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Let’s talk about scooters. Toddlers and young children love them and while they are great fun to ride, it can be scary for parents to watch their children on them! Once children get the hang of riding their scooters they tend to speed up quickly and fly by in no time.
You are probably wondering if scooters are safe and what safety measures you should take before your little one zooms off. This article will help you figure it all out.
Are scooters dangerous for toddlers?
Generally speaking, scooters are safe for toddlers to use from around 2-3 years old. Each child develops at their own pace and you’ll have a good idea of when they are ready from how they play and behave. Scooting is a good way for toddlers to develop confidence and a sense of independence. You’ll be with them of course as they ride along, but they will feel like they are in charge of getting from A to B.
Most scooters for toddlers have 3 or 4 wheels to help them get started and build on their balance skills. Start them off on a softer ground such as grass or a playground surface while their coordination kicks in. Once they have the hang of it they can go further afield, the park is their oyster!
Any and all physical activity comes with some level of risk, but as long as your child wears a helmet and rides a scooter that it suited to their age and build, they will be off to a good start.
Should toddlers wear helmets on scooters?
Yes, they definitely should. There are two reasons for this:
- Protect your toddler’s head
You will be amazed at how quickly your toddler picks up riding their scooter and how fast they can go. It’s a smart idea for your child to wear a helmet when they ride a scooter or bike, no matter how old they are. In all likelihood when they take a tumble they will probably jump up and get right back out there, but it’s still better to be safe just in case they do hit their head. As we all know, our skulls protect our brains and a hard hit to the head can cause a serious injury.
- Form good habits
We can all agree that its a good idea to wear a helmet when we ride our bikes or scooters. It’s no different for children. It’s more likely to stick and become second nature when we start a helmet-wearing habit at a young age. Hopefully, your toddler will continue to wear helmets as they get older and keep safe when they are out and about.
What size helmet do toddlers need?
There is not a straight answer to this question unfortunately since everyone’s heads are slightly different sizes. You’ll want to use a soft measuring tape and measure the circumference of your toddler’s head for the most accurate fit. From there you can look at each manufacturer’s sizing guide to get the right helmet for your child.
Most helmet manufacturers give some general guidelines of size based on age, however it’s well worth pulling out the tape measure at home before you buy. Helmets need to fit and be adjusted properly to work.
How much does a good helmet cost for a toddler?
You will find helmets for sale online from as little as $10 which may seem tempting at first glance. However, it is much better to invest in a helmet from a well known brand in a higher price range. This way you can be sure it has all the safety benefits you will want. You should be looking at spending $30-40 for a good quality helmet for your toddler.
What should you look for when buying a helmet for a toddler?
Choose a reputable brand so that you can be sure it has gone through the rigorous testing that any good helmet does. Generally speaking, the more you spend the better ventilation the helmet will have. This may not be a big consideration for you as an entry level, properly tested helmet will still work perfectly.
Fit is important and you should check that the helmet fits snugly on your toddler’s head. You can adjust the headband on the back. Next, check that the chin strap fits well. Adjust the length of the strap to make sure it buckles with ease without being too loose – it should be snug but not pinch.
As a final note, it’s not a bad idea to ask your little one to choose the colour or design once you’ve chosen the model. Toddlers love to be involved in the decision making process and they’ll be excited to wear it if they have had a say.
Graham is a father of two who founded Dadometer to share his parenting journey with other moms and dads.
