AIBU to think that children should wear helmets whilst scooting

[Talkwhilstyouwalk]

Most children I see riding bikes wear a helmet, but loads of children on scooters do not! Is riding a bike considered more dangerous than riding a scooter? AIBU to think that my (otherwise very sensible) friends who let their children scoot to school without a helmet are risking their children's safety? I get that helmets can be a faff and wearing one messes up my daughters hair, but I'm very firm that if she refuses to wear her helmet then she's walking! Bit embarrassed that we had a showdown about this in front of another mum who lets her child scoot helmet free.

I think it is over the top, and teaching children to be overly cautious. I have noticed it is a very middle class thing, and have encountered what I perceive to be snobbery about 'no helmet no wheels'! I have spent a lot of time in North London, St Albans and Hitchin though!

@SnackSizeRaisin I'm so with you! Walking/running just as unsafe but no helmet required. Its the perception that wheels are unsafe. And yet total disillusion when it comes to cars.

Scooters are nowhere neat as dangerous as bikes. They are slower, easier to jump off etc. Even I wouldn't make my child wear a helmet scooting and I'm a pretty anxious person! My kids have no problem wearing one on a bike tho, they love helmets weirdly.

Do your children wear helmets on climbing frames too? Much more dangerous than scooters imo.

My children always wore their cycling helmets when on scooters .

I make mine wear helmets. Just kind of on principal. As they get older and start using bikes and scooters on ramps and near roads I want helmet wearing to be deeply ingrained and automatic.

If what was true? When I say wearing a seatbelt I mean the habit of putting it on. I don’t think it should be a legal requirement.

Mine age 8 and 4 have to wear helmets on scooters.

The only two times we’ve ended up in a and e with the child have been helmetless scooter related injuries, first time concussion (came off backwards) and second time split eyebrow after catching a wheel in a divot in the pavement.

Definitely wear a helmet.

@JemimaJoy

Do your children wear helmets on climbing frames too? Much more dangerous than scooters imo.

No but I try to avoid big ones where possible 😂

Climbing frames are not next to the road either.

Most climbing frames have a softer surface than a pavement underneath. It’s more dangerous than walking or running because they can go a lot faster on a scooter than they can walk or run.

I like the suggestion that it’s just a middle class concern though and it’s only the parents of little darlings from St Albans who want to avoid head injuries

Mine have all had some really nasty tumbles from the scooter. It’s not through carelessness on their parts, a bit of speed down a hill and a rogue bit of gravel and over they go! No helmet, no wheels here.
Sure, they probably wouldn’t build that kind of momentum at 3 on a little micro scooter, but when do you get them into the habit? From day one.

Absolutely helmets should always be worn.

I don't understand how people can let their children on scooters / bikes without one to be honest.

YANBU. My daughter recently had a horrific scooter accident that landed us in A&E. If she hadn't been wearing a helmet, it would have been much worse.

She wasn't looking where she was going, hit a steep kerb, went flying head first over the handle bars.

What worries me about scooters is windy days. If you've ever seen a child on a scooter caught by a gust and propelled suddenly much faster, you'd agree - they could be in front of a car before you have any chance of stopping them. I think our scooter did actually have something in the instructions about only using in good weather, but I doubt many people take any notice.

I don't understand how people can let their children on scooters / bikes without one to be honest.

This

Blows my mind

To be fair, my sister works for a brain injury charity and has seen the worst outcomes of scooter injuries so....

YANBU I don't let mine on bikes or scooters without a helmet. I judge every parent with a child on one without a helmet, of which there are many, unfortunately.

Always helmets here bikes, scooters skiing and horses. Having it non negotiable across the four just makes it easier.

And it costs a bloody fortune in helmets.