A Parent’s Guide to Choosing a Toddler Helmet

August 17th, 2009 No comments »

It is absolutely essential that every child have a bike helmet. Many parents realize this when it comes to their older children, but they don’t often consider it for their toddlers who may only be passengers. However, their safety depends on it. In the event of a crash, a child wearing a helmet is 85% less likely to sustain a brain injury. And for toddlers whose necks are weaker and whose heads are bigger in comparison to their body, the risk is still greater. Whether your toddler is going to be participating in toddler sports or only riding in a bike trailer or an attachable seat, he will need a toddler helmet. Keep in mind, however, that no child under the age of one should ever be riding on a bike or in a bike trailer.

No matter what type of helmet your child wears, he will be better protected than if he was wearing no helmet. However, some helmets are better than others. A toddler helmet with a good fit offers better protection, and one that is comfortable is more likely to be worn. So before you buy one, check out a few things. The cheapest helmet is not necessarily the best. Remember that this is an investment in your child’s safety.

The first thing that a parent should check is the recommended age on the toddler helmet they are looking at. But since children’s head sizes vary so greatly, they should not rely on this alone. They should take the child to the store with them and try the toddler bike helmet on his head. It should rest no more than two finger widths above the child’s brow and fit snugly enough that the soft pads inside are pushed down. There should be no movement from side to side or front to back. Additionally, the helmet should have adjustable straps so that it is possible to obtain a snug fit under your child’s chin.

Once you have determined that the helmet fits your child, you are then ready to think about comfort. As long as the toddler helmet meets CPSC standards for strength, a lightweight helmet is often better. Toddlers’ necks are not as strong as adults’, and they may not be able to hold up a heavy helmet for very long. Another thing to look for is a pinch guard, which is a shield on the buckle that prevents it from pinching your child’s chin when it is fastened. Beyond that, check the ease of use on the buckles and straps and make sure that the toddler bike helmet has a warranty. If you keep all of these things in mind, choosing a helmet for your toddler should not be a difficult process.

No comments »

Posted in General

Tags:

Outdoor Toys And How Toddlers Can Use Them Safely

August 26th, 2009 No comments »

Many people know that when adults ride motorcycles and motorbikes in many states they must wear helmets. This same rule should apply to children from toddler age on up for many outdoor toys and  indoor or outdoor fun activities. When wearing a helmet your head is protected from serious head and brain injuries. Often with a helmet these injuries are survivable without permanent brain injury or brain damage, or death. In 2007 alone, nearly one quarter of the accidents involved bicyclists under the age of 14.

Many people may ask why should I or my child wear a helmet while playing in an outdoor activity like biking, skateboarding or skating? Reasons to wear a helmet are a helmet can reduce the risk of a serious head or brain injury by often as much as 85 percent. When the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that more than 6.2 million children under the age of 18 were treated in emergency rooms in the U.S. between the years of 1990-2005. This research found that most of these accidents were bicycle related. Despite the protection of safety gear for bicycling like a helmet and guards only about 25 percent of children under the age of 14 actually wore them.

Caring for your children from babyhood to adulthood means that you often will teach them about safety,  and core values. Other lessons include how to protect themselves from strangers and dangers inside and outside the home. If you teach you children that the car is not started or put into gear before everyone has on a seat belt there is no reason you should not teach your child to wear safety and protective gear while playing outside on outdoor toys like a bicycle, a dirt bike, roller skates, scooters, and skateboards.

Outdoor toys can and should be used safely. If you would not think of your child playing competitive sports like boxing, football, or baseball without a helmet. The same rules should apply to outdoor toys like bikes, skates, scooters, and skateboards. Think about your child being safe inside the home as well as outside. Make outdoor toys and outdoor fun  safe and more enjoyable with a helmet and other required and recommended safety gear. Read ratings in  consumer reporting magazines, consumer ratings web sites, or consumer guide books to find the best rated and top rated helmets. Take your child to get a good snug fitting helmet. Actually try the helmets that you are shopping for on your child.  Make sure that they fit snugly and properly. Not all helmets and made for all ages. Toddlers under the age of one should not ride in bicycle seats, bike carts, or any attachment to a bike. Children this young may not have as strong a neck or neck muscles. Wearing the helmet and not wearing the helmet can in both cases cause injury to your child. Wait until your child is old enough and strong enough for their neck and neck muscles to safely support the weight of a helmet.

Consult a doctor or other professional on safety and when your child is old enough to engage in outdoor sports, indoor sports or play on outdoor toys that require or recommend helmet use.

