How To Choose The Right Helmet And Pads For Your Child

Witnessing your child glide across the skating rink with utmost ease or seeing them race down the sidewalk on a bike is indeed a proud and joyful experience.

However, this excitement can crumble into disappointment and anxiety, if the children are naturally curious and adventurous without a safety gear set.

R for Rabbit necessitates the importance of safety gear, which includes helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards. This further becomes more than just an accessory to shield your little ones during accidental falls.

Such accidents could happen due to mismanaged coordination and reaction times by the children due to their still-developing stages.

Why Proper Fit And Safety Standards Matter?

The safety gears are not to be chosen by keeping the growing child in mind, but by ensuring a perfect fit according to their present age. This could further prevent discomfort, distractions, and accidents in children.

It is also crucial to choose the equipment that offers a perfect fit for your child’s current size, meets the safety standards, namely CPSC or ASTM, and offers comfort and adjustability simultaneously.

All this would further encourage the children to wear this mandatory safety gear before brisking off on an adventurous outing.

This post covers everything you need to know about the right safety gear for your child, the process of selecting them, including the features that could make the kids more comfortable and child friendly.

Why Proper Safety Gear Matters

Children are born curious explorers who are fearless, bold, and full of momentum, failing to scale the potential danger of their actions.

Hence, while minor scrapes and bruises are a part of growing up, they ought to be made aware of the more serious injuries that could happen without the right protection.

Statistics On Child Injuries From Falls Or Crashes

It is estimated that almost 2,00,000 children under the age of 14 are treated in emergency rooms each year in the U.S alone, where head injuries account for the major share.

It must also be remembered that even a mild head trauma could have long-term effects on learning, memory, and development, if not treated efficiently.

Also, according to the CDC, the use of helmets reduces the risk of head injury by at least 45% and brain injury by almost 33% in children. The major injuries are mostly caused by biking, skating, or scootering, without safety gear, of course!

Helmets And Pads: Not Just Accessories, But Lifesavers

The role of proper safety gear is not just to soften the blow during accidents, but to redirect and absorb its grave impact that could otherwise harm the delicate joints or the skull of the children.

Let us now understand how each safety gear works as a shield for children’s safety and protection.

Imagine a child, geared up with properly fitted safety wear, riding a bicycle on uneven terrain for their adventure. Now, if they end up falling due to imbalance; in such cases, the role of safety gear is more than just short-term protection.

Helmets: It protects the child’s developing brain during high impact falls or collisions, preventing a life-threatening incident.
Elbow and Knee Pads: This helps in shielding fractures, deep bruises, sprains, and high impact collisions in children, still learning to balance.
Wrist Guards: This is one of the most overlooked safety equipment and also one of the most vulnerable areas for painful sprains, soft-tissue injuries, and broken bones during forward falls.

A perfect-fit safety gear also offers peace of mind to the parent’s anxiety and worry, propelling the kids towards a more empowering gateway for them to explore the world, by falling, getting back up, and keeping it steady.

Choosing The Right Helmet

The right helmet provides overall well-being to the children by protecting the child not just from cuts or unfortunate bumps, but from life-altering head injuries.

Let us understand each step in a little detail.

A. Types Of Helmets

Every helmet is designed for a specific purpose and choosing the wrong ones could make the child uncomfortable during different activities.

Bike Helmets: They are lightweight, and specially designed for single, high-impact crashes, best suited for casual biking, scootering, and tricycling experience.
Skate Helmets: They are designed for multiple, lower-impact falls, and offer more coverage and protection at the back of the head. Ideal for skating or skateboarding experience.
Multi-Sport Helmets: They are designed by combining the durability of the skating helmet, besides, breathability and light-weightedness of the bike helmet. It is curated for multiple activities like biking, skating, and scootering.

Pro-Tip: If your child requires a multi-use helmet for biking and skating, it is recommended to opt for a certified multi-sport dual certification helmet, comprising CPSC and ASTM F1492.

