The Best Toddler Bike Helmets: Tested and Reviewed

We’ve tested over 70 helmets firsthand to find the best toddler bike helmet. From family rides in bike trailers and child bike seats to cruising on balance bikes, our own pack of little testers has logged countless miles.

We know that toddlers can be particular about their helmets, but getting them into the habit of wearing one is crucial for their safety. That’s why we’ve ensured that the helmets on our list not only provide top-notch protection and a great fit but also prioritize comfort for your little ones.

Most of these helmets are CPSC certified for ages 1+, offering extra protection along the back of the head. If your toddler has a larger head, check out our Best Bike Helmets for Kids for more size options.

Additional Recommendations

1. woom READY, $89 – Best Overall (46 – 57cm)
2. Kali Chakra Child, $40 – Quality budget for taller heads (44-50cm)
3. Joovy Noodle, $35 – Budget option for larger/wider heads (47-52cm)
4. Schwinn Classic – $35 – Budget option for tiny heads (44-50cm)

Specialty Helmets

1. Ozmo Sidekick, $99 – The ONLY kids helmet certified for ebikes (44-53cm)
2. Kali Maya Full Face, $155 – Full face protection with removable chin bar (50-54cm)
3. Unit 1 Sparky, $120 – Large LED Flashing light for high visibility, Smart Chip ID (49-53cm)

SAFETY TIP: When choosing a helmet for your toddler, stick with trusted brands. Many “no-name” helmets sold online may look safe but often lack proper certification and have been recalled for failing safety standards. For peace of mind, check our Recall List to stay informed about unsafe helmets.

TODDLER BIKE HELMETS MINI-REVIEWS

What We Love About the Scamp

Built with high-quality, in-mold construction, a dial-adjust system, and optional MIPS technology (to help minimize impacts at sharp angles), the Scamp has an impressive resume. MIPS helmets can be expensive, but the added brain safety technology offers parents additional peace of mind.

Throughout the years, our testers have loved wearing the Scamp because it’s so lightweight, comfortable, and less bulky than every other helmet. And with a flatter profile in the back, the Scamp is well-suited for trailer or bike seat use, in addition to bikes. It also now features a cool ratcheting buckle that makes accidentally pinching the neck skin near to impossible.

The recently updated Giro Scamp II offers a bit more coverage on the sides and back of the helmet, but is still one of the shallower toddler bike helmets on the market. So if your toddler has a taller head, the Scamp may not be a good fit.

What We Love About the Retrospec Scout

The Retrospec Scout delivers impressive value for a budget-friendly kids’ helmet. Available in a wide range of fun colors and in two sizes, Toddler (45–49 cm) and Kids (50–53 cm), there are a lot of options to find a great helmet for your little one.

Unlike many helmets in its price range, the Scout includes a reliable rear dial adjuster and sealed athletic-style padding that stays comfortable while helping wick sweat away on warm rides. With 14 vents, it also provides generous airflow to keep little heads cool.

The only caveat is fit: the Scout runs narrower than other entry-level helmets like the Joovy Noodle. If your child has a rounder or wider head shape, it may not be the best match. Otherwise, the Scout is a standout pick for safety, comfort, and affordability.

What We Love About the Thousand Jr. Toddler

While this Thousand Jr. toddler helmet looks similar to its big brother Thousand Jr. kids helmet (49 – 53 cm), there are a few significant differences that make it particularly suited for the youngest of riders in a biking family.

First, it’s sized smaller to provide a best fit for 1 – 3 year olds with average sized heads. Second, it is significantly lighter – just 220 grams vs. 390 grams, which will be much easier for a young toddler’s neck strength to manage.

And third, a huge part of what makes this helmet lighter is that it has in-mold construction vs. the skateboard hardshell styling. This causes the toddler helmet to look a bit more babyish compared to the larger kids version, but it makes sense for the young riders it’s intended for. It’s also not dual-certified for skateboard use.

Overall, the quality is fantastic and if you’re looking for a slightly cheaper alternative to the Giro Scamp (no MIPS), the Thousand Jr. Toddler helmet is an excellent option.

