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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to make my son wear a crash helmet...

32 replies

formerbabe · 10/12/2013 18:07

on his scooter? He is 5 by the way.
He always wears one when he goes on his bike obviously but I also make him wear it when he is on his scooter. I have noticed other children don't wear helmets when on scooters. My ds moans at me constantly to let him stop wearing it, as he doesn't want to be different from the other kids.
How come other parents don't bother with helmets...? I know most do when their kids are on bikes but not scooters?

OP posts:
AnUnearthlyChild · 10/12/2013 18:08

No we have a helmets on scooter rule here too

Binkyridesagain · 10/12/2013 18:09

My 12 year old wears his helmet when on his scooter. YANBU

Excitedforxmas · 10/12/2013 18:09

Yes on scooters here too!

RedLondonBus · 10/12/2013 18:10

Where is he scooting?

Original poster
formerbabe · 10/12/2013 18:13

In the park and sometimes on the pavement when we are walking to places. Its rare I see a child on a scooter wearing one.

OP posts:
RedLondonBus · 10/12/2013 18:16

Well at 5 he isn't going at speed on a pavement ( I hope!) where there are pedestrians

Thought you meant a skate board place.

My dc's won't wear them. Also, there's been loads of helmet safety threads where posters question the use of them, as they aren't as helpful as you'd like to think! Might be more about road users though

latebreakfast · 10/12/2013 18:43

He's far more likely to fall and injure his head when he's running around. Does he wear a helmet then? If not then why not?

brettgirl2 · 10/12/2013 18:46

I would. The only danger with them is if they take more risks as a result. If my dcs wouldn't wear them they would lose their bikes, regardless of age. I would also be v Angry if dh didn't wear one.

Artandco · 10/12/2013 18:50

Yes of course. Ds1 fell off his a while back and had a large stone imbedded in his helmet. Without that would have been in his head!

ZombiePenguin · 10/12/2013 18:50

I haven't actually ever seen any kid wearing any protective gear when on a scooter (although I can see the risks and I think YANBU, althoigh a kid would be, WRONGLY obviously, teased, around here?) and my DC don't have scooters.

Original poster
formerbabe · 10/12/2013 18:53

Latebreakfast...I think if he falls over whilst running round, he won't be going as fast as he goes on a scooter (not that he's very fast on it but still faster than walking). Also if he falls off his scooter, he is more likely to be thrown from it. You have more control over a fall when you are running compared with falling off anything with wheels. Do you apply the same logic to bikes?

OP posts:
wigglesrock · 10/12/2013 18:54

Mine don't wear helmets when they scoot. They do on their bikes. They run faster than they scoot.

RedLondonBus · 10/12/2013 18:56

Jeez op, your kid isn't one of those who fly past at speed whilst the ineffective parent follows unable to catch up before an accident happens? Is he?

Winterclause · 10/12/2013 18:56

I think yabu. I would make mine wear a helmet if they were on a stunt scooter at a skateboard park but not for normal scooting on the pavement.

Artandco · 10/12/2013 19:00

Zombie- It's actually very rare around here to see a child on scooter without a helmet. Rather than teasing for safety children will comment on lack of helmet

RedLondonBus · 10/12/2013 19:00

What she though? 8?12?

latebreakfast · 10/12/2013 19:02

My dcs rarely reached a walking pace on their scooters when they were 5. And no they didn't ever wear helmets, nor did any of their friends. Sorry, yabu.

Bikes are a different matter.

lilyaldrin · 10/12/2013 19:03

My 3 year old wears a helmet for all wheeled things - easier just to have that as a blanket rule.

Haveacwtch · 10/12/2013 19:06

My four year old wears a helmet when he scoots. We do the same route to and from school every day and some of it involves hills. He has been riding since he was three and does pick up speed. I would rather me safe than sorry

RedLondonBus · 10/12/2013 19:08

So you let him speed off down hills ? Hmm

IThoughtThat · 10/12/2013 19:12

Depends on the kid, the scooter and where you live.

If you live in Sheffield then you definitely need a helmet but is not so essential if you live in the Fens.

Helmets were compulsary for my kids when they were biking or rollerblading but as scooters were not about when they were little I am not sure what I would have done about scooters. I think I wouldn't have made my cautious boys wear them but would have made my crazy fearless girls wear them if their rollerblading was anything to go by Confused

I think it's easier for a kid to step or roll off a scooter than a bike where they are more likely to have an uncontrolled fall IYSWIM

Original poster
formerbabe · 10/12/2013 19:12

My dd was nearly taken down by a little girl on a scooter going at break neck speed, so I am strict about him slowing down/stopping when there are other pedestrians. He falls over quite a bit on uneven parts of the pavement so I think better safe than sorry.

OP posts:
brettgirl2 · 10/12/2013 19:14

Dd can go much faster on scooter than bike. We have a short/ quiet culdesac/ with a hill which is absolutely safe and cycle paths around our estate where she can ride safely.

I think it depends where you live. I also think some parents let los too out of control crossing drives etc.

NiceTabard · 10/12/2013 19:17

It's not the norm around here for children to wear helmets with scooters.

Not very busy pavements so impressive speeds are reached.

Like many things I expect the "norm" will differ depending on where you are, for a variety of reasons.

If you want your child to wear a helmet though, then they wear a helmet, and that's that.

MadeOfStarDust · 10/12/2013 19:23

We (DH and 2 kids and me) laughed out loud the other day (in a judgey, tutting sort of way - sorry... Blush )- we were walking through the woods - a child 5/6ish went zooming past on a scooter with a helmet on... later saw them walking back on their dad's shoulders - THROUGH THE WOODS - with LOW HANGING BRANCHES with dad CARRYING the helmet...

I just don't "get" some people.....