BTWIN 500 Baby Helmet Review: the smallest bike helmet available in the UK

Whether you're a confident cyclist or brand new to it, when it comes to cycling with babies and toddlers, getting started can feel daunting. You might have a lot of questions, from what type of bike seat to use to which bike helmet is best.

At Cycle Sprog, we’re here to help! We’ve previously written about the best baby and toddler helmets, and today, we’re reviewing one of the most affordable and popular options: the BTWIN 500 Baby Helmet from Decathlon.

Many of the families who review products for us have purchased the BTWIN 500 Baby Helmet themselves. It’s the smallest bike helmet available on the UK market, making it ideal for getting little ones as young as 9 months onto bike seats, cargo bikes, and balance bikes.

In this review, we’ll cover our reviewer’s experience with the helmet, the helmet's key features and whether it’s worth buying.

You can also dive deeper into the world of cycling with young children with our guide on Cycling with babies & toddlers.

Disclosure: Cycle Sprog were sent the BTWIN 500 Baby Helmet to review. We were not paid to write this review, and all opinions are our own. We do use affiliate links, so may get a small commission if you choose to buy through the links on this page. This funds the website, and we thank you for your support.

About our BTWIN 500 Baby Helmet reviewers

Our little tester, R, started using the BTWIN 500 Baby Helmet at just 10 months old and continued until around 20 months when she outgrew it.

She wore it for family bike rides and trips to nursery, safely secured in a Thule Yepp rear bike seat, as well as when riding her balance bike.

BTWIN brand overview

BTWIN is Decathlon’s in-house cycling brand, offering a wide range of bikes and accessories at budget-friendly prices. Their product lines are split into three tiers:

• 100 series – Basic, entry-level products for casual use.
  
• 500 series – Mid-range products with additional features and improved design.
  
• 900 series – High-performance products designed for frequent use.

The BTWIN 500 Baby Helmet sits in the mid-range category, providing a balance between affordability and performance.

First Impressions of the BTWIN 500 Baby Helmet

At 170g, the BTWIN 500 baby helmet is very lightweight, which reassured us that it wouldn’t strain R’s neck, especially as she was so young.

The bright colour made it highly visible, and it felt well-made. The helmet has a decent amount of padding inside, making it nice and comfortable.

The helmet was easy to adjust, with a rear dial that allows for precise fitting as the child grows.

One of the standout features is the soft guard on the chin strap, which prevents pinching: a small but important detail for comfort and ease of fitting the helmet to a wriggly baby!

BTWIN 500 Baby Helmet specifications

• Impact protection – EPS liner for shock absorption with a PVC outer shell meeting the EN 1078 standard for cycling, skateboarding, and skating helmets.
  
• Adjustability – Rear dial for head size adjustment and adjustable side straps.
  
• Ventilation – 3 vents.
  
• Lightweight – Weighs just 170g.
  
• Size – XXS (44-49cm head size).

We have a handy guide for all things safety standards to look for in a helmet if you are wondering what the EN 1078 standard is!

Wearing the BTWIN 500 Baby Helmet

R was always happy to wear the BTWIN 500 baby helmet, helped by its bright pink colour and comfortable fit. To encourage her, we made a big deal about how she had a helmet just like Mummy and Daddy.

On the rare occasions she resisted, reminding her that our bike rides required a helmet, or offering a well-timed snack to distract her, usually did the trick!

The helmet was comfortable for R to wear while in her rear bike seat. This was a combination of a well-designed rear bike seat and the helmet remaining well fitted despite pressure on the back. The helmet didn't slip forward or backward so we were impressed!

The helmet proved to be very durable, showing minimal wear despite 10 months of regular use.

Thoughts from the sprog

Whenever we mentioned a bike ride, R would enthusiastically toddle into the conservatory to fetch the helmets. She also took it upon herself to make sure everyone was ready, insisting “Mummy helmet on, Daddy helmet on” before we could set off.

Clearly, she saw helmets as an essential part of the adventure and didn’t mind wearing her BWIN 500 Baby Helmet.

Other Cycle Sprogs with their BTWIN 500 baby helmet

How to get a baby to wear a bike helmet

• Find one that fits them well.
• Helmets feel weird at first, so get them slowly used to wearing it for longer periods of time.
• Use it around the house to help them get used to it.
• Make helmets a part of all family cycling, model wearing a helmet and they’ll want to be like you. 
• Fit the helmet once you are ready to roll, they’ll soon be loving their bike ride and they’ll be distracted! 

Top tips for cycling with a baby

Our Cycling with babies and toddlers guide tells you everything you need to know to get started. 

• Keep initial rides short.
• Pick fun destinations: farm animals, playgrounds, or a trip across the lake.
• Pack plenty of snacks!
• Dress warmly: merino hats fit well under helmets, and warm gloves and shoes are essential.
• Time rides around nap schedules. If using a bike seat, be prepared to stop if they doze off.

Other articles you might be interested in:

• Best rear bike seats for toddlers and small children
• Cycling with babies and toddlers: everything you need to get started
• The best balance bikes as recommended by parents
• Best front bike seats for toddlers and young children
• Best bike helmets for babies and toddlers
• Best cargo bikes for families