What We Love About the woom Helmet

The woom READY helmet stands out for its exceptional fit and ease of use, making it one of the best kids’ helmets we’ve ever tested. Unlike many helmets that require constant adjusting, the READY’s carefully designed shape naturally contours to a child’s head, minimizing movement and maximizing protection.

The fixed ear straps eliminate one of the most frustrating fit issues parents face, while its unique magnetic buckle allows kids to fasten and unfasten the helmet with ease—no pinched skin or tricky clasps. The extended coverage, especially around the back and sides, ensures the helmet stays properly positioned, offering superior protection without constant readjustments.

Beyond fit, the woom READY excels in comfort and durability. The 12 large air vents and internal air channels keep kids cool, while the lightweight EPP foam visor provides added face protection without adding bulk.

Unlike traditional foam, the EPP material resists dents and bounces back after compression, keeping the helmet looking newer for longer. Plus, the optional LED light is a great addition for increased visibility. From its smart safety features to its hassle-free design, the woom READY truly makes helmet-wearing easier for both kids and parents.

What We Love About the Chakra Child

With a compact, lightweight design, easy dial-adjust system, excellent ventilation, and a built-in visor, the Kali Chakra helmet is a kid and parent favorite. Ventilation on the child’s Chakra is superb – twenty-one large vents allow for excellent air flow. At 245 grams, it’s also one of the lightest-weight helmets we’ve tested! 

The XS Kali Chakra is the smallest bike helmets we’ve found. While our highly-recommended Giro Scamp fits heads as small as 45 cm, the XS Kali is smaller, more narrow, and fits heads about 44 cm.

Compared to the Retrospec Scout, the Kali Chakra is also a bit taller, so it may be a better fit for kids with taller heads.

To top it off, all Kali helmets come with a crash replacement guarantee.  If a Kali helmet is damaged during a crash, Kali will swap out your damaged helmet for a new one.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON SIZING: The Kali Chakra Child comes in two sizes – XS and S. Through our testing we found the small sizing to be inaccurate. Although the small is labeled as 48 cm – 54 cm, it was too big for our testers with heads smaller than 51 cm.

What We Love About the Joovy Noodle

The Joovy Noodle was designed specifically with the youngest kids in mind. Its light weight makes it is easy for a toddler to wear and still be able to control their neck and head movements. With the chin straps threaded through the back dial-adjust, the Noodle is more stable on smaller heads, and the separated straps also make the helmet much easier to get on.

The dual color chin buckle (black on the left, red on the right) makes the buckle easier to spot and get on and off a moving toddler. And its internal pad system is incredibly high quality – one of the best we’ve seen!

What We Love About the Schwinn

The Schwinn Infant and Schwinn Toddler bike helmets come in several super fun designs. While the quality is very basic compared to others on this list, it’s better than a helmet you’ll just pick up at Walmart.

We appreciate that there’s a dial-adjust tightening system, which is very hard to find at this price point. However, keep in mind that with any cheap helmet, adjusting it for a proper fit can be challenging. The side straps on these Schwinn helmets are hard to get “just right”. You’ll need to be vigilant about making sure everything is adjusted properly.

We also found that this helmet is deeper than many other helmets, which is great for kids with taller heads. However, if your child has an average to short forehead, the helmet may sit too low on the head and interfere with their full range of vision.

SPECIALTY BIKE HELMETS MINI-REVIEWS

What We Love About the Ozmo Sidekick

The Ozmo Sidekick stands out as the only NTA-8776-certified eBike helmet designed specifically for kids, offering an extra layer of protection for toddlers riding at higher speeds on the back of their parents’ eBikes.

With its thicker shell, extended coverage, and built-in MIPS technology, it provides more impact protection than a standard CPSC-certified helmet. If you regularly ride an eBike with your child, the Sidekick is one of the safest helmet options available.

Beyond its high safety standards, the Ozmo Sidekick also includes kid-friendly features that make it both comfortable and easy to use. The adjustable rear dial, locking ear straps, and star-shaped adjustment knob help ensure a secure fit, while thoughtful extras like damage defense shock absorbers, a built-in visor, and ventilation channels enhance durability and comfort.

While it is heavier than a standard toddler helmet due to its added protection, it remains a top choice for families prioritizing safety on eBikes.

