Every owner of a Kawasaki Teryx or Kawasaki Mule knows how much fun and enjoyment they get out of their UTV. Those owners with families tend to want to share that same elation with their loved ones, and who do you think will enjoy flying down the trails with Mom and Dad more than the little ones?

But are the Teryx and Mule side-by-sides actually safe for kids to come along for the ride?

Yes, and no.

There are a lot of safety features built into these side-by-sides, such as roll cages, bucket seats and grab bars. The problem with these features, however, is that they’re usually designed for grown adults, not our pint-sized partners in crime.

Luckily for you, however, we’ve got the scoop on everything you need to make your Kawasaki Teryx or Mule perfectly safe for your favorite little humans on this Earth! So let's dive right in, shall we?

Kawasaki Teryx Seats

We are all used to the fact that in most states there are laws requiring car seats or booster seats for anyone under the age of 8 years old. But did you know, that in most instances this applies to off-road vehicles as well?

And for good reason!

The stock seats in a Kawasaki Teryx and Mule are simply not designed to safely secure your kids. They’re meant for much larger bodies to be held in place, and kids can easily slip out of the stock seats and harnesses.

This issue, thankfully, is an easy fix. Rather than buying entire Kawasaki Teryx aftermarket seats, you can simply add something like the Apex Junior Seats by Aces Racing or Mini Bucket Seat by UTV Mountain that act just like a booster seat would in your car. This ensures the little ones in your life are able to fit comfortably, and safely in the UTV with you at all times.

If your child is young/small enough to still be required to ride in a car seat, please make sure you use a car seat instead of a booster seat to ensure they are as safe as possible!

Youth Seat Belts and Harnesses

In addition to adding a proper booster seat to your Kawasaki Mule for your kids, you may want to think about the stock harnesses as well.

Like the seats, the Kawasaki Mule seat belt is meant for grown adults. But, just as with the seat issue, replacing your harness is quite simple. With a few tools and a 4-Point 2" Youth Harness (H-Style) by DragonFire, you’ll have a new harness meant to keep your kids safe installed with ease.

Are you starting to see a theme here yet? 

Child-proofing your Kawasaki side-by-side is simpler than many might think! But what else could you do to ensure the safety of the most important people in your life?

Kawasaki Mule and Teryx Helmets

Helmets are one of those things that we all know is a must-have safety accessory for our kids. Whether they’re riding their bikes, skateboarding, or trail blazing with mom or dad in the UTV every weekend, right?

As kids ourselves, we may have argued with our parents about why we needed to wear a helmet. This is one argument, however, most kids never win. Riding in the side-by-side with you is one such situation where a helmet should be at the top of the list for your kids to ensure their safety.

Helmets such as the Bell Qualifier Pumper DOT Helmet by Rugged Radios come in all shapes and sizes to ensure your little ones get the correct fit. Whats more, is that they keep fresh air pumping into the helmet so that your children are comfortable all day long. And you can even set them up with a communications kit so that they can still hear and talk to you even with all the noise going on while riding down the trails.

Pretty cool, right?

Definitely not the same helmets we all had as kids. If we had, we might not have complained about them nearly as much!

Final Thoughts

One last idea I will leave you with, is one that many people may not deem necessary.

With all of the side bars and grab bars being exposed metal, these are yet another contact point that can cause discomfort during bumpy rides, and even bruising when a major bump causes you or your kids to slam into them.

Adding a product like the Kawasaki Teryx Side Bar & Rear Grab Handle Pads by Greene Mountain will allow you to ride with the peace of mind knowing that those hard contact points are padded just in case something goes down.

Hopefully these ideas for making your Kawasaki Teryx or Mule safe for your kids to ride in made it easier during your research process. We always make sure to carry the best Kawasaki accessories here at Everything Kawasaki Offroad to ensure you’ve got a one stop shop for everything you need!