Clueless Mum. Help me with a helmet question.

[BlahBlahName]

My daughter has been doing riding lessons for about 2/2.5 years. Nov 2024, she got a helmet for her 11th bday. It was size small 52-54cm. She's been complaining of it being too tight the last while. But her head measures 53/53.5 when I measure her. She has pony camp next week and says she can't wear it, it's too painful. But is it just that this is the correct tightness now and a helmet should be tight? We had it properly fitted at one of the best places. It's about an hour drive away and expensive so I'm reluctant to go just to be told it fits. Is it normal for a helmet to feel this tight or for a kids head to grow in a way that a helmet could feel uncomfortable just a year and a half later?
I can be late to work in the morning for a last minute dash to the shop before pony camp. But I am clueless about this stuff so a steer would be most welcome.

If it’s painful and she’s pushing against wearing it (providing she isn’t always trying to get out of wearing it of course!), then it’s too tight. A too tight riding hat is fucking awful, brings on the worst headaches ime.
FWIW I wouldn’t say a year and a half is an unduly short period of time for a child’s riding hat, they grow fast. Also it may partly be that her head shape itself has changed slightly, different makes fit differently so it may be the current one no longer suits her head shape if you see what I mean?

It should feel snug but not tight. I’d say at her age, when she’s likely to be growing quickly, it’s about time to take her for a hat measuring again with a trained fitter.

@Listlostlast she's very good at wearing the helmet and her body protector so I don't think she's trying to get out of it. Thank you for the quick answer. I didn't think about head shape, that's certainly possible.

@GoingForAGallop thank you. I think it's time for a morning run so.

At that age yes they grow quickly, my daughter had one only last about 6 months. Some brands are more suited to round shaped heads and some to oval shaped.
There are some good adjustable options available just make of sure correct safety standard.

It might be the wrong shape? So the circumference is fine but it’s pinching in certain places. I’d take her to get fitted

My mam has to get the 'round' shaped helmets or she gets an almighty headache wearing them for longer than an hour.

Charles Owen do hats in both round and oval fittings.

Kids heads definately grow in 18 months! My dd has gone through 3 hats in 3 years. Plus every time she's had a bad fall it should really be replaced.
As previous posters said there's 2 types of hat shape round and oval so see which fit her better. Jockey skull caps are normally better value than a fixed peak as most cross country venues don't allow a fixed peak due to safety.

Op this is definitely worth a drive to a really good equestrian store where they do hat fitting and hold a good selection in stock. Ask around for recommendations on your local Facebook horsey groups. Or visit one of the bigger shows where they have good shopping. Any fitter worth their salt will look at your child’s existing hat and advise about the next one! Children’s heads do grow quite fast though and of all the things you buy in equipment it’s one of the most important.

I got one for myself which was fine in the shop and them gave me a blinding headache when I wore it. And of course you can't take it off mid-ride!

I have an oval head and it was round so I had to bite the bullet and get a new one. I got a German brand I can never remember the name of with an adjustable band.

If your dd is still growing just get a decathlon one, they are ok and not expensive compared to some of the shiny 400+ ones I have seen in shops.

I bought my daughter a new helmet for Christmas - the same size she'd been wearing at the riding school for the previous 6 months. By March, she was complaining that it was too tight so I bought her a replacement. Kids grow fast :(