Does my child actually need a MIPS helmet?

MIPS (a low-friction liner designed to reduce rotational forces) is widely recommended by the specialist reviewers we read whenever budget allows, and parent threads on r/cycling and r/bicycling consistently steer toward MIPS-equipped picks for toddlers and school-age kids. Non-MIPS helmets that meet CPSC certification still provide baseline impact protection, but if you can stretch the budget, mainstream and high-trust kids-cycling reviewers generally favor MIPS.