To ask my DDs to wear helmets when they go out on their bikes?

[LackingInspiration]

Because I'm starting to feel like an overprotective mother (and I so am not one of those!). All the other children in the street don't wear helmets, and my DDs are so good at keeping theirs on, but I know it annoys them.

The thing is that, unlike most of the decisions DH and I have made about parenting, we've just swallowed the standard advice about helments, without researching the ins and outs of them. So what's the deal?

Am I being overprotective? Or haven't I read enough research and arguments to make an informed decision?

My DD hates wearing hers as it makes her head hot, I used to let her take it off. Then last month a friends DS fell of his bike and hit his head on the kerb - he is now brain damaged and currently unable to walk or talk. I dont YABU to make them wear one.

YANBU. Helmets are a must. I tell my DS that those not wearing helmets are on their way to pick them up.

If your kids complain, just tell them what my mum told me when I wasn't allowed to watch inappropriate movies/go to riots like my friends: Their mummies don't love them as much as I love you.:O

That's so to hear, Butterfly. However, might show it to DD1 (7) who's starting to complain because of it being hot.

Where can I find the arguments, Riven?

Are the against ones about adults wearing them then?

My friend's daughter, aged 8, was knocked of her bike last week while crossing a road. Her head hit the windscreen and she rolled onto the ground. The people at the hospital said she would very likely have been killed if she had not been wearing a helmet. As it is, she escaped with a badly broken leg, has had an op and is now walking around with a zimmer frame. So I would say that you are not being overprotective to insist your children wear helmets.

I make all mine wear helmets too. Don't see many other with them on but i just think it is up to them. I tell my kids i have my rules which they have to follow and other people have their own rules.

Yes, I do too, Tortoise. I'm more questioning my blind acceptance of current advice...something I rarely do as a parent! I usually question and research everything!

My brother was at a road junction and was knocked off his bike by a car. His life was most probably saved by his helmet which ended up with a very large crack in (but his skull didn't). He used to take groups of young people from church out mountain biking and if one of them took their helmet off or refused to wear it, then that person would not be allowed to continue.

I think they save lives, and yes, I admit that pedestrians and car users probably die more often from head injuries, than cyclists, but surely that's not a reason for cyclists to stop wearing helmets (Does it go into serious head injuries and brain damage?) Surely there would be more deaths/serious injuries if helmets were not worn?

Riven, I'm sorry to hear about your DD. Had she not those problems, would you make her wear a helmet?

No doubt my friend's mothers felt the same, but they either were happy with their own reasoning in letting their kids do such things or they got over it.

BIL had a crash off his bike a few weeks ago. He went right into someone's garden trough their drystone wall. The helmet was wrecked with stones embedded in it. His head would have been seriously injured without it.

yanbu

My 7 year old DS3 (would now be 26) was behind a lorry that started to reverse. The lorry cant have been doing more than 2 mph. DS3 was on his bike, but without a helmet. He tried to push his bike back to get out of the way but the lorry reversed over him - he did not survive. At the inquest it was said that he would have lived if he had been wearing a helmet.

YANBU - please make sure they wear them at all times.

My sister fractured her skull in an unhelmeted fall from her bike while in school. No car involved. Really messed up her exams/results/uni application.

My DCs know not to even sit on their bikes without their helmets. It has saved both of them from some nasty bangs on the head. Helmets are inexpensive and not particularly uncomfortable to wear. I'd rather not take the chance.

Hubby is watching Spanish tour at the moment
All the racers are wearing helmets

A schoolmate of my kids fell off his bike on the way to school.Massive head injury. Died a few days later

YANBU and really should not be influenced by what other parents do. My son came off his bike when he was about 5 and his nose and mouth were a mess but his helmet saved him from much worse. No brainer for me.

Have read the link and it seems that the only reason for not wearing a helmet over wearing one is that those wearing helmets may not be as careful as those wearing helmets because they think they are in less danger.(hmm)

I think that the key here is to teach your child the dangers and risks when on the road but explain that, like seatbelts helmets are necessary. They may not always save but they do no harm and in many situations can protect from life changing injury. If parents don't insist on kids wearing them that's up to them, but I'm with my mum on this; I will put up with the hassle of saying no and incurring my kid's wrath because I love them so much.

YANBU. Mine are 3 and 1 and they wear helmets. I taught a boy who fell off his bike at low speed and died from brain damage. He was 15 at the time. His parents were told a helmet would have made a difference. It is one of non-negotiable areas!

YABU to ASK them to - its not a question in my head, YANBU to make them ;)

my DD (3yo) has always worn a helmet since she got her bike, and she currently only rides it on the grass by our house with stabilisers! We are very keen to teach her that its just what you do with a bike

DH had an accident nearly 2 years ago where some numpty woman was driving with her screen still fogged up (!) and turned right into a road, without noticing the cyclist riding the other way (in her path... my DH).... he went up and over the windscreen and landed on the pavement the other side, she only stopped the car as she thought she had clipped the kerb... didn't even see him in front of her face - I digress, but he had a rather nasty shoulder and wrist injury (ligaments), managed to avoid breaks as he rolled to break his fall - but his head was fine, helmet ruined - he was well miffed as he loved the colour