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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giro Tremor MIPS | 47–54 (Universal Child) | MIPS | Child fit | not published |
| Giro Scamp MIPS II | XS 45–49 · S 49–53 | MIPS | XS: 1+ · S: 5+ | not published |
| NÜDL Youth MIPS | YS 52–55 · YM 56–60 | 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, re-checked against the live listings on 2026-10-03. 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 Giro Scamp XS covers 45 to 49 cm, and the Giro Tremor MIPS starts at 47 and runs to 54.
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 (the Fidlock buckle on the NÜDL) — 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 NÜDL 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.
Before you choose between these, take the measurement: the bands in centimeters and inches, and how to measure a toddler who will not sit still, are on the toddler helmet size chart.
The picks
Every figure below is the manufacturer's own published spec, linked to the page we read it from, so you can check the one number your decision turns on — here is how we choose.
Quick picks — sorted by head size
| # | Product | Score | Best for | Head | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Top pickGiro Tremor MIPS One Universal Child shell covering 47–54 cm with integrated MIPS and a hard outer shell — the first helmet that still fits two birthdays later. | 9.4/10 | A first helmet | 47–54 cm | $64.00 · Giro Tremor MIPS on Amazon
|
| 2 |  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. | 9.8/10 | Toddlers and preschoolers | 45–53 cm | |
| 3 |  NÜDL Youth MIPS A skate-shape helmet with MIPS inside and a magnetic buckle outside, in graphics kids pick for themselves — which is most of the battle at this age. | 9.5/10 | The helmet they'll actually wear | 52–60 cm |
n/p = the manufacturer does not publish that figure. Every other spec number here comes straight off their spec page. Scores are ours, on the 8.4–9.8 scale explained on our how we choose page.
Top pick — A first helmet
Outstanding · our scale
Giro Tremor MIPS
One Universal Child shell covering 47–54 cm with integrated MIPS and a hard outer shell — the first helmet that still fits two birthdays later.
| Head size | 47–54 cm |
|---|---|
| Brakes | — |
| Frame | Hard outer shell over an in-mold polycarbonate lower wrap, integrated MIPS |
| Brand says | Sold in one Universal Child fit, 47–54 cm |
Why we picked it
- 47–54 cm in a single shell, so there is no size to get wrong
- Integrated MIPS at a genuinely child-sized shell
- Roc Loc Sport dial with a 7 cm adjustment range, one-handed
- Two-piece shell: a tough outer hard shell over an in-mold polycarbonate lower wrap
Good to knowOne size only, 50-57 cm, so measure the head before you buy; Giro publishes no weight for it.
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · Amazon listing — Giro Tremor MIPS Child
$74.95 · 15% off
#ad · How we make money · Price as of November 12, 2026
#2 — Toddlers and preschoolers
Category-defining · our scale
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 |
Why we picked it
- 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
Good to knowThe MIPS version costs more than the plain shell, and the dial fit wants a quick re-check at the start of each ride.
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · Giro — Scamp MIPS II
#ad · How we make money · Price as of November 12, 2026
#3 — The helmet they'll actually wear
Category-defining · our scale
NÜDL Youth MIPS
A skate-shape helmet with MIPS inside and a magnetic buckle outside, in graphics kids pick for themselves — which is most of the battle at this age.
| Head size | 52–60 cm |
|---|---|
| Brakes | — |
| Frame | ABS skate-style shell over EPS, with a MIPS liner |
| Brand says | Two youth sizes: YS 52–55 cm and YM 56–60 cm |
Why we picked it
- MIPS in a bucket/skate shell, which most skate-style helmets skip
- Fidlock magnetic buckle: one-handed, and it cannot pinch a chin
- PAS dial fit system for a precise final adjustment
- 11 vents, which a skate shell usually does not have
Good to knowSizing starts at 52 cm, so this is a youth helmet rather than a toddler one, and a skate shell runs warmer than a vented road shape.
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · NÜDL — Youth MIPS helmet
#ad · How we make money · Price as of November 12, 2026
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.
Our recommendation
Top pick
9.4/10Giro Tremor MIPS
A first helmet. One size only, 50-57 cm, so measure the head before you buy; Giro publishes no weight for it.
$74.95 · 15% off
#ad · How we make money · Price as of November 12, 2026
Runner-up
9.8/10Giro Scamp MIPS II
Toddlers and preschoolers. The MIPS version costs more than the plain shell, and the dial fit wants a quick re-check at the start of each ride.
#ad · How we make money · Price as of November 12, 2026
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.