Mama fail.
I went in to Bayside Bikes in downtown Everett to get some professional help with protecting my daughters’ noggins.
I knew we might need to buy one helmet. But I figured we could get away with some readjustments on at least one of them. If only I could figure out the goldurned straps.
Boy, was I wrong.
Owner Eric Smith says he cringes when he sees common helmet mistakes — helmets worn too far back on the head, straps dangling loose — but he didn’t bat an eyelash at our second-hand monstrosities.
Me, on the other hand? Gulp. Embarrassed.
Frayed straps. Ancient foam. No rear protection. Age and history unknown.
Oh, the helmet sins.
OK, so, two helmets it is …
Our experience is your edification.
“Helmets are not the most comfortable all the time, or the coolest,” Smith said.
But they just might save your kid. A friend of ours took a hard fall on a bike last year, but the crack went in the helmet instead of his skull.
It all requires the right fit, though.
So here’s a step-by-step guide for getting the right helmet, with some specific tips for kids.
When to buy new
The recommendation is to replace your helmet every five years, which surprised me but shouldn’t have.
Like child car seats, the components break down, including the plastic and foam. You should replace a helmet after a single crash, too.
Other signs it’s time to buy new include cracks and fraying straps.
If it’s your child’s first helmet, consider buying new rather than guessing at a second-hand shell’s history. They make helmets for the smallest of heads, great for young ones who aren’t even pedaling yet — tagging along in bicycle child carriers, or scooting along on balance bikes.
Choose a style
There are two basic styles we went over on our recent trip.
One was a more rounded style I can imagine on the head of a BMX’er. Less ventilation, more sleek, a ball cap-like brim, and more coverage in the back. And more expensive. It’s what Smith’s more “style conscious” customers gravitate toward.
We aimed for the more basic “recreational” helmet, thanks.
Even these simple helmets, though, are a vast improvement over the helmets my brothers and I donned as kids, or as young adults.
Today’s helmets offer more coverage to the back of the head. They’re also more adjustable, meaning fit kits and foam pads aren’t needed.
That’s especially good for growing kids. “Even haircuts,” Smith added. “That can have an effect on how things fit.”
Today’s helmets also offer plenty more ventilation than helmets of yore. That’s good, since we aim to get in a lot of summer rides in an effort to ditch the training wheels.
Adjust the fit
There are three basic steps here.
Shell: Get a helmet that’s large enough to fit over the head, but not so large it’s sliding all over. The shell should sit level on the head, with the front edge about an inch above the eyebrows. Then spin the dial at the back to make it comfortably snug.
Smith’s tip: Do a “shake test,” grabbing the top and wiggling it side to side and back to front. If it shifts noticeably, like an inch or more, adjust further.
Side straps: They should form a “V” just under the ears (no, not near the chin). Slide the guides down or up as needed.
Smith’s tip: You may have to take the helmet off each time to more easily adjust straps. “So it’s a guess-and-check, trying to get the right fit.”
Chin strap: Tighten so that it’s close to the chin. You should still be able to fit your finger between the strap and the chin.
Smith’s tip: “With the chinstrap buckled, open your mouth wide. The helmet should press against the top of your head as you do so.”
Smith can do these fittings in a few minutes. After watching him a couple times, I tried my own hand at it — and passed muster. (Phew!)
Don’t think you’re done, though. “You should check them every few rides, to make sure they haven’t moved around on you,” Smith said.
Overarching rule
The rule of thumb with kids is to make the helmet comfortably snug.
“You have to make it comfortable enough that they’ll actually want to wear it,” Smith said.
In my oldest daughter’s case, this principle also meant letting her pick her own helmet once we had the basics down. This led to sleek black instead of Mama’s preferred glaring white.
(That’s OK. I’ll just douse her and her bike in reflective paint.)
I can say that my kids were definitely comfortable enough in their new helmets. They wore them for the next two hours — down the sidewalk, in the car, in the grocery store, around the house.
The verdict: “Awesome!”
Mama score.
Have a question? Email me at streetsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your first and last name and city of residence. Look for updates on our Street Smarts blog at www.heraldnet.com/tag/street-smarts.
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