Childrens helmets

[Ported Hornet]

Can anyone that rides with small children give me a recommendation on where I can buy my son a "good" helmet. By good I mean safe. My son is 2 years old and I would like to take him riding this winter. By no means am I going to take him out for long periods of time, just on a few short blasts to introduce him to this great obsession we all have. I am looking for a safe, warm helmet those are my biggest concerns. I would like something that will last more than 1 season, but this is a secondary concern. I would appreciate sizing info as well, I know my son wheres 2T clothes.

Thanks,

PH

 

[actionjack]

My daughter has been riding since 3. Early on I would put on a kids bike helmet for ATVing or sledding, but I got a youth HJC helmet as a hand me down from her older cousins. It fit pretty loose so I just put a knit cap on her first and that worked well. Now at 6 it fits perfectly and she'll ride over 50 - 100 miles in a day with me. She's making her first trip to Quebec this winter and she is incredibly excited - plus I get permission to take an extra sledding trip.

You can also try to find a childs snowboard helmet/goggle set.

 

[maxdlx]

I also bought My son his first hjc last year. Great helmets, and they have extra small if needed. My wife couldn't believe I spent 124 bucks on a kids helmet, but that little head is way to important to trust to anything less. My step son has always had good quality helmets too. he now wears his old race helmets since they need to be 2 year dated snell helmets. I'll skimp on a lot of things but helmets aren't one of them. maxdlx

 

[Ported Hornet]

Thanks guys. I am not going to skimp on this purchase. I will look at some of my catalogs, HJC looks like a good option. BTW, I have a 89 sno scoot tucked away in the garage for him, can't wait for him to get ahold of that, I have had this sled since it was knew. In fact, I used to ride it when I was a kid!

 

[actionjack]

http://www.inspectorjack.com/Babygetsbars.mov

 

[kyzer]

One thing you might want to look into is a neck support, I know a guy that bought his son a helmet and took him riding, to make a long story short he ended up damaging his sons neck with the extra weight of the helmet and the bouncing around ...The neck supports are something like the ones that football players use. I had one for my youngest son he is 5 now and doesn't need it now ...Just something to think about..I use the kids GMAX helmets .....

 

[Safety Sean]

I was going to bring up the neck thing also. My son is 2 1/2 and I have been pondering what I might do to take him for a spin or two. I have put his sisters HJC on and besides being too big it is also too heavy. It is the smallest that HJC makes & she has been using it since she was 4 and she is now 7. I will give him a few rides around the house with his bicycle helmet on but that will be it. I would rather have him ticked because he can't go on longer outings with us than chance hurting his neck. In a year or so his neck will be up to supporting a proper helmet.

 

[kyzer]

With the neck support all the weight of the helmet goes on his shoulders and stops the helmet from jerking all over the place..I had my boyz for some pretty good rides when they were 2 ...30 miles to camp by snowmobile bundle them up in a small sleeping bag in front of me and they always fell asleep....

 

[Honk]

I put my daugther into a womens HJC xsmall when she was eight. Still fits her at 11 years old. Protect those noggins!

 

[Safety Sean]

Yea Kyzer its funny how they always fall asleep. It is only now that my girl is 7 that she doesn't fall asleep every ride. She always said that the sound of the engine would put her to sleep so I don't know what will happen when we ride the 4-stroke.

 

[kyzer]

My youngest is 5 and he still falls asleep on the 4 stroke , not as much but he does...

 

[Phazernut]

I wouldn't reccomend a regular helmet for a child that age. His neck won't hold the weight. Last year I was in the same boat for my 4 year old. All the dealers reccomended a snowboard helmet. I found one at the local ski shop. It was super light and had goggles. I think Giro was the name. This year he will graduate to a HJC youth helmet.

 

[bagadonitz]

I took my 4 year old for a few rides on the Grizzly this summer. Farthest I got without him falling victim to sleep was 4 km. Sleep wasn't the right word, it would make him almost apear drunk when I would stop and stand him up to get him to wake.

I put him in a snowboard helmet, to stay on topic.

And of course, check your speed. 10 mph is as exciting to them as 100 is to us. Nothing is proved by riding fast with children aboard.

 

[kyzer]

I know in Ontario if you are on using a motorized vehicle the helmet has to be Dot or Snell approved, you can't use hockey, snowboard or skateboard helmets unless they are approved.. I know what you are saying i used a hockey helmet around the house but when I started to go on streets and trails I bought the proper helmet and the neck support ....

 

[Ported Hornet]

For you guys using helmets other than snowmobile full face helmets, how are you keeping their faces from getting cold? Good info and opinions, keep em coming. My son always falls asleep on my boat, my parents say I did the say. Ah the rumbling sound of a BBC and the wind in your face!