Choosing the right motorcycle equipment for a child should be taken as seriously as possible, and a good quality motorcycle helmet is extremely important. Safety certification is an important feature of all helmets, but in the case of children's helmets it is a priority. Of course, it is the most important thing, but not the only one.
We should also choose a helmet according to the type of vehicle the child will be riding - another will be for off-road riding, another for a road motorcycle.
Riding a motorcycle is great and positive fun for your kids. But parents should also be aware that this form of leisure activity also carries the risk of injury, especially when the child is just beginning to learn to ride. Children are full of energy and do not always understand the concept of safety, their coordination is not yet developed enough to be careful.
Even the most expensive helmet will not ensure 100% safety for the child, but it will significantly minimize the risk of serious health consequences from an unfortunate fall from a motorcycle. In addition, the helmet protects against wind, rain, insects, sunlight and small stones flying out from under the wheels. And with its colorful design and interesting prints, it makes the helmet a child's favorite accessory.
Children's motorcycle helmets are usually integral and open helmets, these are considered the safest designs. They work well for longer trips and faster riding. The only openable elements in them are the visor and ventilation intakes. As with adult helmets, we select it according to the motorcycle discipline practiced.
The design of a children's motorcycle helmet repeats the features of adult models. The helmet should be lightweight and should not cause discomfort or discomfort. That's why most manufacturers of motorcycle helmets for children prefer to use two-layer impact-resistant plastic. The shell is made of high-tech plastic or composite materials, and underneath it is a layer of shock-absorbing foam, which effectively distributes the impact energy over the entire surface and dissipates it. The liner is made of hypoallergenic, pleasant to the touch materials that do not cause irritation and are easy to keep clean.
Ideally, the shell should be made of fiberglass, but in practice all helmets for children are made of polycarbonate. This material is durable and works well for ventilation and aerodynamic shapes. Manufacturers assume that children do not develop as much speed to make the helmets as armored as those protecting the heads of, for example, adult motorcycle racers. This also allows them to be lighter, and this is very important for a child's health.
Children grow, and a helmet that is good today may already be too small tomorrow. To serve its purpose, it must be perfectly fitted. Therefore, it is a very bad idea to buy a helmet ''to spare''.
A helmet that is too small will cause pressure on the head and discomfort, while a helmet that is too large will slide on the head and limit the child's visibility. It may fall off and fail to protect the head from injury.
As a rule, children's helmets come in two basic sizes:
However, always consult the size chart provided by the manufacturer.
Before buying a helmet, also check whether it is possible to adjust the size of the helmet within certain limits. Children's models are often made with a large shell and thicker foam inserts for a comfortable fit. The process should be easy for a child to manage on his own.
To choose the right size, measure the circumference of the child's head just above the eyebrows and choose a size that coincides with the result. However, it is important to remember that not every helmet fits every head shape, and you can be sure that the helmet is properly sized only by trying it on.
After an impact, your child's helmet should be immediately replaced with a new one, as even the most expensive and best quality product only provides protection against one impact. For the same reason, it is important to buy motorcycle helmets for children only from specialized stores and not buy them second-hand. You are never 100% guaranteed that it has not been mechanically damaged by a previous user. Even if there is no visible damage to the shell, microcracks can appear in it, and the helmet will no longer fulfill its protective function.
Consider only motorcycle helmets for children that have ECE 22.05 or ECE 22.06 safety markings.