Helmets & Gear
Best toddler bike helmets
A toddler helmet is not just a small helmet. CPSC requires helmets intended for children up to age five to cover more of the head than an adult helmet does. Look for a stated certification covering age 1 and older, a 45 to 50 cm size range, and a buckle that does not pinch.
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Three things decide a toddler helmet: a certification that explicitly covers age one and up, a size range that starts around 45 to 47 cm, and a chin buckle that cannot pinch. Everything else is graphics.
| 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.
Why extended coverage matters
CPSC's standard requires helmets intended for children up to age five to cover more of the head than a standard adult helmet, to protect the more fragile areas of a young child's skull. This is the substantive difference between a toddler helmet and a small youth helmet, and it is why the age on the certification is worth reading.
Giro states its Scamp XS complies with the CPSC standard for persons age 1 and older with extended head coverage, while the S size complies for age 5 and older. Same helmet name, two different certifications.
The head-size problem at this age
A one-year-old's head is between roughly 45 and 50 cm — a very narrow band, and most helmets start above it. That is why the toddler options here are so few: the Nutcase Baby Nutty covers 47 to 50 cm in a single size, and the Giro Scamp XS covers 45 to 49.
Measure before you buy. With a head this small, a centimeter is a size.
The buckle
A pinched chin is the fastest way to teach a toddler to hate helmets. Look for a pinch-guard buckle (Giro) or a magnetic closure (Nutcase) — both exist specifically to solve this and both work.
Weight and the neck
A toddler's neck is proportionally weak, and a heavy helmet tips their head forward on a balance bike. Neither Giro nor Nutcase publishes a weight for these models, which is a gap — so the practical test is to hold it and then hold a rival.
When to start
The first day on a balance bike, without exception. A child who has always worn one does not argue about it at five. Sizing for the bike itself is on what age to start a balance bike.
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 | 47–50 Top pickNutcase 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 | |
| 2 | 45–53 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. | Toddlers and preschoolers | 45–53 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 |
n/p = the manufacturer does not publish that figure. We do not fill in a number they never gave.
Top pick — 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
#2 — 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
#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
Questions parents actually ask
01What size helmet for a 2 year old?
Most two-year-olds measure between 47 and 50 cm around the head. Measure with a soft tape an inch above the eyebrows and match the centimeter range, because helmet sizing is not age-based.
02Do toddlers need a special bike helmet?
Yes. CPSC requires helmets intended for children up to age five to provide extended head coverage, so a helmet certified only for age 5 and older is not the right product for a toddler.
03When should a child start wearing a bike helmet?
From the first ride on a balance bike. Establishing it as automatic at eighteen months avoids a fight at five.
Sources
Read next
- Helmets & GearBest kids bike helmetsFive helmets, compared on head size and certification.
- Helmets & GearHow to fit a kids bike helmetFour steps, two minutes, and the shake test that proves it.
- Helmets & GearKids helmet size chartHead circumference to helmet size, in one table.
- Balance BikesWhat age to start a balance bikeThe readiness signal is reach, not age.