When Leo Ceron was ten years old, he was in a serious bike accident. Today he bears the scars, but his mother Nubia Ceron knows it could have been much worse.

"The doctors say if it wasn't for his helmet, he could have had a concussion," Ceron said.

When worn properly, bike helmets can reduce the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent. That is why safety experts say it is important to get your child into the habit even before he is old enough to ride.

"The best time for a child to start using a bike helmet is from the minute they are on a toy, whether it is a push toy or whether they are on a tricycle. It's imperative that it is worn and that it's worn properly," said safety expert Charles Conway.

Every child's head is different, so the only way to ensure a proper fit is to have your child try the helmet on.

Removable foam pads allow for some growth, but the helmet should fit snugly and sit squarely on your child's head, resting about one inch above his eyebrows.

Straps should be adjusted for ears, and the chinstrap should have just a finger's width of space.

Examine your child's helmet regularly. Once a helmet has been in a crash, it is no longer effective.

Helmets are not for everyone. Babies' neck muscles aren’t strong enough to hold the weight of a helmet. Experts recommend that a child should be at least a year or older before riding on anything that requires a helmet.

You can find helpful parenting information by visiting Parenting Magazine’s Web site. Just click on the link: Parenting Magazine