No comments »

Posted in General

Tags:

Finding Activities for Toddlers to Improve Their Skills

August 25th, 2009 No comments »

No matter how convenient it is to turn on some educational TV shows and plop your child down in front of the TV, this is just not the best way for your child to be spending his or her time. There are a lot of healthy activities for toddlers that will help to improve the development of their motor skills and their social skills, as well as keep them active and fit. The good thing is that it isn’t hard to find activities for toddlers that don’t revolve around the television. There are a lot of resources you can use to help you out with this on the internet.

Playing with toys like blocks, puzzles, and shape sorters are some of the best activities for toddlers. These types of activities build their fine motor skills, which they will need when they go to school. This will help build up their muscles as well as develop their brain.

You can also help toddlers with their gross motor skills by giving them lots of balls and other sports related toys to play with, and showing them how to use them. Not only will throwing, chasing, and kicking balls be fun for them, it will also be great exercise. Join in and roll balls back and forth to each other and you can get some exercise as well.

Toddlers will also love to play on the equipment at your local park or playground. They will like to go on nature walks as long as you go at their pace and let them explore all the interesting sights along the way. You will both get exercise and fresh air and your toddler will learn more about the world around him or her.

Some activities that can work well indoors or outdoors and get you both moving include tag, which most kids love. You don’t have to run particularly fast since toddlers have much shorter legs and they will be giggling up a storm and saying “you can’t get me.” Of course you don’t want to catch them right away, half the fun is in the anticipation of when they are going to get caught. You can also let them catch you by running a little slower than normal.

Art activities for toddlers that let them be creative include finger painting. They love the squishy feel of the paint. They might also be ready for chunky crayons, and will probably enjoy play dough as well.

No comments »

Posted in General

Tags:

Use Games for Kids to Keep the Whole Family More Active

August 24th, 2009 No comments »

These days it seems like whole families tend to spend much of their free time either on the computer or in front of the TV. This just isn’t healthy, especially given the rising levels of obesity. Families need to get more active. They also need to spend more time doing things together and communicating. A great way to accomplish this is to start spending evenings, or at least an evening or two a week, playing games for kids with the whole family.

There are a wide variety of games for kids that you can all play together. You can go outside and play catch or keep away. You can play bocce ball, frisbee, or any number of other outdoor games that are kid friendly. Think of all the games you used to play as a kid, like tag, hide and seek, Red Rover, Duck Duck Goose, jump rope games, Red Light Green Light, hopscotch, and many more. You can also just do something active, such as biking or walking as a family.

For those days when the weather isn’t too nice and you don’t want to go out, there are also lots of indoor options. You can set up some games for kids in the basement. Lots of toy stores sell sets for bowling, and there are a lot of board games out now that actually require you to move around a bit and act things out. Even just playing a regular board game that doesn’t involve any exercise is a great way to spend time as a family, and much better than just hanging out in front of the television.

If you need some more ideas of games for kids, you can do a quick internet search and come up with a lot of good games. Parenting magazine websites in particular tend to have a lot of options. Also, if you remember a game but can’t quite remember all of the rules, there are websites devoted to this as well. The important thing is for the whole family to spend more time talking and playing together, and hopefully being active. This will result in a happier and healthier family. You kids will also learn to make exercise a habit and to get exercise in fun ways, meaning they will be more likely to keep with this great habit as they get older.

No comments »

Posted in General

Child Bicycle Safety Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe

August 23rd, 2009 No comments »

Most kids love to ride their bikes, however, not all of them do so safely. You want to make sure that you teach your kids child bicycle safety, and that you enforce all of the appropriate safety rules so that they are less likely to get seriously injured. All kids have spills on their bike at some time or another, so you want to take care before these happen.

One of the most important child bicycle safety rules is that your child wear a bike helmet that fits properly. Head injuries are some of the most dangerous biking injuries, so you want your child to have a helmet to protect their head from impacts if they should fall off their bike. If you go to a bike shop for the helmet, the professionals there will help you to find the helmets that fit your child correctly.

You also want to make sure that kids who are particularly shaky on their bikes, such as beginning riders, wear other protective gear as well since they are more likely to fall. Elbow and knee pads are a good idea for these kids. Shaky riders should also only ride in safe areas such as bike paths, parks, and their driveways, and not the road. Even experienced riders should try to avoid riding on the streets whenever possible and use bike paths instead to minimize the risk of getting hit by a car. This is a basic child bicycle safety rule.

Although most kids want to just take off for a ride wearing whatever they might have on, it is best to make sure that they are wearing proper sneakers that won’t slip on the pedals and will protect their feet a bit. They should also wear sunscreen so they don’t get burnt. If they might be out on their bike in the late after noon, evening, or night, they should also be wearing light colored clothing, or even better, reflective clothing, to make it so that other people on the road can see them.

