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.

[LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus]

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!

[PinkElephant7]

@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.

[JemimaJoy]

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.

[JemimaJoy]

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

[Lulu1919]

My children always wore their cycling helmets when on scooters .

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

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.

[NewPapaGuinea]

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.

[FedNlanders]

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

[Singlebutmarried]

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.

[Talkwhilstyouwalk]

@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 😂

[FedNlanders]

Climbing frames are not next to the road either.

[JeanClaudeVanDammit]

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

[Emmelina]

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.

[MuddySocks]

Absolutely helmets should always be worn.

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

[Pongo101]

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.

[lanthanum]

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.

[oohmama]

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....

[changeruset2748]

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.

[idontlikealdi]

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.