Bicycle Helmet Laws

robynlesley

The state has this on their website:

Young people under the age of 17 are required to wear an approved helmet when cycling, roller skating, in-line skating, or skateboarding.

http://www.nj.gov/lps/hts/bike.html

So does my 2.5 year old need to wear a helmet while riding (or me pushing) his tricycle? Do they make helmets to fit 2-year-olds? I think he'd LIKE the helmet (he loves hats) but wasn't sure. I want him to be safe but wasn't sure if this was overkill.

kmslwsmrs

Yes, they make helmets for babies, that's how babies go in carriers on adult bikes.  They have little foam inserts in them that can make them smaller/bigger to fit a small child's head. That being said, I never see anyone wearing a helmet and it drives me insane...I never see it enforced which I'm sure why people don't wear helmets, but it's just stupid not to wear one. 

dmendel

Yes, they need it.  Go to any bike shop or TRU the have helmets there.  

robynlesley

Thanks for letting me know. I guess it'll be time to go helmet shopping soon. Hopefully he won't outgrow the bicycle helmet as quickly as he does his shoes and clothes!

dmendel

robynlesley:

Thanks for letting me know. I guess it'll be time to go helmet shopping soon. Hopefully he won't outgrow the bicycle helmet as quickly as he does his shoes and clothes!

Abby's had the same helmet since she was 9 months old when she would go on the trailer on mh's bike.  They don't grow out of helmet's that fast. 

penguingrrl

Law or not, I always make my kid  wear a helmet when riding a trike. I feel like it  sets the precedent that bike=helmet. Since my kids started a trike at 2.5 and are big for their ages, I bought a helmet rated for age 3+ and figured a few months wouldn't make a difference. I know you can get helmets rated  younger,  but they can be hard to find. If I were going to bring them out on an adult bike on a road I would be pickier about it being perfect, but for a trike on my mom's driveway I  wasn't too worried.

robynlesley

penguingrrl:

Law or not, I always make my kid  wear a helmet when riding a trike. I feel like it  sets the precedent that bike=helmet. Since my kids started a trike at 2.5 and are big for their ages, I bought a helmet rated for age 3+ and figured a few months wouldn't make a difference. I know you can get helmets rated  younger,  but they can be hard to find. If I were going to bring them out on an adult bike on a road I would be pickier about it being perfect, but for a trike on my mom's driveway I  wasn't too worried.

Aaron hasn't even ridden his trike yet (a Hanukkah present from my BFF) and I'm thinking he'd start on my patio first.  I wasn't too worried re: a helmet in my yard but I figured I should get him used to it (ie. bike = helmet).

It's funny that he wore two DOC Band helmets as an infant (of course a totally different situation) but he hasn't been a on a bike/trike yet and this will be new to him.