I know this is classic AT commenting style, but seriously? Covering a helmet with stickers, tape, even markers, can hide cracks and wear that can seriously put you at risk in a crash. Most work site safety programs don't even allow markers or stickers on hard hats for that reason. I would not take the risk with a kid.

Oh where do I begin? Ok I'm going to be very negative here. First off, that helmet is not properly fitted on that young girl. Second, Helmets are suggested to be replaced after two years (use or no use) due to the foam breaks down.

Yes this is a cute idea in theory.

Parents, please go to a real bike shop and buy a new properly fitting helmet.

I'm just sayin.

The bike basket is awesome...but i do have to agree about the helmets. Really cute, but just not so safe.

Agreed, lovely basket. Below is a link to the 2-V-1 guideline people can use to make sure their helmet fits properly (only a properly fitted helmet will protect your head). It's easy for kids and parents to remember:

http://ottawa.ca/en/health_safety/living/injury/helmet/choose_helmet/index.html

I recently learned about 2-V-1 and that helmets are designed to slide when they hit the ground. If you put anything on your helmet (like stickers or tape), it compromises the ability of the helmet to slide properly. Happy biking!

I will just echo what everyone else has said - it's just not safe and why risk your child's brain safety??

Also echoing what everyone else has said. The foam in bike helmets crushes to absorb the force of a blow, which is why you have to replace a helmet after even a minor accident. If the helmet is old enough for the outer casing to be cracked and damaged, it's likely the foam has been damaged and/or is breaking down with age.

Depends on the helmet, but mine is marked with a sticker saying it should be replaced after 3 years.

Agreed with everyone else as far as taping up a helmet goes. I wear a helmet because I like my skull intact, not for looks. If the usual relic of the 1980s sporty look doesn't suit your taste, buy a helmet that looks nicer but fits properly.

Helmet safety aside...that little girl is adorable, with her basket full of friends.

BTW, Giro has helmets for kids that are already covered with cute graphics. Great helmets, lightweight, comfortable and safe!

I think also part of how helmets work is being able to slide on the ground. So I definitely wouldn't want to add any traction to the outside. This is an awesome resource for bike helmet safety in the U.S.

That girl is such a cutie in her seersucker dress with a basket full of friends! CUTIE PIE!

I agree with everyone about the safety issue and would also add --- it'll get very hot in that helmet with all the ventilation holes covered up with tape.

I think all of these comments are made with the best intentions. But, this is a very little kid. She has training wheels on her bike and probably just rides it in the driveway or playground. She's not getting any speed or riding in the street. The worst thing that is likely to happen to her is she will fall from a height of about two feet and scrape her knee (something that she probably does twice a day just running around). I have two little kids and I make them ride with their helmets on their trikes and scooters, but, really, it's primarily to get them used to wearing helmets when they do ride a two-wheeler. If this little girl was wearing this helmet on the back of her parent's bike as they cycled, it would be cause for alarm. But, really, the duct tape one will be fine for now.

Bicycle helmets are designed to be used in a very specific manner, and this is not a safe idea.

Anna's kid likes it and if she likes it she'll wear it. If she hates it she won't and then she's more likely to get hurt than foam breaking down or it not skidding properly... please, as long as that little blond isnt taking her bike out on the highway I'm pretty sure she and her training wheels are going to be just fine. Cute project.

I'm so glad you guys posted about the safety issues of doing this, because when I saw the title of this post, it set off MAJOR alarms in my head.

Add another safety-nazi comment to the pile.

The bike basket does look very cute.

bad, bad, bad idea.

On a completely different tangent, I grew up with a Dad who was an HVAC expert. Duct tape is silver to match the metal which is used to make heating and cooling ducts.

I'm suddenly fascinated by the concept of decorating duct work with these new artsy-craftsy versions of the old favorite!

While I agree about the safety hazards, my kids wear helmets at the park when they ride their bike. it protects their head from a fall, but they aren't going fast and they certainly aren't near cars or anything dangerous. I'd feel confident that duct tape wouldn't compromise my toddler and kindergartener's protection. soon my son will be old enough to ride elsewhere and then he will have a better helmet for more protection and I wouldn't cover it with stickers or tape or anything. She is so cute with that tape :) (but vent holes are soooo nice, it gets hot here)

As everyone else has stated... it is a saftey issue for all the reasons listed above and for this reason...

the adhesive used on the back of stickers or duct tape often reacts with the plastic and causes crazing (tiny little cracks which are hidden by, you guessed it, the sticker or tape). In the experiment below a group tried adding stickers and duct tap to a bike helmet and left it for 1.5 years - then attacked it with hammers - the one that had the most damage is where the duct tape was.

There are reasons why you're not supposed to decorate construction helments with stickers because it renders them useless for their intention. You may not think your child will do much damage from a short fall but why take the chance?

http://www.bhsi.org/stickers.htm

"Our Sticker Experiment
We were concerned that we may be making too much of the sticker question, and that any damage to helmet shells might not have any significant effect on impact performance. In March of 2002 we plastered a Bell Ovation helmet with every type of sticker and tape we could think of and put it in a sunny window, then in a hot-and-cold attic to age. The tapes included regular Scotch brand Magic Tape, electrical tape, packing tape and even duct tape with very aggressive adhesive. The stickers included return address stickers, stick-on Velcro, decals and kids-style stickers of all types.

In December of 2003, 18 months and two hot summers later, we took the shell off the helmet and removed all the tape and stickers. We examined the shell with a magnifying glass and found no indication of damage anywhere, inside or out. Then we put the shell back on the helmet and "tested" it for brittleness with hammer blows all over the surface. Interestingly enough, the only spot that was brittle enough for the hammer to take a chunk out of the shell was the one that had been covered by duct tape, with its particularly strong adhesive."

The problem is that this idea is being promoted, so someone who doesn't know the issues could copy it. THAT is why the critiques are important to post.

@TAUREG - I completely agree.

Same reason that some of us 'safety police' don't like the posts that feature crib bumpers.

There's just no excuse for promoting ideas that compromise the safety of kids.

Concern trolls are concerned.

I actually read these comments hoping for more tips on decorating helmets. Silly me. No room for that when the threads are overtaken by the safety police!

Look, these helmets are not for high speed crashes. They are for little kids who take a spill off a bike that probably has training wheels on it.

As for the tags saying that they need to be replaced every three years, you know that is coming from people who want to sell you more helmets, right?

It's cute sure, but helmet safety is much more important.

With all the money I will save on not replacing my kid's helmet responsibly, I can get the new iPhone!

AT, take this down asap. Seriously, what the h** were you thinking???