B. Safety Standards

A helmet without certification might look good but would provide negligible protection. Hence, it is recommended to opt for the following.

CPSC: This is a U.S. certification standard that is mandatory for designing the bike helmets. It is well-tested for high impact strength, strap integrity, and overall head coverage.
ASTM F1492: These are the common certifications for multi-sport or skate helmets and are best for multiple low-impact falls, owing to skating.
Snell B-95 or N-94: These are very high standard certification helmets which include stricter testing. These include higher impact absorption, extended head protection coverage, multi-point impact zones, and rigorous retention system evaluation, to ensure maximum safety during high-speed or severe crashes.

Pro-Tip: Ensure to always look for such certified labels inside the helmet and never purchase one without them.

C. How to Measure And Fit A Helmet Properly

One of the most important things to keep in mind is to check for the right fit that determines safety. Even the best quality helmets fail to protect your child if it’s too loose or tilted.

Let us now understand how to find the right fit helmet for your child.

i. Measure Your Child’s Head

Wrap a soft measuring tape around their forehead, just above the eyebrows and ears and use this measurement to match the helmet sizing.

Tip: You can also use a piece of string and then match it with the ruler, in the absence of tape.

ii. Adjust Fit And Straps

Ensure to use the dial-fit adjuster present on the back for a snug fit, while adjusting the chin straps with one or two fingers underneath. Also, make sure that the side straps form a “V” just below the ears on both sides.

iii. Check Positioning

It must be noted that the helmet must sit flat and levelled on the head, and the front edge must be rested at least one inch above the eyebrows to ensure a perfect fit.

iv. Spot A Bad Fit

A bad fit is determined by uncomfortable wear where the helmet could potentially slide when the child moves the head, or the straps are either too tight, too loose, or uneven, or when the helmet leaves red marks or pressure points after its removal.

Tip: Ensure to do a “shake test” before making a purchase by asking your child to nod, shake, and look at both sides after wearing it. Make sure the helmet stays in place.

Features To Consider

The helmet must also contribute to a feel-good feature, besides just the protection, to ensure that the child is encouraged to wear it every time they go out for their adventurous outings.

Ventilation: To ensure better airflow and less perspiration. The mesh-lined ones also help keep the insects at bay, providing a comfortable ambiance for the kids to just focus on their play. Also, make sure to choose helmets with at least 10+ vents for summer use or for long rides.
Weight: Children’s already sensitive and still-developing body parts require a lightweight helmet to reduce the possible neck and head strain, especially for toddlers. Ensure to seek low weight and durable materials like ABS or polycarbonate.
Adjustable padding: Such paddings come in a variety of thicknesses to provide a more custom fit. Also, the removable and washable fabric helps in maintaining the necessary hygiene. In addition, it is recommended to always have a spare set of pads, aiding in growth spurts or replacement after washing.
Style: Let your child make the selection of the color, or print, whether superheroes, barbie, unicorns, glow-in-the-dark options, etc. A few helmets also come in with built-in reflectors or rear LED lights for a cool and comfortable evening ride. This would make them love their helmet and make them more enthusiastic to wear it without any fuss.

Quick-Tips to Keep in Mind for the Parents

Never purchase a helmet “to grow into” and ensure that it perfectly fits the kid.
Make sure to keep the helmets in a cool and shady place as extreme heat or sunlight could degrade the foam liner.
Always do a seasonal fit as the children’s head grows faster than their body and requires frequent checks to ensure their overall protection.

Choosing The Right Pads (Knee, Elbow, and Wrist)

While helmets are essential to protect the child’s vital head and brain, the necessity of knee, elbow, and wrist pads to protect the joints that take the brunt of most falls cannot be ignored.

Let us now understand how to find the right fit safety pads for your child.

