When should kids wear a helmet?

Cycling: it's the law

In Sweden, children under 15 must by law wear a helmet when riding a two-wheeled bike or being carried on one. 1177 also recommends a helmet when the child sits in a bike seat or bike trailer.

Sledding, skating, skiing and skateboarding

1177 says children need a helmet when sledding, skating, skiing, inline skating or skateboarding. It isn't the law, but it is the advice. For inline skating and skateboarding, wrist, knee and elbow guards are also a good idea.

Helmets off at the playground

This is the most important piece of advice at a playground: take the bike helmet off before your child starts playing or climbing. The chin strap is built to hold even under large forces. If the helmet catches on a climbing frame, a fence or a net, the child can be strangled. It has happened at playgrounds.

Helmet makers say the same in their instructions: take the helmet off for climbing.

A green buckle for the youngest

A toddler helmet with a green buckle opens by itself if the child gets caught and the strap is pulled tight. That lowers the risk of strangulation. 1177 says these helmets suit children up to seven, and the insurer Folksam recommends a green buckle for under-sevens.

The green buckle doesn't release in an ordinary fall, and it protects the head as well as a regular helmet. It doesn't make climbing in a helmet safe, so our advice stays the same: helmets off at the playground.

Choosing a helmet

• CE marked. The helmet should carry the CE mark.
• The right size now. Buy one that fits today, not one to grow into.
• Level on the head. It should sit straight and cover the forehead, back of the head and crown.
• Replace after a knock. A helmet lasts about ten years but should be replaced straight after a hard impact.
• Thin hat underneath. In winter, keep the hat thin so the helmet still fits properly. That's our advice.