Best Deal on Quality Bike Helmet for 3 Yr. Old?

[amarsh31]

DS #1 is getting his first bike for his birthday next Monday. My mom wants to also buy him a helmet. We live in Wisconsin, so biking is "out of season" right now. Any recommendations on brands and deals right now? Other buying advice is appreciated as well!

Thanks!

[azazela]

Not sure as far as a deal, but this is the awesomest toddler/small kid bike helmet ever!

http://www.amazon.com/Giro-Me2-Infant-Bike-Helmet/dp/B000FABD0G

[amarsh31]

Thank you so much! Do you think the Infant one will fit my almost 3 year old, or am I better off purchasing the Youth one from Giro?

[wimama]

We also live in WI. Do you live near a REI? They have some great bike helmets as do the local bike stores around here. We have a regular bike helmet by Giro for biking, like this one:

http://www.rei.com/product/794739

I like the Giro one for biking, because it seems like it has a better protection for falls forward off a bike. It fits my son's head nice and doesn't slide around. My DS did take a tumble off his balance bike and hit his head a bit. It was so mild of a fall DH didn't see him even hit his head, DS was complaining about his hand that he scraped in the fall. Even with the helmet he had a goose egg bump on his forehead where the helmet bumped him. Can't imagine what a little fall like that would have done without the helmet, yet a bigger fall or impact.

But, I am planning on purchasing one of these Nutcase multi-sport helmets for DS for using on his scooter. We wanted a different helmet with a little more back of the head protection for his scooter. He probably will not get the new helmet or scooter until his spring birthday, though.

http://www.rei.com/product/780227

We buy most of our sports and outdoors type equipment at REI, since we are members and get dividends back on that stuff.

[wimama]

Thank you so much! Do you think the Infant one will fit my almost 3 year old, or am I better off purchasing the Youth one from Giro?

It really depends on how big his head is. My DS is big for his age and has a pretty big head. He needed the youth not the toddler Giro at age 3. And in the Nutcase helmets, the Littlenutcase helmets are too small for his 4 year old head, he needs the small/med adult. LOL. But, they don't offer a youth version. The Giro helmets hit nice and snug once you get them all adjusted properly.

[nabigus]

We have the Bell Faction/Fraction:
http://www.amazon.com/Bell-Fraction-Youth-Bicycle-Helmet/dp/B002LVXX50/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289073114&sr=8-1

It's awesome! Ds doesn't object to wearing it at all, unlike his last helmet, and it doesn't tip to the back of his head. It also seems to have more general coverage than a traditional helmet.

[Jo..]

Take this for what it's worth: no IRL testing done. But the top toddler helmets rated by CR are (in this order):

Bell Trigger (retail 35)
Schwinn Thrasher (retail 20)
Bell Amigo (retail 30)