A. Types of Pads And Their Purposes

Knee Pads: They are ideal for biking, scootering, skating, or skateboarding on hard or uneven surfaces by protecting the kids’ knees from cuts, bruises, or fractures, during forward or sideways falls.
Elbow Pads: They protect the elbow joints of the new learners or the kids doing risky tricks or sharp turns, by preventing the impact from sideways or backward falls.
Wrist Guards: They are crucial for skating, skateboarding, and scootering and help prevent sprains, strains, and fractures in kids. They also support and provide the necessary cushion to protect the wrist bones during the forward falls that instinctively includes kids stretching out their hands.

Pro-Tip: It is recommended to choose an activity-based pad. For example, wrist guards are often considered necessary for skating or scootering, compared to biking.

B. Fit And Comfort

A protective pad that slips, pinches, or even shifts is considered unsafe as there are no pads at all.

i. Measure For Size

Use a soft measuring tape to measure around the knees and elbows at their widest point of contact and the wrist, just above the hand joint to ensure an optimum fit. Also, remember to match it with the size chart provided by the manufacturer as the size differs between different brands.

Tip: If your child lies between sizes, opt for the larger size and ensure to adjust it with a Velcro or elastic straps to provide a snug fit.

ii. Secure, Non-Slip Fit

The pads must always feel snug, and neither too tight nor too loose. Also, ensure to purchase the one with adjustable straps or wraparound Velcro that helps to tailor the fit.

Make sure to test the fit by having the child bend and straighten their hands and legs after securing the pads, to ensure that it stays centered or does not rotate or bunch up in a position.

iii. Material Matters

Always check for breathability with mesh or perforated fabric lining, flexibility with the presence of neoprene or soft foam, and moisture-wicking properties that prevent sweat build-up and skin-irritation.

Also, ensure to opt for soft inner lining pads that reduce itchiness and enhance the comfortable wear time, especially during long play sessions.

C. Durability And Protection

Pads must be durable and should last through accidentals falls, washes or even ever-growing adventures.

i. Hard Shell vs. Soft Shell Designs

Hard Shell Pads: They are tough with a plastic outer cap and are considered best for high-impact activities like skateboarding or skating. They also tend to offer superior protection and are slightly bulkier in design.
Soft Shell Pads: They are made from foam or gel layers with fabric exteriors and are more comfortable and flexible, ideal for casual biking or scootering experience. They aren’t designed to withstand repeated hard falls or rough impacts.

Pro-Tip: Use soft shell pads for toddlers or young kids to ease their carrying and upgrade it to the hard-shell pads when their skills enhance with time.

ii. Cushioning And Impact Absorption

The multi-layered presence of cushions helps in distributing the impact evenly. The dense foam with good rebound helps in determining a higher shock absorption.

iii. Replaceable Or Washable Features

Such pads offer an added-on bonus for easier maintenance of hygiene. Also, a few brands also offer additional replacement straps or outer shells to ensure a feasible purchase in the long run. Always opt for washable fabric to extend its life and reduce the odor.

Tips For Getting Your Child To Wear Safety Gear Consistently

Let them choose their own safety gear in their favorite colors or with fun characters to turn the protection into personal style.
Children copy their parents and hence, it is necessary for the parents to be role models by wearing their own helmet or pads for safety.
Ensure to make the safety gear a mandatory start for the rides.
Use positive reinforcement like praise, cute safety stickers on their rides, or small rewards to reinforce the habit of making safety a mandate.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Do not skip the pads for quick or short rides as most accidents happen close to home.
Never re-use the safety gear, especially helmet after a crash as internal damage can make it unsafe for further usage. Also, a few helmets are only designed for single use.
Ensure to replace the worn-out gear promptly as frayed straps or flattened padding reduces protection.

Conclusion

Helmets and pads are very important to ensure that the children have an unhindered exploratory time for their essential growth and development.

Therefore, as parents, it is mandatory to become their role model and encourage them to never leave their home without it, no matter short-rides or long to protect them from unwanted injuries and accidents.