Once good weather arrives, children are anxious to get on their beach cruisers. At this time of year, parents might be thinking about getting a first beach cruiser or replacing a beach cruiser bicycle. Other parents may be considering buying new accessories for their children. These tips for outfitting your children should make the whole process much easier:

1) Select the right size of beach cruiser. A bike that is too big or too small is uncomfortable and can actually be dangerous. When selecting a good beach cruiser, have your child straddle the beach cruiser, with both feet on the ground. Your child should be 1.5 inches (3.81 cm) above the top tube of the frame. When buying online, measure your child’s inseam and then select the right size bike by calculating the frame and wheel height. Where possible, have your child ride a beach cruiser you are considering buying around the store. It will be clear right away whether a bike is uncomfortable or too big or too small.

2) Select a good helmet. Helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by 85% when worn correctly. Even though your child may not be going very fast on a beach cruiser, a helmet is still a good idea, since falls and accidents are a possibility. Select the right helmet by first measuring your child’s head to choose the correct helmet size. Then, use the pads that come with the helmet to get a customized fit. A good helmet will not slide or slip, even when your child shakes his or her head. A properly fitted helmet sits just above the eyebrows and level across the forehead. If your child’s helmet has sustained an impact, it must be replaced, as it will not sustain another impact effectively. If it has been three years since your child had a new helmet, it’s time for a new one. Similarly, if your child has grown since the last time he or she was fitted for a helmet it’s time to re-evaluate to ensure that the helmet still fits.

3) Select the right clothes. Your child should have bright-colored clothes to wear while riding a beach cruiser. These clothes should not have any loose pieces of fabric or drawstrings that can get caught up in the beach cruiser.

4) Opt for reflective items. Reflective decals, flags, and accessories can jazz up your child’s beach cruiser, but can also help protect your child when he or she is on the road.