Helmets & Gear
Best kids bike helmets
Every helmet sold for cycling in the US must meet the same federal standard, so you are not choosing between safe and unsafe — you are choosing the one that fits. Measure the head, match the centimeter range, and check that the certification covers your child's age.
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Every bicycle helmet manufactured or imported for sale in the US must meet the CPSC standard at 16 CFR 1203 — a federal requirement since February 1999. So the safety floor is the same everywhere. What varies is fit, weight, ventilation and whether the certification covers a child under five.
| Helmet | Sizes (head cm) | Rotational system | CPSC age | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutcase Baby Nutty | 47–50 (one size) | MIPS | 1 and older | not published |
| Giro Scamp MIPS II | XS 45–49 · S 49–53 | MIPS | XS: 1+ · S: 5+ | not published |
| Nutcase Little Nutty | Toddler 48–52 · Youth 52–56 | MIPS | 16 CFR 1203 | not published |
| Bell Sidetrack II MIPS | Child 47–54 · Youth 50–57 | Mips Evolve | 5 and older | 320 g (size Y) |
| Lazer Nutz KinetiCore | 50–56 (one size) | KinetiCore | 5 and up | 250 g |
Read from each manufacturer's published information on 2026-09-23. Where a brand does not publish a weight, we leave it blank rather than estimating.
Measure the head, not the age
Wrap a soft tape around the head about an inch above the eyebrows, at the widest point. That number in centimeters is what helmet sizes are built around. The size chart maps the bands.
The certification detail most people miss
CPSC requires that helmets intended for children up to age five cover more of the head than an adult helmet does — extra protection for the more fragile areas of a young child's skull. That is why Giro certifies the Scamp XS for age 1 and older with extended coverage, while the larger S size is certified for age 5 and older.
Practically: if your child is under five, look for a helmet whose stated certification covers that age. A small adult helmet is not the same product.
Weight, where it is published
250 g
Lazer Nutz KinetiCore
320 g
Bell Sidetrack II MIPS, size Y
n/p
Most brands publish nothing
A lighter helmet is one a child argues about less. It is not a safety figure — every one of these meets the same standard — but it is a wearing-compliance figure, and a helmet in the garage protects nobody.
Rotational protection: MIPS and the alternatives
MIPS is a low-friction layer inside the helmet that lets the shell move slightly against the head during an angled impact. Lazer's KinetiCore builds the same idea into the foam itself. Both add cost. The full explanation, and an honest read on how much it matters for a six-year-old on a sidewalk, is on MIPS helmets explained.
Which one
Toddlers (45–50 cm): Giro Scamp XS or Nutcase Baby Nutty. Both are certified for age 1 and up.
Preschool to school age (48–54 cm): Giro Scamp S, Nutcase Little Nutty Toddler, or the Bell Sidetrack II in Child.
Older kids (50–57 cm): Bell Sidetrack II Youth or Lazer Nutz. The Lazer is the lightest here at 250 g.
The one they will actually wear: whichever one your child picks the graphics on. This is not a joke — compliance is the binding constraint on helmet effectiveness.
The picks
Every figure below is the manufacturer's own published spec, linked to the page we read it from. We have not ridden these bikes and the cards say so — here is how we choose.
Quick picks — sorted by head size
| # | Product | Best for | Head | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45–53 Top pickGiro Scamp MIPS II The XS covers a 45–49 cm head and carries the CPSC certification for age 1 and up with extended rear coverage — the combination most toddler helmets miss. | Toddlers and preschoolers | 45–53 cm | |
| 2 | 47–57 Bell Sidetrack II MIPS 320 g in youth size with a visor and Mips Evolve — the value pick once a child is past five and riding further than the driveway. | School-age riders | 47–57 cm | |
| 3 | 48–56 Nutcase Little Nutty MIPS Toddler (48–52 cm) and Youth (52–56 cm) sizes with MIPS, in the graphics kids actually agree to wear — which is most of the battle. | The helmet they'll actually wear | 48–56 cm | |
| 4 | 50–56 Lazer Nutz KinetiCore 250 g and 12 vents, with rotational protection built into the foam rather than added as a separate liner — the lightest helmet in this registry. | Hot-weather riding | 50–56 cm | |
| 5 | 47–50 Nutcase Baby Nutty MIPS A single 47–50 cm size with MIPS, built for the very first helmet — the one a toddler wears on a balance bike before their head fits anything else. | A first helmet | 47–50 cm |
n/p = the manufacturer does not publish that figure. We do not fill in a number they never gave.
