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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To make DD wear a helmet when on scooter?

58 replies

PurpsandScoots · 04/08/2018 15:51

DD is 3 so she has no opinion.

She’s got a scooter which she likes to ride to Nursery. As is normal with toddlers she’s not exactly steady on it and does sometimes fall off so I’ve been making her wear a basic helmet (you know like the ones you get in Halfords when buying a push bike?)

But I keep getting funny looks and my mum says there’s no need for a helmet on a scooter.

AIBU?

OP posts:
CaurnieBred · 04/08/2018 17:47

I am almost 50 and scoot as part of my commute. I wear a helmet.

WhiteCoyote · 04/08/2018 17:49

My dad made me wear a helmet in my teens which I thought was utterly ridiculous at the time. Less than a week after getting it I slipped off in the rain and smacked my head hard on the kerb. Really hard. Dented the helmet.
Literally one of the only decent things my dad ever did for me!

For the love of god make her wear a helmet.

havingabadhairday · 04/08/2018 17:56

DS wears a helmet, has done since we bought the scooter. He always wears it, it's not optional and it's a good habit to have.

I hate seeing children on bikes or scooters without them.

Wuss2018 · 04/08/2018 17:57

I can't really believe that you've asked this. Ok she may not be going fast and if she falls it may not be hard. But head injuries are not always about force it's where the hit takes place.

ILoveMyMonkey · 04/08/2018 19:34

We actually used to laugh at a local parent

What a mature reaction Hmm, it's a good move to get them used to a helmet from a young age regardless of what other judgey people might be about.

Queenofthedrivensnow · 04/08/2018 19:43

A colleague of mine fell off her bike, on her own not hit by a car. Extensive brain injury and machines were eventually switched off. Just banged her head on a kerb. Was happy to buy the helmets!

Kakamora · 04/08/2018 19:43

Okay so here’s my story.

When I was 10, my friend was playing on her scooter on her drive. She went down a little ramp at the end of the drive and straight into the road, hit at only 30 miles an hour. She was in a coma for 3 days until she died. No helmet.

Fabricwitch · 04/08/2018 20:44

YADNBU

Yura · 04/08/2018 20:53

Better getting laughed at than getting condolences... my kids wear helmets, even the 18 month old on his balancing bike. It’s better to get them into the habit young, it’s too late once they have their own opinion.

BlackeyedSusan · 04/08/2018 20:58

helmets mandatory here. Sod what the dimwits think who think it is ok. Dd has had a head injurty that may have resulted in five weeks off school so not taking any chances.

Teachtolive · 04/08/2018 21:01

sunshineandroses1 do you not see the sense in getting them into the habit early?? Who cares how slow the kid is going, he won't be going that speed forever, and if he's in the habit of wearing the helmet then it's just part of life and he's safer for it. But yeah, laugh at kids by all means Hmm

Queenofthedrivensnow · 04/08/2018 21:22

@Kakamora Christ what that must have been like to experience as a child poor you xx

Geekster1963 · 04/08/2018 21:40

My DD wears one when on her scooter or bike it’s not negotiable. I fell off my bike in the garden as a child and landed on the side of my forehead and knocked myself out and had a lump as big as an egg (this was the early 80’s). My nephew knocked his front tooth out in a scooter accident. Not worth the risk not to wear one.

Original poster
PurpsandScoots · 04/08/2018 21:40

I will make her wear it don't worry!

OP posts:
SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 04/08/2018 21:49

We actually used to laugh at a local parent who’s child wore a helmet when he was about two and on the tiniest little trike going at slower than a walking pace

He's not always going to be traveling that slowly, is he though? That parent is doing the right thing by getting their child used to wearing a helmet now.

I cannot believe that you would stand there laughing about it. I've seen children with head injuries from skateboarding, bikes, etc. They can be traumatic and life-changing. Some never recover.

Anyone who doesn't insist on helmets for their kids is being seriously negligent, in my view.

FloGo18 · 04/08/2018 21:50

I think you should insist she wears one. Better safe than sorry!

hiddeneverything · 04/08/2018 21:51

It's non negotiable

hiddeneverything · 04/08/2018 21:51

It's non negotiable

hiddeneverything · 04/08/2018 21:51

It's non negotiable

User467 · 04/08/2018 21:55

I have a blanket "no helmet, no bike or scooter" rule. They're not allowed on without one even in the garden, they don't even question it now.

I worked in a head injury unit for five years and believe me, helmets are a must

oldsockeater · 04/08/2018 21:59

Helmets have their uses but are not magical and cannot prevent a child being hit by a car or knocking their teeth out!
If you do put a helmet on a young child, make sure it fits properly and does not slide around. It needs to cover their forehead. So many toddlers wear helmets that are far to big, cover their eyes or slide off the back of their head causing a strangulation hazard. Also never let a child climb or play in a playground wearing a helmet - strangulation by helmet is probably a more common cause of death than head injury from falling from a scooter, in a 2 or 3 year old.

HumpHumpWhale · 04/08/2018 22:07

In response to the pp who laughed at a parent making their kid wear a helmet from tiny, I did that with my daughter from 18 months on her little trike/scooter hybrid that I push along. I do it because if it's just a given that she needs a helmet to go on it, then she won't argue later. She insists on it herself now. also DH once tipped her face first off it when the wheel got caught in a crack
I wasn't so diligent with my son when he was younger and he had a couple of nasty spills that, thank goodness, didn't result in lasting damage but certainly could have.

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 04/08/2018 22:11

Helmets have their uses but are not magical and cannot prevent a child being hit by a car or knocking their teeth out!

But if a child is hit by a car, it can reduce the possibility of a serious head injury.

I agree that helmets should be fitted properly - that's vital.

BetterEatCheese · 04/08/2018 22:13

I get funny looks and I don't care - dd is 7 and has never been on her bike or scooter without a helmet. I would much rather have funny looks and defend my decision than dd have a cracked head. No brainier

BetterEatCheese · 04/08/2018 22:13

I get funny looks and I don't care - dd is 7 and has never been on her bike or scooter without a helmet. I would much rather have funny looks and defend my decision than dd have a cracked head. No brainier

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