Even if wearing helmets in bicycle trailers for children is not mandatory everywhere, it is still strongly recommended. It increases the safety of the little ones and can prevent head injuries.
When searching for the right bicycle helmet for your child, the following features should be considered:
| Fit: The helmet must fit well and must not slip. It should sit snugly but not pinch. A helmet that is flattened in the back is best suited for child bicycle trailers. |
| Adjustment: The fit of the helmet should be easily adjustable so it sits optimally. So the helmet can also grow with your child. |
| Visibility: Reflective elements increase visibility in road traffic. Bright colors and designs make the helmet even more conspicuous and also appealing to your child. |
| Crash protection: Check the helmet regularly for damage and replace it after every crash. Never buy helmets second-hand. |
Currently there is in Germany no legally required helmet requirement for cyclists. The legislator relies here on the personal responsibility of parents. Even in an accident not caused by their own fault, cyclists without a helmet are not partly to blame for a head injury.
The supervising adult is responsible for ensuring that the child wears the helmet. In addition, children in the trailer must be buckled in and protected from contact with spokes and the roadway.
The bicycle trailer is a popular means of transport for children, as it is particularly practical and very safe in everyday life. A helmet in the trailer additionally increases safety and reduces the risk of injury in accidents.
Although there is no helmet requirement everywhere, it is strongly recommended that children in the bicycle trailer wear a helmet. This responsibility lies with the parents, who should also themselves set a positive example.
Studies by ADAC accident research show that helmets effectively protect against head injuries in falls. The ADFC also recommends wearing a helmet in the bicycle trailer.
A helmet distributes the impact force over a larger area, so individual spots are less heavily stressed. This way severe head injuries can be reduced or even avoided.
Our bicycle trailers offer your child, thanks to numerous features, a high level of safety. For example, the special geometry of our child bicycle trailers and the low center of gravity ensure maximum stability. More on the topic of safety at Qeridoo is shown in our following video:
Our innovative and patented head protectors offer optimal protection by ensuring, in case of a tip-over, a vital safety distance between your child's head and the ground. In addition, the push handle serves as a roll-over protection.
Despite these measures, it is important that your child in the trailer is additionally protected with a bicycle helmet. Even if there is no helmet requirement in Germany, we therefore recommend wearing a helmet in the bicycle trailer 100 percent. For your child's safety!
Children who can sit independently should wear a helmet in the bicycle trailer. For infants who are still transported in an infant carrier or hammock, wearing a helmet is not advisable.
The little head cannot rest properly with a helmet, which over-strains the neck muscles. As soon as your child can sit independently and upright without a seat insert, they should, however, wear a helmet.
So that the bicycle helmet optimally protects your child's head from injuries in case of a fall, when buying it is important to consider a few important points. Here wearing comfort also plays a big role.
The fit of the helmet is decisive. The helmet must fit well and must not slip, in order to ensure optimal protection
. It should sit snugly but not pinch, so no headaches arise. Ideal is a helmet that can keep up with the rapid
growth of your child.
The helmet should sit centrally on your child's head and cover half of the forehead
to protect the upper and back of the head as well as the temples. The ears and face must not be covered
.
Additionally, the helmet should sit firmly and not slip over the forehead or into the neck. In a fall otherwise
the helmet itself in the bicycle trailer could cause injuries.
Children should therefore be present when buying the helmet, so the right fit is guaranteed and your child likes to wear the helmet. Additionally, they can help choose the look of the helmet – an important point for children, so they also want to wear the helmet.
Important: You should never buy helmets second-hand! ADAC and TÜV tests recommend
in addition replacing the helmet
every five years
. After a fall the helmet must be disposed of and a new one bought, as its protective function is no longer
ensured.
The helmet shape should be flattened in the back as much as possible, so your child's mobility is not impaired and the head can be leaned back comfortably. Pleasant padding inside the helmet additionally protects your child's head against pressure points and increases wearing comfort.
The helmet should be equipped all around with reflectors and LED lighting to increase visibility. Bright, conspicuous colors and designs make the helmet not only more attractive for your child. They also improve visibility and prevent excessive heating from sun rays.
Last updated: February 4, 2026
In Germany there is no legal helmet requirement for children in a bicycle trailer – the legislator relies on the personal responsibility of parents. In Austria, by contrast, children under 12 are required by the bicycle regulations to wear a helmet – in a bicycle trailer or bicycle seat as well. In Switzerland there is likewise no legal helmet requirement.
Yes, urgently. Both the ADAC and the ADFC expressly recommend wearing a helmet in a bicycle trailer. Studies by ADAC accident research show that helmets protect effectively against head injuries in falls by distributing the impact force over a larger area. Qeridoo recommends wearing a helmet 100 percent – in addition to the trailers' integrated safety features.
A helmet flattened at the back is best suited for a bicycle trailer. This shape allows the child to rest its head comfortably against the backrest without the helmet pressing or affecting its posture. Comfortable inner padding, easy adjustability and reflective elements for better visibility are further important features.
The ADAC recommends wearing a helmet in a bicycle trailer and demonstrates with studies from its own accident research that helmets are proven to protect against head injuries in falls. In Germany, parents bear the responsibility for their children's helmet use and should set an example themselves.
The ADAC and TÜV recommend replacing the helmet every five years. After any fall – even if no damage is visible from the outside – the helmet must be replaced immediately, because its protective function can no longer be reliably guaranteed. Helmets should also be checked regularly for cracks or damage.
Qeridoo trailers offer a high level of safety through patented head protectors, a low center of gravity, the push bar as roll-over protection and a 5-point harness. These features are no substitute for a helmet, however – Qeridoo expressly recommends that children always wear a helmet in addition, from the age at which they can sit.
In Germany there is currently no legal penalty, as there is no helmet requirement. In Austria, by contrast, wearing a helmet is required by law for children under 12 – a breach can be penalized accordingly. Regardless of legal requirements, Qeridoo recommends a helmet in every case.
