Toddler vs. Helmet

[girljen]

I have a 13-month-old. She loves riding in the bike trailer. She hates her helmet. I think the fit may be part of the problem; it's just a little too big for her. It's a Bell toddler helmet:

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q284/girljen_bucket/Liz12mos002.jpg

Those of you with helmeted, trailer-riding infants or small toddlers, what helmets do you use? Do you have any tricks for getting little ones accustomed to the helmet?

[wayne_imhoff]

Do you have any tricks for getting little ones accustomed to the helmet?

DUCT TAPE!!!!


Bell makes an infant helmet(Walmart?)... both my kids fought the helmets, but eventually got used to them.

[Mook]

I think that it may honestly be the fit of the helmet. My Olivia is 14 months old and we ride EVERYDAY. I bought her the Giro Toddler helmet from Nashbar (www.nasbar.com (http://www.nasbar.com)). Took some adjusting, but she wears it fine.

It's size adjustable in the back similar to a construction hardhat. She even sleeps in it!!

[Michel Gagnon]

Fit might be a problem.

I also started both my daughters in the spring in relatively cool weather and didn't tighten the straps too much so it was just part of the normal dressing up: wear a coat, wear boots, wear gloves, wear a hat...

[HardyWeinberg]

A local hospital here does helmet fittings and sales for babies/toddlers/kids, would be worth looking around for a similar program where you are. I got an infant helmet from them when my girl was close to 12 months and then the toddler one she wears now at 3.5. The second one, w/ better fitting foam pads, was the one she didn't constantly remove on our outings. I never felt toooo bad about her taking off the helmet in the trailer. Would rather have it on her but... anyway she keeps it on now.

My son, I made a collosal immediately identifiable mistake when I pinched his chin in the clip. I only ever got him over that by taking him around to LBSes, finding him a new helmet w/ a pad that goes between the clip and his chin and letting him shop for it himself, bring it to the shop guy and have the shop guy fit it to him. No problems since w/ him.

[HumbleGrendel]

First, I'm assuming that you are wearing a helmet. Monkey see, monkey do. If heat isn't an issue, how about putting a thin cap on beneath the helmet?

[atbman]

I was about to say, "Toddler every time, they're much squishier and softer, but the vents could do with enlarging".

[codypuppy]

My son started in the trailer at 10 1/2 months. He hated the helmet. My wife and I would have him wear the helmet for short periods (less than 10 seconds at times). When he kept it on we would praise him and say how handsome he looked. Now when he rides his scooter/bike/trailer he is looking fo his helmet...

[gonediesel]

I'd say it might be fit. My 22mo old daughter doesn't mind the her infant Giro bike helmet. But I recently scored an awesome deal on a climbing helmet for her and she will not wear it. i need to play around with the climbing helmet to see it there is anything i can do to make it more comfortable. otherwise i will have to put it on the shelf until she is a little older. as for getting the child to wear the helmet, we would put it on at home and let her play with it on. She got used to it so when it came time to ride it was something she was already used to. We do the same with sunglasses, skis, camelpack, climbing harness or any other gear so that when the time comes to use it she isn't screwing around playing with the gear and not paying attention to what we are doing. So far it seems to work. and yes initially you may have to wear your helmet around the house to. she is conditioned so well that she will grab her helmet and bring it to me when she wants to ride bike.

[MrBri]

I was about to say, "Toddler every time, they're much squishier and softer, but the vents could do with enlarging".

You beat me to it. I was going to say to go with the helmet as the toddlers keep falling off my head when start moving.

[Gavush]

I just picked up one of the giro ME2 helmets from nashbar for our 16 month old as it was closest to her head size (18.5, helmet rated down to 18.75) - she wore it for about 10 minutes today until she was really upset with it. Problem seems to be when she leans back in the bike trailer it pushes the helmet forward on her head and the strap tighter on her neck. Maybe with a little more attention to the fit we can slowly work on 10 minutes, then maybe 12, then go for 15... not sure how to solve it getting pushed forward when she sits back in the trailer though. Both the Mrs and I were wearing helmets as well - she did feel better about hers after we got ours on and patted each other and then her on the head.

[masiman]

....Problem seems to be when she leans back in the bike trailer it pushes the helmet forward on her head and the strap tighter on her neck. Maybe with a little more attention to the fit we can slowly work on 10 minutes, then maybe 12, then go for 15... not sure how to solve it getting pushed forward when she sits back in the trailer though. Both the Mrs and I were wearing helmets as well - she did feel better about hers after we got ours on and patted each other and then her on the head.

Pillow, towel, etc. behind the neck will help keep pressure off the helmet.

[xeney]

My husband took our daughter on her first road (as opposed to bike trail) ride yesterday, in commute traffic no less, so she had to wear a helmet. It turned out to be a complete non-issue. He removed the infant headrest from the Chariot to make room for the helmet, we put it on her, we distracted her with Cheerios and her Sansa Shaker MP3 player, and off they went. She was fine and never fussed with the helmet at all.

That MP3 player is the best thing you can buy if you are putting a kid in a bike trailer, by the way. They can hold it, it has a little mono speaker so it works without headphones and isn't loud enough to distract the adult on the bike, it is very hard to break, and babies and little kids love it. It's for kids 8-up but I know several parents of toddlers who have one, and its best use is the bike trailer.

[DallasSoxFan]

I just picked up one of the giro ME2 helmets from nashbar for our 16 month old as it was closest to her head size (18.5, helmet rated down to 18.75) - she wore it for about 10 minutes today until she was really upset with it. Problem seems to be when she leans back in the bike trailer it pushes the helmet forward on her head and the strap tighter on her neck. Maybe with a little more attention to the fit we can slowly work on 10 minutes, then maybe 12, then go for 15... not sure how to solve it getting pushed forward when she sits back in the trailer though. Both the Mrs and I were wearing helmets as well - she did feel better about hers after we got ours on and patted each other and then her on the head.

Caution on the ME2 - don't let them play with it when not wearing it. The webbing is held together by the glued felt which is velcroed to the helmet. This comes apart way too easily. Very poor design IMO.