...to not make my 5 and 3 year old wear a cycle helmet?

[blindasabatenburg]

Am I failing to protect them sufficiently? Nobody wore helmets when we were kids and I don't recall anyonr suffering a serious head injury, though we all came off from time to time.

They could just as easily fall from a climbing frame at the park, but nobody would insist on a helmet for the park!!!

lljkk, the number of people cycling in the UK is pretty low as it is (which is obviously not a good thing)

I rarely see cyclists without helmets (actually I rarely see cyclists) and I doubt that making helmets compulsory would reduce it significantly.

Insisting that a helmet be bought/ produced for inspection with every bike bought would still not make it compulsory to wear it, although I think you would be stupid not to wear one.

In the same way that you shouldn't drive even just 5 minutes whilst over the alcohol limit, you shouldn't cycle for even 5 minutes without a helmet. It only takes a second to have an accident.

40 years ago we used to have our gang hut in an old garage, which was later demolished due to the asbestos ceiling.

We used to make things with our grandfathers rusty old carpentry tools.

We used to try to cut the scythe with a rusty old cycle and scythe that had been left by the old owners of the house.

We climbed out of the window onto the roof of the three story house to have picnics, and watched our parents in the garden trying to find us.

We laughed in the face of rabies and patted dogs and cats on holiday.

We played in the old quarry and in the grounds of a disused mental asylum which had a 'swamp' (stinky, stagnant lake) where we walked over inlet pipes to get to the bank.

We ate Angel Delight.

I don't think I'll be letting DS do any of the above

'cut the scythe with a rusty old cycle' wtf? 'cut the grass with a rusty old scythe'!

Why no Angel Delight?

Because it's rank! We called it Birds Angel de-shite but mum insisted it was 'pooding' (she wasn't far off there).

I used to love it. I suspect most commercial ice-creams contain as much rubbish as Angel Delight.

I make my own. Then I can shove as much chocolate and/or lemon curd in there as I want.

Not unreasonable but irresponsible and naive. Put a helmet on your children for goodness sake!

Significant brain injury will affect your children's lives (and yours) forever. Is it worth the risk?

So presumably you don't use car seats or seat belts, woykdn't think twice of piling 5 kids in the back of your car and can't see the fuss about drinking and driving? Can't see a difference personally.

2 children have been killed in their bikes in the last 3 years. Both from head injuries, both would probably have lived if they had worn them.

My niece fell sideways off her bike and hit the side of her head on the road. She was taken to hospital and the Drs happy to see it was just bruising. If she hadn't worn the helmet (that was in a real mess) it would have been a broken skull at the minimum. She was told the side of the head is much more fragile and easier to break than the front.

it isn't cut and dried with helmets but on balance, it seems better that kids wear them. They don't have much road sense and take more risks than adults - and are not qualified to make their own decisions.

Examples why it isn't cut and dried: my husband and a colleague were both knocked off their bikes by idiot drivers who didn't choose to obey the roundabout rules. My husband doesn't wear a helmet because he feels he gets better hearing and vision without. Broken collarbone. His colleague was wearing a helmet and couldn't talk properly for weeks afterwards as the strap damaged his voicebox.

but then I know someone else whose life was saved because she was wearing a helmet when she was knocked off.

They're your kids. Totally up to you. If you can cope with them dying or suffering a brain injury as a result of them falling from their bike go right ahead and don't make them wear a helmet.

Personally I make my kids wear one when riding a bike or scooter after knowing a boy at school who fell from his bike, not travelling too fast and sustaining a bleed to his brain when his head hit the edge of the pavement. Actually I would probably make them wear one anyway.

YABU and selfish. Let them decide for themselves when they are old enough to take their lives into their own hands. While they're in your hands, it's your job to do all you can to protect them.

My stepmum's job is to care for a man in his 20s who is in a very incapable state after a cycling accident - he was not wearing a helmet.

The 'they didn't do it in my day' thing is the most ridiculous argument ever.

And as for well they didn't when we were young, my mum didn't wear a seatbelt and died from head injuries and a ruptured spleen after being thrown through a car window.

Your logic is totally fucked.

Agree VERY STRONGLY with Bunbaker. And, in any case, the figures quoted do not say how the pedestrians were (sadly) killed. Without that information, they really tell us very little.

On the other hand, most cyclists killed in road accident DO die of head injuries:
www.rospa.com/roadsafety/info/cycle_helmets.pdf

Search ROSPA cycle helmets and read the report. I can't link on iPhone but interesting reading.

Just wanted to add that the majority of the patients I treated hadn't involved any vehicle, it was things like hitting the kerb, potholes and one that involved cows. Reading this thread more and more all I have to say is come walk a day in my shoes. See the devastation caused, the lost lives, hopes and dreams gone forever. The grieve stricken families. If you know that its possible to help reduce this and protect your children why would you not. YABVU

Skiers didn't wear helmets at one time but it is common now and you can hire them in all resorts, it is compulsory in some places and with some insurance companies. I was skiing with a doctor from an intensive care unit and she said that it was madness to ski without , she was backed up by the nurse from A&E, they both had helmets. I went and hired one and wouldn't ski without now. We didn't discuss cycling - but I can't see why it would be different.

Why on earth wouldn't you? All the child safety organisations recommend helmets. If you're in any doubt talk to a police officer or A&E nurse. It is your choice of course, but surely it is your job as a parent to protect your child.

Just do not understand why you do not make them wear helmet's , why? I think when it come's to our children why take the risk. My children know no helmet no bike.

why would you not want to protect your children from harm? Seriously.

They don't make them because they take the easy way out when the DC doesn't want to put it on.

Just seen this and wanted to add my tuppence worth. My DS was on his balance bike today, no helmet. Downhill, gravel path...you can imagine the rest. One gashed forehead, blood everywhere, a trip to A&E, some glue and steristrips to the middle of his forehead and a very grumpy four year old with a stonking sore head.

He is lucky he didn't do more damage, but if he had been wearing a helmet, it wouldn't have happened. He will be fully helmetted from now on, and elbow and knee pads. And a cotton wool suit...or a protective bubble

We just didn't think that a balance bike called for any protection, I mean it's just a scooter with a seat isn't it? Lesson learnt.

I've tried to upload a pic but having ishoos with my phone!

I've posted about our family friend on here before. She's one of the most laid back, pragmatic people we know. She is also an A&E consultant and her boys, all 3, cycle with helmets on. I'm happy to follow her lead.

I'm also quite happy being one of those 'safety parents', whatever that is.