How should a bike helmet fit my preschooler?

It should sit squarely on top of the head, level and parallel to the ground, covering the top of the forehead. Your child should see the brim when they glance up. It should not slide over the eyes or move when pushed, pulled, or shaken. Tighten the chin strap so it is snug, with the side straps meeting just below the ears. Buy a helmet labeled to meet CPSC standards, and replace it after any serious crash, even if it looks undamaged.

Can I put sunscreen on my baby, and what about my preschooler?

Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight and rely on shade and clothing; sunscreen may be used on small areas like the face only if shade and clothing are not available. For children 6 months and older, including preschoolers, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF of at least 15 (up to 50). Apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.

What insect repellent is safe for a 3-year-old?

For children, DEET and picaridin are common choices; pick the lowest concentration that covers your time outdoors, since higher percentages last longer but are not stronger. Under age 2, use DEET sparingly. Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE/PMD) should not be used on children younger than 3 years old. Spray repellent on your own hands first and rub it on, avoiding the eyes and mouth, and do not put it on a young child's hands. Wash it off with soap and water once back indoors.

How can I tell spring allergies from a cold?

They share runny nose, stuffiness, and sneezing, but itchiness is the hallmark of allergies and is not usually part of a cold. Itchy, runny eyes point toward seasonal allergies, especially when symptoms track with high pollen and last for weeks rather than clearing in about a week. Running air conditioning, keeping windows closed on high-pollen days, and a bath after outdoor play help. If symptoms are hard to control, ask your pediatrician, who may refer you to an allergy specialist.

What surface is safe under playground equipment?

Use a shock-absorbing surface, not grass, dirt, or pavement. Safe options are wood chips, mulch, sand, or pea gravel at least 12 inches deep, or mats made of safety-tested rubber. The surfacing should extend at least 6 feet in all directions around the equipment. On sunny days, check metal and plastic slides before use because they can get hot enough to burn, and take your child's bike helmet off before they climb so it cannot catch.

Spring · Preschooler 3–6 yr

Spring Outdoor Safety for Preschoolers (3-6 Years)

Warmer days mean bikes, scooters, and hours at the playground. A few fixed habits cover most of the risk.

Your preschooler wants to move. Spring is the season for trikes, scooters, sand, and grass. Most spring injuries come from a handful of predictable things: a loose helmet, an unprotected afternoon in the sun, an allergic reaction, or a fall onto a hard surface. None of these need a complicated system. They need a few habits you set once and repeat every time. This guide walks through helmet fit, sun and sunscreen, seasonal allergies, bug bites and repellent, nature play, and playground rules, with the numbers that matter and clear signs for when to call your pediatrician.

8 min read Spring Updated June 2026

Reviewed against current AAP and CDC guidance

The helmet goes on every ride

A helmet belongs on your child for every ride on a bike, scooter, or tricycle, no matter how short or how close to home. The AAP is direct about this: hundreds of thousands of children are seriously injured in bicycle crashes each year, and most crashes happen near home, in driveways, on sidewalks, and on bike paths, not just on streets. Set the rule early so it is not a negotiation. Teach your child to wear the helmet correctly from their first ride, and ride only with adult supervision and off the street.

Fit the helmet correctly

Position it level

Sit the helmet squarely on top of the head, covering the top of the forehead.
It should sit parallel to the ground when your child's head is upright, not tipped back.
Your child should be able to see the brim when they glance up.

If it is tilted back, it will not protect the forehead. Slide it forward and check again.

Tighten so it stays put

The helmet fits when it does not slide over the eyes or move around when pushed, pulled, or when your child shakes their head.
Use the fit pads or the dial at the back to remove wobble before you touch the straps.

Buckle the chin strap snug

Adjust the chin strap to fit snugly under the chin.
The side straps should meet just below each ear.
Re-check the fit as your child grows; a helmet that fit in fall may be loose by spring.

Replace a helmet after a serious fall

Sun safety and sunscreen

Babies under 6 months

Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight.
Use shade and clothing first.
If shade and protective clothing are not available, sunscreen may be used on small areas such as the face and backs of the hands.

Most spring outings with a young baby work best in shade with a stroller canopy and a hat, not sunscreen alone.

Children 6 months and older (your preschooler)

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF of at least 15 (up to SPF 50); SPF 15 or 30 works for most.
Apply 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors.
Reapply every 2 hours, and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.
Cover all exposed skin; be careful around the eyes.
Add a hat with an all-around 3-inch brim and cool clothing that covers the body.

Seasonal allergies in spring

Common signs: runny nose, nasal stuffiness, sneezing, and itchy, runny eyes.
Itchiness is the hallmark of an allergy and is not usually part of a cold.
Run air conditioners where possible to reduce pollen in your home and car, and keep windows closed on high-pollen days.
A bath or shower and clean clothes after outdoor play rinse pollen off skin and hair.
If symptoms are hard to control, ask your pediatrician; they may refer you to a pediatric allergy specialist depending on severity.
Seasonal allergies are not the same as a sudden severe reaction to a food, sting, or medicine. See the red-flag note below.