There are a number of child bicycle safety courses that you can have your child take to make sure they know how to keep safe while riding their bikes. They will learn the proper hand signals, as well as to keep on the proper side of the road.

No comments »

Posted in General

Tags:

Child Motorcycle Safety You Shouldn’t Ignore

August 22nd, 2009 No comments »

The first thing many people do when they become parents is trade in their sports cars and motorcycles for something that is more family friendly. Especially when their children are babies, and are required to sit in bulky car seats for safety. As the children get older though, some parents find themselves longing for a taste of their younger selves, and may look for that in a sports car or motorcycle. Riding a motorcycle with your child on the back isn’t the best scenario for safe driving. However, if you don’t have a choice in the matter, there are several child motorcycle safety tips that you should remember when going for that ride.

First of all, you should always wear a helmet when driving a motorcycle. This will promote the safety your child needs to know about, and will prove for less hassle when it is your child’s turn to get on the bike with you. Never should you let a child ride on the back of your motorcycle without a helmet. This is a child motorcycle safety tip that should not be ignored for even the shortest distance of trips. Other safety tips to remember include following the rules of the road and the speed limits. It’s not the time to show off your bike’s speed when your child is on the back. You should always remember your signals as well so that other drivers on the road can know what your next move is going to be, and they can carefully let you in to their lane when needed.

Other obvious child motorcycle safety tips include things like never driving a motorcycle while intoxicated or sleepy, which is true for any kind of motor vehicle. You should also teach your child that it is not play time when he or she is on the back of your bike, and they should hold on properly and consistently. Having your child ride on the back of your motorcycle really shouldn’t be the only method of transportation you have, but if you follow the safety steps, you can have a safe ride.

No comments »

Posted in General

Tags:

Lower the Risk of Child Obesity by Starting Early with Toddler Sports

August 21st, 2009 No comments »

Childhood obesity is on the rise, and it seems like this trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Several factors can contribute to the rising obesity rates in children. More parents are both working to make ends meet while the older child is made to sit at home doing nothing until the parent gets home, or the younger ones are put in daycare that just acts as a set of eyes, basically. The lack of stimulation among these children at a young age just sets the standard for laziness and overeating caused by boredom later in life. If you start activities early in life, such as toddler sports, the likelihood of that carrying over to the later years is much better.

Kids’ bodies need exercise and activity to stay healthy and keep bones strong. There are several things you can do to promote a healthy lifestyle for your child. When your child is younger, such as preschool age, it is possible to find local toddler sports classes such as toddler soccer or toddler gymnastics. These are designed to get the child moving, and to also grab the child’s interest. Some areas offer sports for toddlers as young as three also. These are great ideas for teaching a young child that exercise and activity are very important, and a great way to have fun staying healthy.

Toddler sports aren’t just a great way to prevent childhood obesity, but they are also a great way to promote teamwork and goal setting. It is very important to start teaching these things early on so that your child will thrive later in life. It gives your child a sense that it is a normal way of life instead of a chore to incorporate exercise into their daily routine. When you choose to combine healthy nutrition together with these activities, you are choosing to provide a future for your child that is less risky for their health. The childhood obesity rate would start to decrease tremendously, if every parent would start early teaching good health habits. The whole family would benefit from it, and they would also have a better relationship as a result.

No comments »

Posted in General

Tags:

The Great Benefits of Learning to Walk with a Baby Helmet

August 20th, 2009 No comments »

If you are a mother or father to an infant who is starting to walk, or will be in the near future, you may want to consider a helmet to protect your baby’s precious future. If you are wondering why your child would need a baby helmet, the answer is quite simple. Your baby’s safety and health are at a greater risk while learning to walk due to the many falls he or she is guaranteed to take. If you add in the fact that more and more houses are designed with hardwood floors and tile, you have a very dangerous situation.

Head injuries in children are on the rise, and are being publicized more as well. This has many people thinking of ways that they can prevent an injury in their child. One way is to use a baby helmet, such as thudguard, during times that your child is practicing those first steps. You will be pleased to know that these helmets are designed with foam that is a half an inch thick, and also impact tested for reliability. They are going to be comfortable and lightweight, as well as stretchy for your ever-growing baby. Another great benefit is that it was designed by a mother who knows exactly what type of design would be the most effective for safety, while still being comfortable to the little one. An infant helmet that will contour to your child’s head shape will prove to be less difficult a task when trying to get the baby to wear the helmet.