Top pick — Toddlers and preschoolers
Giro Scamp MIPS II
The XS covers a 45–49 cm head and carries the CPSC certification for age 1 and up with extended rear coverage — the combination most toddler helmets miss.
| Head size | 45–53 cm |
|---|---|
| Brakes | — |
| Frame | In-mold polycarbonate shell, MIPS liner |
| Brand says | XS is CPSC certified for age 1 and older; S for age 5 and older |
What works
- XS 45–49 cm, S 49–53 cm — two sizes across the whole toddler-to-kid range
- Extended rear coverage on the XS
- Roc Loc Jr. dial fit with a pinch-guard buckle
What doesn't
- MIPS versions cost more than the plain shell
- Dial fit systems can loosen and need re-checking
Hands-on status: Researched from published specs · Giro — Scamp MIPS II
#2 — School-age riders
Bell Sidetrack II MIPS
320 g in youth size with a visor and Mips Evolve — the value pick once a child is past five and riding further than the driveway.
| Head size | 47–57 cm |
|---|---|
| Brakes | — |
| Frame | In-mold polycarbonate shell, Mips Evolve |
| Brand says | CPSC certified for age 5 and older |
What works
- Universal Child 47–54 cm and Universal Youth 50–57 cm
- 320 g in size Y, light for a helmet with rotational protection
- Removable visor for trail riding
What doesn't
- CPSC certified for age 5 and older, so it is not a toddler helmet
- Universal sizing is less precise than two distinct shells
Hands-on status: Researched from published specs · Bell — Sidetrack II MIPS
#3 — The helmet they'll actually wear
Nutcase Little Nutty MIPS
Toddler (48–52 cm) and Youth (52–56 cm) sizes with MIPS, in the graphics kids actually agree to wear — which is most of the battle.
| Head size | 48–56 cm |
|---|---|
| Brakes | — |
| Frame | Hard outer shell, crumple-zone EPS, MIPS liner |
| Brand says | Complies with CPSC 16 CFR 1203 |
What works
- Two sizes cover 48–56 cm
- MIPS across the range
- Designs kids pick themselves, so it gets worn
What doesn't
- Skate-style shell runs warmer than a vented road shape
- Heavier than an in-mold helmet
Hands-on status: Researched from published specs · Nutcase — Little Nutty MIPS
#4 — Hot-weather riding
Lazer Nutz KinetiCore
250 g and 12 vents, with rotational protection built into the foam rather than added as a separate liner — the lightest helmet in this registry.
| Head size | 50–56 cm |
|---|---|
| Brakes | — |
| Frame | EPS with integrated KinetiCore rotational protection |
| Brand says | CPSC certified for age 5 and up |
What works
- 250 g published weight
- KinetiCore rotational protection integrated into the EPS
- 12 vents, which matters in summer
What doesn't
- One size, 50–56 cm — too big for a toddler
- EZ Fit auto-adjust gives less manual control than a dial
Hands-on status: Researched from published specs · Lazer — Nutz KinetiCore
#5 — A first helmet
Nutcase Baby Nutty MIPS
A single 47–50 cm size with MIPS, built for the very first helmet — the one a toddler wears on a balance bike before their head fits anything else.
| Head size | 47–50 cm |
|---|---|
| Brakes | — |
| Frame | Hard outer shell, crumple-zone EPS, MIPS liner |
| Brand says | CPSC certified for age 1 and older |
What works
- One size covering 47–50 cm, so there is nothing to get wrong
- MIPS at genuinely toddler sizes
- Magnetic buckle avoids pinched chins
What doesn't
- One size means a very short useful life
- Heavier than a vented in-mold shell
Hands-on status: Researched from published specs · Nutcase — Baby Nutty MIPS
Questions parents actually ask
01What is the best kids bike helmet?
The one that fits the measured head circumference and carries a CPSC certification covering your child's age. For toddlers, the Giro Scamp XS (45–49 cm, certified age 1+); for older kids, the Bell Sidetrack II or Lazer Nutz.
02Are expensive bike helmets safer?
Not in the sense people expect: every bicycle helmet sold in the US must meet the same CPSC standard. More money buys lighter weight, better ventilation, dial-fit systems and rotational protection like MIPS.
03Does my child need a MIPS helmet?
MIPS addresses rotational forces in angled impacts. It is a genuine addition, not marketing, but it is not a substitute for correct fit — a well-fitted non-MIPS helmet beats a loose MIPS one.
04How do I know a helmet is legal in the US?
Look for the CPSC label inside. Since February 1999 every bicycle helmet manufactured or imported for sale in the US has been required to meet the federal standard and to carry that label.
Sources
Read next
- Helmets & GearKids helmet size chartHead circumference to helmet size, in one table.
- Helmets & GearHow to fit a kids bike helmetFour steps, two minutes, and the shake test that proves it.
- Helmets & GearBest toddler bike helmetsHelmets certified for age 1+, with the extra coverage required.
- Helmets & GearMIPS helmets explainedWhat the slip layer does, and when it is worth paying for.