Choosing an insect repellent by ingredient

Ingredient	Protection by concentration	Age guidance
DEET	10% lasts about 2 hours; 30% lasts about 5 hours	Apply sparingly under age 2; use the lowest concentration that covers your time outdoors
Picaridin	5% lasts 3 to 4 hours; 20% lasts 8 to 12 hours	A common choice for children; follow the product label
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) / PMD	8-10% lasts up to 2 hours; 30-40% lasts about 6 hours	Do not use on children younger than 3 years old

Apply repellent the safe way

Spray a little on your own hands first, then rub it onto your child's face. Avoid the eyes and mouth.
Do not apply repellent to a young child's hands; they move them to their mouth and eyes.
Skip combination sunscreen-plus-repellent products. Sunscreen needs reapplying every 2 hours, which would over-apply the repellent.
Wash your child's skin with soap and water once they are back indoors, and wash treated clothing before it is worn again.
Long sleeves and pants in light colors add a physical barrier on buggy evenings.

Nature play and outdoor time

Pick play areas away from streets, driveways, and any water; young children should ride and play only with adult supervision.
Do a tick check after time in grass or wooded areas, including the scalp, behind the ears, and the backs of the knees.
On warm days, make sure your child takes breaks, drinks plenty of water, and has time to get used to the heat.
Check the local Air Quality Index when heat, pollution, or wildfire smoke is a concern, especially if your child has asthma.
Never ride at dusk or in the dark; it is extremely risky for children and adults.

Playground rules for ages 3-6

Choose equipment matched to your child's age, size, and ability; equipment built for school-age children may be too big.
Safe surfacing under and around equipment: wood chips, mulch, sand, or pea gravel at least 12 inches deep, or safety-tested rubber mats, extending at least 6 feet in all directions.
Metal and plastic slides get very hot in the sun and can burn hands and legs; test the surface and choose shaded areas on warm days.
Take your child's helmet off before they get on playground equipment.
Remove drawstrings and necklaces, which can catch and become strangulation hazards.
Platforms higher than 30 inches for school-age children should have guardrails.

Call your pediatrician

Seasonal allergy symptoms that disrupt sleep, play, or breathing despite home measures, or that you cannot control.
A tick bite followed by an expanding rash, fever, or flu-like illness in the days or weeks after.
An insect bite or sting with spreading redness, warmth, swelling, or pus, which can signal infection.
A sunburn with blistering, fever, or a child who seems unwell.
Any head injury after a bike or playground fall with vomiting, confusion, unusual drowsiness, or loss of consciousness.

Call 911 now

Trouble breathing, wheezing, or a tight throat after a sting, food, or medicine.
Swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or face, or widespread hives.
Sudden vomiting, pale or bluish skin, dizziness, or collapse after an exposure.
Signs of heatstroke: very high body temperature, hot or flushed skin, confusion, fainting, or no longer sweating.
A drowning scare or any time your child is pulled from water and is not breathing normally. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years old; it can happen in seconds and is often silent, so supervise closely around any water and use barriers around pools.

Quick answers

How should a bike helmet fit my preschooler?: It should sit squarely on top of the head, level and parallel to the ground, covering the top of the forehead. Your child should see the brim when they glance up. It should not slide over the eyes or move when pushed, pulled, or shaken. Tighten the chin strap so it is snug, with the side straps meeting just below the ears. Buy a helmet labeled to meet CPSC standards, and replace it after any serious crash, even if it looks undamaged.
Can I put sunscreen on my baby, and what about my preschooler?: Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight and rely on shade and clothing; sunscreen may be used on small areas like the face only if shade and clothing are not available. For children 6 months and older, including preschoolers, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF of at least 15 (up to 50). Apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.
What insect repellent is safe for a 3-year-old?: For children, DEET and picaridin are common choices; pick the lowest concentration that covers your time outdoors, since higher percentages last longer but are not stronger. Under age 2, use DEET sparingly. Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE/PMD) should not be used on children younger than 3 years old. Spray repellent on your own hands first and rub it on, avoiding the eyes and mouth, and do not put it on a young child's hands. Wash it off with soap and water once back indoors.
How can I tell spring allergies from a cold?: They share runny nose, stuffiness, and sneezing, but itchiness is the hallmark of allergies and is not usually part of a cold. Itchy, runny eyes point toward seasonal allergies, especially when symptoms track with high pollen and last for weeks rather than clearing in about a week. Running air conditioning, keeping windows closed on high-pollen days, and a bath after outdoor play help. If symptoms are hard to control, ask your pediatrician, who may refer you to an allergy specialist.
What surface is safe under playground equipment?: Use a shock-absorbing surface, not grass, dirt, or pavement. Safe options are wood chips, mulch, sand, or pea gravel at least 12 inches deep, or mats made of safety-tested rubber. The surfacing should extend at least 6 feet in all directions around the equipment. On sunny days, check metal and plastic slides before use because they can get hot enough to burn, and take your child's bike helmet off before they climb so it cannot catch.

Sources & further reading

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This guide reflects current AAP and CDC guidance and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. ParentFlow is a wellness companion — not a substitute for your pediatrician. For any medical concern, contact your healthcare provider.