snapinacti
Does anyone know where I can buy a kids dirt bike helmet at a good price. The cheapest I found is $50 including shipping & handling.
Answer
You don't want to always go cheap when it comes to safety equipment.
You don't want to always go cheap when it comes to safety equipment.
Is it too early to make my son wear a helmet?
~~Daniel's
We are getting our son a toddler tricycle for his birthday and I also want to get him a helmet to wear while he is riding it outside. He does not like to wear hats he may not keep a helmet on unless the straps are real tight and he can't get it off. I have not looked hard for one yet, but do you know of any that are made for toddlers his age? He is going to be 2 next month. I have seen some in the store for ages 3 and up...I suppose they would be fine anyway? Advice or experience in the matter ?
Answer
ABSOLUTELY! I actually got Avary a helmet last Fall that was fitted to her head by a pro. At the time we were at one of those "old school" kind of a kids fairs (you know, where they have kids search for toys and stickers in a haystack and toss beanbags through holes in a wall, pony rides, etc. instead of expensive rides and $5/try extravagant games). Anyway, the fair also had a strong focus on child safety. They had a place to get the child ID kits made (in case of kidnapping, etc.), tours of emergency vehicles, and the best part (IMO) was a booth sponsored by our local PD where they had tables filled with biking and snow/skateboard helmets for all aged children and adults - and each was only $10! It was a great idea. They had an expert on hand to make sure the helmets were the right size and to fit them correctly to the child's head. The expert guy told me that the helmet I got for Avary should be able to fit her through age 4 but I will need to adjust the straps and pads as she grows to keep the fit just right. The difference between a good fitting helmet and a bad fit can be very dramatic. I would suggest you 1st check if you have any local kids fairs or safety events coming up where they may have one of these booths. If not, I'd suggest taking a trip to a bike shop. The people that work at those shops are generally bikers themselves and have a lot of knowledge of all things bike-related (for instance, fitting a helmet to a toddler's head). A good bike shop will be very fair as well. I swear bikers in general, are the most laid-back, helpful group of enthusiasts. Be honest and tell them exactly what the helmet will be used for and how often. There are different styles of helmets for bike riding and skiing/skating or cross-use. Ask what they suggest and don't be afraid to ask if they think there is a less expensive route to go. Honestly, you are going to pay through the nose if you buy it at a bike shop. So the best thing to do is find a place that will give you the information you need - like what size, what brand/style is best, etc and ask them if you can bring it back to the shop after you purchase it at Toys-R-Us or Target (wherever) so they can assist you with a good fit. Ask when is their slowest time of day and try your best to go then, since they will probably just be sitting around anyway. A good bike shop will be happy to help you. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to show interest in possibly purchasing a bike trailer or child's seat for on your own bike while you are there; or even talk about which types of bikes they sell that would be good for your little guy when he is ready. If they see you as a potential future customer, they will be much happier to take the time to assist you. Like I said before, the fit is the most important thing on a helmet. Even if you purchase the right size, if the straps and internal pads aren't adjusted correctly, your son can still get injured. Sometimes local police or fire stations also have a person designated to assist with bike helmet fittings - usually the same person who helps with car seat installation.
http://www.prorider.com/org/p230/Child-Bike-Helmets/product_info.html It looks like this company sells super inexpensive helmets to local safety groups (schools, police, etc.) for distribution but it's probably a good place to start. I just started a playgroup and I may look into placing an order for All the parent's in the group that are interested. They sell helmets for toddlers aged 1-3 or aged 3-6 for $5.95! This is where a pro will come in handy. Depending on your son's head size, you may be better off buying him a helmet for age 3-6 with good adjustable straps and extra padding stickers inside to fit better longer - or vice versa. You may even be able to call this site's 1-800 # and ask if they know of any places in your area that are hosting safety fairs and selling inexpensive helmets. Just an idea.
Anyway, good luck. I'm attaching a bunch of links that look useful (will be useful to me too)! :>)
Cheers!
ABSOLUTELY! I actually got Avary a helmet last Fall that was fitted to her head by a pro. At the time we were at one of those "old school" kind of a kids fairs (you know, where they have kids search for toys and stickers in a haystack and toss beanbags through holes in a wall, pony rides, etc. instead of expensive rides and $5/try extravagant games). Anyway, the fair also had a strong focus on child safety. They had a place to get the child ID kits made (in case of kidnapping, etc.), tours of emergency vehicles, and the best part (IMO) was a booth sponsored by our local PD where they had tables filled with biking and snow/skateboard helmets for all aged children and adults - and each was only $10! It was a great idea. They had an expert on hand to make sure the helmets were the right size and to fit them correctly to the child's head. The expert guy told me that the helmet I got for Avary should be able to fit her through age 4 but I will need to adjust the straps and pads as she grows to keep the fit just right. The difference between a good fitting helmet and a bad fit can be very dramatic. I would suggest you 1st check if you have any local kids fairs or safety events coming up where they may have one of these booths. If not, I'd suggest taking a trip to a bike shop. The people that work at those shops are generally bikers themselves and have a lot of knowledge of all things bike-related (for instance, fitting a helmet to a toddler's head). A good bike shop will be very fair as well. I swear bikers in general, are the most laid-back, helpful group of enthusiasts. Be honest and tell them exactly what the helmet will be used for and how often. There are different styles of helmets for bike riding and skiing/skating or cross-use. Ask what they suggest and don't be afraid to ask if they think there is a less expensive route to go. Honestly, you are going to pay through the nose if you buy it at a bike shop. So the best thing to do is find a place that will give you the information you need - like what size, what brand/style is best, etc and ask them if you can bring it back to the shop after you purchase it at Toys-R-Us or Target (wherever) so they can assist you with a good fit. Ask when is their slowest time of day and try your best to go then, since they will probably just be sitting around anyway. A good bike shop will be happy to help you. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to show interest in possibly purchasing a bike trailer or child's seat for on your own bike while you are there; or even talk about which types of bikes they sell that would be good for your little guy when he is ready. If they see you as a potential future customer, they will be much happier to take the time to assist you. Like I said before, the fit is the most important thing on a helmet. Even if you purchase the right size, if the straps and internal pads aren't adjusted correctly, your son can still get injured. Sometimes local police or fire stations also have a person designated to assist with bike helmet fittings - usually the same person who helps with car seat installation.
http://www.prorider.com/org/p230/Child-Bike-Helmets/product_info.html It looks like this company sells super inexpensive helmets to local safety groups (schools, police, etc.) for distribution but it's probably a good place to start. I just started a playgroup and I may look into placing an order for All the parent's in the group that are interested. They sell helmets for toddlers aged 1-3 or aged 3-6 for $5.95! This is where a pro will come in handy. Depending on your son's head size, you may be better off buying him a helmet for age 3-6 with good adjustable straps and extra padding stickers inside to fit better longer - or vice versa. You may even be able to call this site's 1-800 # and ask if they know of any places in your area that are hosting safety fairs and selling inexpensive helmets. Just an idea.
Anyway, good luck. I'm attaching a bunch of links that look useful (will be useful to me too)! :>)
Cheers!
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