What We Love About the Kali Maya Child Helmet

Whether your child is riding with more speed, hitting technical trails, or just needs a little extra face protection, the Kali Maya Full Face helmet is a top pick. With its removable chin bar, the Maya easily converts from a full-face helmet to a standard bike helmet—giving you two helmets in one. Unlike most full-face designs, the Maya is actually built with younger riders in mind, offering a significantly lighter and more comfortable fit than typical full-face helmets.

To help protect growing brains, the Maya includes Kali’s Quad Core LDL (Low Density Layer), a proprietary safety system aimed at minimizing both rotational and low-speed impacts. Designed to serve a similar function as MIPS, Kali claims LDL can reduce rotational forces by up to 25% and low-G linear forces by up to 30%, offering an extra layer of concussion protection for your child.

Why We Love the Unit 1 Sparky

If keeping your child visible is a top priority, the Unit 1 Sparky stands out from the crowd. With a large LED panel on the back offering 45 different color and pattern combinations, this helmet turns heads while helping your child stay safe. During our test rides, kids had fun switching between light settings, while parents appreciated the added peace of mind provided by the increase in visibility.

Another feature that sets the Sparky further apart is its built in Safety ID tag. If scanned with a smartphone, this tag displays emergency contact details, a thoughtful addition in case of an accident or if the helmet gets misplaced.

To top it off, the Sparky offers optional silicone accessories that add playful and fun styling for kids, making safety feel more like play than obligation.

OTHER POPULAR TODDLER HELMETS

Here’s our take on several other very popular bike helmets for young ones. Just remember… the most popular brands don’t always make the best helmets.

What We Love About the Thousand Kids Jr.

If safety and style are equally important to you, the Thousand Jr. helmet is a perfect match. And speaking of matching… Thousand offers matching kids bike bells as well as adult helmets with the same styling. Matchy matchy all around!

While the retro-cool vibe is certainly the standout feature of these adorable little head buckets, the Thousand Jr. is also one of the highest-quality toddler helmets you’ll find. With durable straps and a rugged outer shell, the Thousand Jr. is built to last the long-haul.

As an added bonus, this is one of very few toddler helmets that is dual-certified for biking and skateboarding. It’s also the only dual-certified helmet that we know of to feature an integrated visor for maximum facial protection in the event of a crash.

What We Love About the Tremor Child

The lightweight Giro Tremor is now available in a smaller size! Designed to fit the smaller heads of tiny shredders, the Giro Tremor Child has a 47 – 54 cm head circumference range, and is more narrow and a bit less bulky than its big brother.

With a size range that overlaps the Giro Scamp Small (49 – 53 cm), which one should you choose? Besides the obvious styling difference, the Tremor Child’s interior is slightly deeper and wider than the Scamp. If your child has a taller head or wider head, the Tremor Child would be a better choice.

We’ve found the Tremor Child to be a bit bulky in the rear on petite kids with heads 50 cm and smaller. While its still safe to wear, if you’d like a less-bulky alternative with mountain bike styling, check out the Smith Wilder Jr. Additionally, the Tremor Child’s dial adjust knob is difficult to access to tighten against your child’s head.

What We Love About the Bell Sidetrack 2

Styled like an adult mountain bike helmet, the Sidetrack is a sweet-looking safety accessory that’s packed with features for a very decent price. From extended coverage in the back for better protection, to a dial-adjust system with a full cage for a more precise fit, the Bell Sidetrack II is comfortable, durable, and just plain cool for your toddler.

What to Look for in a Toddler Bike Helmet

For a more detailed discussion about how to choose and fit the perfect bike helmet, check out our post: Kids’ Bike Helmets: Sizes Guide and How to Choose. If you’re looking for something quick, here’s a short summary of the most important things to look for to find the best helmet for babies and toddlers, who have some unique needs from older children.

CPSC Certification: 1+ vs. 5+

All bike helmets sold in the US must have CPSC certification that tests for safety. When shopping for a bike helmet for young toddlers, you’ll come across two types of CPSC certification:

• Bicycle Helmets for Persons Age 1 and Older (Extended Head Coverage)
• Bicycle Helmets for Persons Age 5 and Older

The key difference? CPSC 1+ helmets provide additional coverage at the back of the head to better protect younger children’s developing neck muscles.

