, the back of the seat pushes her helmet forward over her eyes making making for a less than ideal ride. We tend to travel longer distances in the trailer though and may hit that are more heavily traveled more frequently as a result. I have been letting her ride in the trailer without a helmet to make her more comfortable. Bad idea? My feeling is that she is strapped into the trailer with 5 point harness, close to the ground and will not hit the pavement even if I do in the trailer so it is much safer. Any opinions or fixes for the trailer (cut a "helmet hole")? What does everyone else do?
Thanx.

[green814]

Both my boys (turn 5 in July) wear a helmet in the trailers. Not sure what to suggest about the helmet being pushed forward though.

Good luck,
Chris

[rugerben]

Even if there is not much likelyhood of anything happening to them even if you go down, it's not a bad idea to train them that bike=helmet wearing. Good association to have.

[green814]

Even if there is not much likelyhood of anything happening to them even if you go down, it's not a bad idea to train them that bike=helmet wearing. Good association to have.

The other day my wife asked why I had our helmets out when we were just going around the block. I figure it just shows they should were them at all times since mom & dad were their helmets all the time.

Chris

[DieselDan]

Fold a towel and put it behind her back to set her forward.

[forensicchemist]

I had a burley and had the same problem.....never did solve it. However, keep the helmet on your child. Buddy of mine was riding with his son, hit a curb, the trailer roller over...even though it had "roll-bar" to protect his kid, due to the way he was laying across the curb, (upside down mind you) Jr's head was on the curb......luckily Jr. had his helmet on, so it was no big deal......except for scarring daddy to death.

[st0ut]

my familiy rules...
no helmet no bike.

kids always know where there helmets are now.

[mtcougar832]

Mine always wear a helmet. Bike = helmet. I use a folded up towel or small blanket behind the youngest to prop him forward.

[cjn]

I use an old pillow. One of those memory foam types.

[Angy]

I agree on wearing the helmet! The trailers are possible to flip and she can hit her head on the ground or bars no matter how tight she is in. Try the towel suggestion and see what you get. Our kids always wore their helmets, but we had two in there, so it kept them from smaking heads and hurting each other.

[zonatandem]

Helmet!

[merlin55]

kids under 18 on bicycles or in bicycle trailers are required by law in California to wear an approved helmet, FYI

[masiman]

I will be the outlyer :).

I don't make them wear helmets in the trailer. On the bike yes, but they don't have to in the trailer (i.e. I don't think they ever have).

[Phantoj]

I don't think a helmet is needed in a trailer...

But my kids wore 'em when they rode. Really little kids - 1-2 yrs might have issues with the helmet getting pushed down over their eyes. Ours did.

One reason my kids wore helmets in the trailer was to train them that bike ride = helmet. Another reason is that I rode pretty fast with them in the trailer. I flipped the trailer on its side twice. Once, I took a turn too sharp. A second time I clipped a pole.

Most folks I see with bike trailers are riding really slowly. A helmet is probably less needed at those speeds.

On a really hot ride, I let my son take his helmet off.

[Pathfinder1]

I am very new to the boards, but hae been riding with my wife & 2 year old daughter for some time. We just don't buckle the shoulder harness. Use the lap belt, that way your daughter isn't held back agianst the seat back & can sit at her compfort level & not have the helmet in her face. Our daughter used to cry & scream till we stopped using the shoulder straps, now she wants to wear her helmat & she has more freedom to look around & enjoy HER ride & still be "strapped in".

Pathfinder

[Pathfinder1]

I had a burley and had the same problem.....never did solve it. However, keep the helmet on your child. Buddy of mine was riding with his son, hit a curb, the trailer roller over...even though it had "roll-bar" to protect his kid, due to the way he was laying across the curb, (upside down mind you) Jr's head was on the curb......luckily Jr. had his helmet on, so it was no big deal......except for scarring daddy to death.


Sounds like daddy, should be more aware of the fact that he is pulling a trailer when he comes upon such obsticals... Hate to see how he drives a car while pulling a trailer... :eek:

[bab2000]

In the trailer, however, the back of the seat pushes her helmet forward over her eyes making making for a less than ideal ride.

Flared desinged bike helmets will do this (with duck tail type design).

You could use a BMX stlye helmet (http://www.bellhelmets.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=913), same as kids rollerblading may use. The round back is shaped more as their head and should provide better comfort. Also may provide more function for other activities.

[Zephyr11]

Flared desinged bike helmets will do this (with duck tail type design).

You could use a BMX stlye helmet (http://www.bellhelmets.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=913), same as kids rollerblading may use. The round back is shaped more as their head and should provide better comfort. Also may provide more function for other activities.

I was JUST going to suggest that. When I was first learning to ride a bike, my parents got me a skate helmet, because normal bike helmets slid around on my head too much. They don't move nearly as much as normal helmets, and your daughter will probably be just fine with her head against the back of the trailer.

And if worse comes to worse, there's always a full-face. That thing won't go anywhere. :lol:

[GV27]

I say helmet because I managed to flip a trailer once! Just took a turn too fast. My son was wearing one of those helmets as linked to above.