helmet debate

[greygirl]

OK this is not a debate on helmets in general (I am 'pro helmet', me and DH have our own from pre-kid days).

Lidl is due to sell kiddie snow helmets in a week or so, for £15. I have 3 small children. I am considering buying helmets for when we go skiing and for lessons at the snow dome (approx 2 times a month till the holiday).
my husband says no because a) we will have to take them on holiday which will be a right clart and b) they will grow so quickly it will be a waste of money.


does anyone else buy helmets for their (uk based) skiing children? any comments?

[greygirl]

oh no i have made two threads the same!

[foolish girl] emoticon.

please feel free to laugh at me here, and write in the other thread.

[snowmummy]

lol ;)

[Batteryhuman]

Yes if only £15. You will know they fit, know they are clean and not smelly. Also they don't take up much space because you can stuff them with socks and gloves etc.

[LynetteScavo]

Tll your DH if the kids wear them on the plane it will save a lot of space, and and be useful should the plane go down.

(I'm laughing at you here: I have nothing useful to post on the other thread, except the hassle/cost of helmets is less than the hassle cost of hospitals)

[sandk]

We bought DS a helmet in the UK. When we reneted one the previous year, he kept taking it off, as the chin strap irritated him. It is at least adjustable in size, so it will last a few years I hope.

[greygirl]

Lynette, my DH and I did once contemplate wearing our helmets on the plane to allow more baggage space - we opted against it

and i think they are a very good thing. It horrifies me that they aren't compulsory for kids at the indoor slopes.

we are getting some - the kids demanded to know why i had my own and they didn't. i felt mean saying 'well i like having my own...'

[LadyBiscuit]

I don't wear one but I am going to make my DS have one. I do very ladylike skiing though :o

[greygirl]

the trouble is LB, they say 'but why aren't you wearing one?
and then you see some clown tearing down a blue slope (because they aren't so hot on a red slope ) and you think what if theyt hit DS? what if they hit me? what would happen then?
and then the whole family gets helmets.

but i wasn't going to debate this because i think they are controversial as some people don't like wearing them, and there are lots of arguments.

when you say ladylike, do you ski with your knees together and your little finger sticking out? i tend to collapse in aheap everywhere.

[LIZS]

Pretty sure they are compulsory for kids at Hemel Hempstead ski centre

[snowmummy]

They are compulsory for all under 16's at all of the slopes and compulsory for adults who are taking part in freestyle

[EssieW]

I would buy and take for children, and would get one myself in future.

This is academic as I won't be skiing this year - can't afford!

[greygirl]

that's interesting, they aren't at the snowdome for all children - only for the ramp nights and for snowboarding lessons.

[snowmummy]

Is that Tamworth greygirl? I thought they were compulsory there too - obviously I'm wrong . I wouldn't ride there with no helmet though, the snow is bulletproof.

[elastamum]

I always buy helmets for my boys in the UK and make them wear them at all times when skiing both in the UK and abroad. They are 9 and 11, both very good black run competition skiers and now have crashing falls at high speed on a fairly regular basis as they have very little fear. Mind you they still cant quite catch their mum, although these days I tend to ski at the back to pick up the pieces

Have worn one myself for quite a few years. Love it, it keeps my head warm! If you pack them stuffed with goggles and socks they dont take up much room. Now they are a bit older they wear adjustable boarder type helmets that seem to last, although we have got through quite a few over the years

[vadrouille]

Buy! Buy! Buy!
It's not just snow conditions and how you ski, it's what happens in a collision. Apparently the vast majority of severe head trauma are due to heads knocking, and it doesn't have to be violent.

[LadyBiscuit]

Oh no, I mean I'm a pretty proficient skier and now don't do anything that challenging and stick to pistes which don't challenge me too much - don't like falling over. :o

Yes I should get one for me too - my DS is still very small so he won't ask this year but he will.

[greygirl]

no snowmummy, helmets are only compulsory for snowboard lessons and the ramp nights.they are available as part of equipment hire to anyone though.
I find it horrifying to see small children (and big children) in a ski lesson without them, some of them are wearing wooly hats anyway!
i am i think a bit extreme because i think all snowdome staff should wear one on the snow as well - to deomonstrate they are available - and also all tour company reps.

but yes i love my helmet, makes me feel 'hey i might just do a fs 360 you know' (as if!)

[MrsGuyOfGisbourne]

Buy. DS has one which he will pass on to Ds2. Regarding the 'why aren't you wearing one, I will also wear on this year. no dwonside - serious upside.

[greygirl]

just for the record all 3 loved their helmets, and the eldest was really thrilled 'my helmet, for me? just for me?' etc.
AND Dh admitted they were a good idea. (i think he was a bit jealous). the S size fitted me, if anyone wants a helmet, they seem decent enough.

[Kiwinyc]

I just picked up two of those lidl helmets today. Great price, one for me and one for my 7yo (I have an embarassingly tiny head! But it means I can fit into a kids helmet!) I am a beginner snowboarder and i like them cos they keep my head warm too. They're v. light and it won't be a problem to pack them and I think my 7yo will be thrilled to have her own.

[grottielottie]

Don't have any advise about particular ski helmets but I would say that children's heads don't grow nearly as fast as the rest of them.

I started to learn horse riding at the age of 7 and only needed two helmets until I was an adult, also a lot of helmets are adjustable.