Since this certification is designed for toddlers, CPSC 1+ helmets are only available in smaller sizes. For example:

• The Thousand Jr. Toddler helmet (45-49 cm) is CPSC 1+ certified.
• The woom READY helmet is CPSC 1+ certified in XS (45-49 cm) and S (49-53 cm) but CPSC 5+ certified in M (53-57 cm).

If your child is under five but has a head circumference larger than 53 cm (which is quite common), you may need to buy a CPSC 5+ helmet instead. This is perfectly safe, and you should not hesitate to do so.

If you want extended coverage in a larger size, the woom READY helmet in size M (CPSC 5+) offers more rear and side protection than most standard CPSC 5+ helmets, making it a great alternative.

Helmet Size – Measure before you buy!

Your cargo is precious, and if that helmet doesn’t fit, it can’t protect your little one! Tiny bike helmets can especially be hard because there are only a few that are small enough to fit tiny toddlers. The Giro Scamp and Kali Chakra XS bike helmets are two of the smallest helmets on the market.

You can measure your child’s head with a soft tape measure, or we prefer to use the measurements provided by the pediatrician at our regular check-ups. Find a helmet with a size range (for example 45 – 50 cm) that your child’s head circumference falls into.

Whichever helmet you choose, just make sure that it’s a snug fit on the head. No biking activity you want to do is worth risking your child’s safety!

Head shape note: Your child’s head shape is unique to them. Most bike helmets have interior shapes that will fit most babies’ and toddlers’ head shapes. If your child has a wider head than most, you may need to buy a larger helmet than their official head circumference would dictate.

Weight – Lighter the better

The lighter the helmet the better. Babies and young toddlers have weaker neck muscles and it can be difficult for them to support the additional weight of a helmet if it’s too heavy. If you’re looking for a full face helmet for a toddler, they are extremely heavy. The Strider Full Face helmet is a good, lighter weight option.

Flat Back – Best for riding in trailers or seats

If you’re looking for a bike helmet so you can take your little one along for a bike ride in a trailer or child bike seat, look for a helmet with a flat back so their head doesn’t get pushed forward as they lean back against the trailer or child bike seat.

Adjustability – Dial in a great fit

Adjusting a helmet for the right fit can be a serious pain for a toddler. The best helmets have a dial-adjust on the back that allows you to tighten the inner portion of the helmet for a snug fit. But even the best dial-adjust systems can be a pain because they can be hard to turn while your fidgeting toddler is wearing the helmet.

Built-In Visor

Kids of any age can crash on a bike, but we’ve found that toddlers on balance bikes tend to crash the most. And these crashes are often face plants.

Built-in visors have saved our kids’ faces on several occasions as they help prevent a child’s nose and mouth from hitting the ground.

Buckle – Pinch free is best!

Most helmets come with standard buckles that can pinch a child’s neck when buckling or un-buckling. Have you ever pinched your child’s neck skin with a helmet buckle? It’s awful!

Higher-end helmets now feature magnetic or ratcheting “pinch-free” buckles that decrease the possibility of getting neck skin stuck in the buckle. Of course this isn’t a must-have, but it’s a really nice nice-to-have!

MIPS – Multi-directional Impact Protection System

MIPS is a newer technology that adds an additional layer of safety to a helmet. Unfortunately, there are not many toddler bike helmets that offer MIPS technology. While MIPS can be pretty expensive, the Giro Scamp II is our favorite, smallest option that does offer MIPS.

In a nutshell, MIPS is an inner plastic cage secured by small plastic anchors. If an impact occurs, this cage rotates with your child’s head to provide better multi-directional impact protection.

Some helmet brands now offer MIPS-style technology of their own, like KinetiCore from Lazer.

 Related Toddler Bike Helmet Articles

Kids Bike Helmet Sizes Guide: 6 Easy Steps to help you find and adjust a bike helmet

The Best Kids’ Helmets: Need a bigger size? Try our list for Kids.

Fun Kids Bike Accessories and Protective Gear: A list of 22 fun accessories for your kid’s bike!