While a baby helmet is no substitute for good parental supervision, it can give some piece of mind when your baby does take those first falls. It is also a great way to prevent early exposure to radiation and x-rays when those falls lead to trips to the emergency room. Wearing a baby helmet early on is a good way to teach good helmet use later on when outside play and bike riding start to be an interest. It really is never too soon to teach good safety habits, not to mention the peace of mind you will have each day as well.

No comments »

Posted in General

Tags:

The Toddler Bike Helmet: Three Good Models

August 19th, 2009 No comments »

For some people, buying a toddler bike helmet for the first time can be an overwhelming experience. How do they find one that will work well for their child, yet be a good value for their money? The first part of the answer to this question is to check safety ratings. The helmet should meet CPSC guidelines, and the fact should be indicated by a sticker inside the helmet. The next thing a parent should check is the helmet fit. It should be snug yet comfortable, adjust securely under the chin, and fall no more than two finger widths above the child’s brow. Lastly, the parent should check the comfort of the helmet. The strap should not pinch, the helmet should not be too heavy, and it should not hurt the child’s head.

According to reviewers, there are three main toddler helmets that meet the above guidelines and receive high ratings from both parents and consumer reports. The first toddler bike helmet on the list is the Bell Boomerang. It is the most highly rated of them all, with the highest score for impact absorption. It has a good fit and a material on the inside that stretches, yet is firm. In addition, it comes with a detachable foam visor and a pinch guard on the buckle. However, its rating for ventilation was not as high as others and it has a shape that annoys some children. And because it only comes in one size, it may not fit your toddler.

The second helmet to receive high ratings is the Giro Me2. Like the Bell Boomerang, this toddler bike helmet fits children with a head size from 18.5 to 20.5 inches. It has many of the same features, such as a detachable visor and a pinch guard, but it doesn’t receive quite as high of scores on impact absorption. However, its impact absorption is still very good, and it has the added benefit of a more rounded shape that allows toddlers to lean back better in a bike trailer. Additionally, many parents love the adjustable fit system, which allows them to tighten the helmet without worrying about chin straps.

Finally, the Specialized Small Fry toddler bike helmet also receives high marks. It is the only one of the three helmets that comes in more than one size. The smaller size, which is made for children under the age of three, fits head sizes from 17.25 to 20.5 inches. As a result, it can be used for children with a smaller heads than the other two. The larger size is highly adjustable, fitting children between three and seven years old and heads between 18.5 and 21.75 inches. It also has a full-head fit band that provides a snug fit, yet is very easy to use. However, it is much harder to find than the other two helmets. A parent will likely have to go to a bike shop or check online to buy it.

No comments »

Posted in General

Tags:

Things to Consider When Choosing Toddler Helmets

August 18th, 2009 No comments »

A bike outing with a toddler can be a very enjoyable experience for all concerned. However, it can also be a dangerous one. Bike tires can blow out, rocks in the road can pose a hazard, and you never know when a car door might open suddenly. In any of these cases, your child is likely to fall off of the bike or out of the bike trailer. And if that happens, there is a high possibility of brain injury or even death if your child’s head is not protected. But in 85% of these cases, injury can be avoided with the use of toddler helmets. So before you go on the next bike ride with your toddler, make sure that she has one.

The most important thing to look for in any helmet is compliance with CPSC standards. This ensures that the helmet will not block the child’s vision, won’t dislodge if your child happens to fall, and will be strong enough to protect your child’s head well if it hits a hard surface. Although all helmets in the U.S. must meet these standards, it is still a good idea to look for the CPSC sticker inside any toddler helmets you are thinking of buying.

Besides safety standards, there are a few other things you should look for when buying toddler helmets. First, check out the shell. Is it smoothly rounded, without any snags? Does it have enough vents to keep your child ventilated, but not so much that the foam protection inside is compromised? What color is it? White or a light color provides much more visibility in the dark. Second, study the strap. It shouldn’t be too skinny, and it should have a strong buckle. A pinch guard is also a good idea, as it will prevent the buckle from hurting your child. Finally, you should look at the visor. Make sure that it is rigid, rather than soft and pliable.

Once you have found some toddler helmets that seem to meet all of the above requirements, take your child to the store and try the helmets on her head. Make sure that they are lightweight enough that she can hold them up without a problem. Check the fit to make sure that it is snug enough to stay on even when the helmet is twisted or pulled, but not so tight that it is uncomfortable. In addition, it should cover most of the child’s head, sitting no more than two finger widths above her brow. If all of these things are equal, your child can choose the helmet that is the most attractive to her. After all, she’s the one who will have to wear it.

No comments »

Posted in General

Tags: