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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Aibu to wonder whether most parents insist their children wear helmets when on bikes and scooters?

127 replies

Pl242 · 29/09/2021 10:40

I’m curious on views on this.

We have always insisted both our kids (5 and 2.5) wear helmets when on their bikes and scooters.

Our 5yo is in year 1 and has just started to cycle to school. The bike is stored at school and we have been taking the helmet home and bringing it back at pick up. Mostly just as we thought it might easily get lost.

We had noticed that a fair amount, in fact probably the majority of kids who we see on bikes and scooters around school, don’t wear helmets. This surprised us a bit but obviously none of our business as to what decisions other parents make.

However now our 5yo has told us that they’re allowed to cycle around the playground at playtime and also at the after school club she attends at least one afternoon a week. This isn’t a surprise but hadn’t crossed our minds really. She told us about it in the context of a new after school club friend in the year above her who she says doesn’t wear a helmet. This prompted us to tell her that our rule is that she always needs to wear a helmet when cycling and that we would start to leave the helmet with her and her bike at school. She accepted this but obviously we won’t be there to enforce that and she did seem a bit confused/upset as to why she has to and her friend doesn’t etc. We just reinforced our view again.

I don’t want to come off as precious. It’s not as if we’re hugely worried of the risk of her having a serious bike accident in the playground. It’s just that we want to be consistent on helmet wearing. And I know that I can and should direct any specific concerns about bike use at school to the school.

It’s just that this situation prompted me to wonder whether we’re in the minority here or not. Interested in views and if you want to vote I suppose the possible answers are:

YANBU- most parents insist on helmet wearing
YABU - most parents don’t see helmet wearing as important.

OP posts:

Flymeoutofhere · 29/09/2021 22:46

Yes for both bike and scooter for DS(6). Most children around here wear them too.

Imagine your child flying along the footpath on their scooter or bike and they either get hit by a car coming out of a driveway, or they hit a bump and go flying through the air and smack their head on the concrete kerb etc. I know I’d rather my child’s brain was protected by a helmet if the worst should happen.

Mischance · 29/09/2021 22:49

You're more likely to suffer a head injury as a car passenger, maybe wear helmets then as well

That statement assumes that all cyclists wear helmets. Cyclists without helmets are at far greater risk of head injury than car passengers by a long way.

CourgetteGlutTony · 29/09/2021 22:58

Everyone should always wear one. Even if not on a road...just falling over from standing at 0mph and hitting your head on concrete is enough to give you life changing injury. Not worth the risk

Gosh, so surely pedestrians should wear helmets too?

2020newmum · 29/09/2021 23:32

People are talking about bikes and scooters, but what about an 18 month old on a trike?

BogRollBOGOF · 30/09/2021 07:51

Mine wear helmets on bikes and scooters. Children's accidents are more likely to be be at the relatively lower impact end of collisions with inaminate objects and falls where the hepmet has most benefit.

As older children, my two are still obliging and while I'm not going to vouch for their teenage years, they should revert back to that culture where a helmet is the default.

Not a cycling injury, but I have a facial scar from a water sports activity. We initially started off without helmets but conditions changed and we went and put some on. Within two minutes of resuming a larger wave occured washing someone else's equipment into the side of my face. The helmet took the brunt of it leaving me with a small, deep wound, bruising and mild concussion. It would have been far nastier if the instructor had not adjusted their risk assessment to the changing conditions and my face/ head had taken the full impact.

VaguelyInteresting · 30/09/2021 07:54

@2020newmum

Actual statistical chance of injury aside, it’s a Really good opportunity to get them used to wearing one for when they transition to bikes.

LaPampa · 30/09/2021 09:13

Our rules are wheels = helmets. So bikes, scooters, skate boards, roller skates. If they refuse the helmet they don’t ride. And that’s wherever, even if it’s a park.

ambereeree · 30/09/2021 09:58

I saw a child cycling home from school on the road without a helmet. I was quite surprised as he's only 10 but then maybe it was in his bag. I've been considering contacting his school as its a small town.

PlanDeRaccordement · 30/09/2021 11:35

@Macncheeseballs

You're more likely to suffer a head injury as a car passenger, maybe wear helmets then as well

Source?

ItsSunnyOutside · 30/09/2021 11:43

@DeepaBeesKit

If you are outside the garden on a scooter or a bike my kids know: no helmet, no riding. End of.

That includes DC who is only just 2. They have never ever ridden anything with wheels outside without wearing a helmet.

Yes. My DC recently turned 2 and even if we are just in the garden on her scooter, the helmet goes on. She runs and gets it herself and understands no helmet, no scooter.

CiderWithRosiee · 30/09/2021 14:04

*Trigger warning: child death.

I really wish everyone who is still being flippant about helmet wearing would go back and read my post from yesterday at 11:54. I too thought that my DC would be fine, because they wouldn't be going far/fast/they were small.

I. Was. Wrong.

Imagine your life changing forever in a split second, because that is all it takes. Literally the blink of an eye. I can describe exactly how every moment of that day felt, the pain, the inhuman howls that ripped out of me when they told me my baby was dead. I don't want to upset anyone, and I'm sorry for the in-depthness of this post, but if a bit of a shock makes someone think again then I think it's worth it.

Helmets save lives, that is a fact. Of course they don't prevent head injuries but there is clear evidence (both scientific and anecdotal) that shows they DO prevent more serious or life changing injuries when used correctly.

So please people, get your child a helmet. Don't ever make the mistake of thinking it couldn't happen to you, or your family, because I was just a normal Mum to three beautiful children, and now our family is broken beyond repair forever. Don't be complacent with the most precious things in your lives, it is never ever worth the risk.

BabyPotato · 30/09/2021 15:07

@CiderWithRosiee I'm so sorry for your loss. I read your post yesterday and I will remember it whenever my DC is going out on any wheels. Thank you for raising awareness, and I wish you and your family well.

Saoirse82 · 30/09/2021 15:17

I do, and even when I was growing up in the early 90s I was forced to wear a helmet, I significantly remember this because NO-ONE else wore one and I felt so embarrassed I didn't even want to ride my bike. But I was a deal breaker for my parents as we'd had a distant cousin killed after a head injury coming off his bike. There's no way I'd let my kids ride their bikes without wearing a helmet, I wouldn't allow them to go without s seat belt and this is just as important. I think it's very irresponsible of any parent who doesn't make sure their child wears one.

Original poster

Pl242 · 30/09/2021 16:01

@CiderWithRosiee I’m so sorry if my thread has proved triggering for you. Thank you so much for your post. It’s incredibly brave of you to share and must be beyond painful to relive. I’m incredibly sorry for your loss.

OP posts:

CiderWithRosiee · 30/09/2021 16:04

@Pl242 no apology necessary! It's good that you brought it up

NewPapaGuinea · 30/09/2021 20:13

Why wouldn’t you insist they wear a helmet? The chances of an injury are low, but why take the risk when wearing a helmet is no effort. My DS has tumbled over on the shocking pavements round here and bashed the peak of his helmet. That would be his face otherwise.

Lulu1919 · 30/09/2021 20:20

Yes to both
Mine worse helmets on scooters and bikes
Still wear them on bikes as does my husband ...they don't ride traditional scooters anymore as they are married adults !!!

mumjustmum · 30/09/2021 20:23

I do, mine are all still toddlers.

EagleOrIgel · 30/09/2021 20:27

Sorry for your loss CiderwithRosiee

Mine have to wear a helmet for biking and scootering. DC1 came off his bike and split his helmet, DC2 managed to flip over the scooter handlebars after the wheel jammed in a rut on the path They both remember these happening and don't make a fuss about it, even though two out of 6 families in our road don't make their children wear helmets "because they don't want to".

I also insist on full protective gear (wrist, elbow, knee, helmet) for rollerblading and skateboarding, which again two the other families don't.

School only allow biking or scootering to school with correct equipment inc. helmet and rescind permission if a teacher sees no helmet, lights etc. The older kids are allowed to scooter at break time, again, only with a helmet and a teacher supervises that part of the playground.

oblada · 30/09/2021 20:27

Helmets for bikes, rollers and skateboard certainly regardless of age (even for me at least for cycling and skateboard, Ill admit to not wearing it with rollerblades). Scooter it depends if it's just to school and back and no tricks we're more relaxed with the oldest aged 10.

RedHelenB · 30/09/2021 20:27

My kids had bike helmets on the roads only, never wore one on a scooter. evet.

Etonmessisyum · 30/09/2021 20:41

Mine wear them. Always. My sister is strict about it too, lucky for her son who ended up over the handle bars and onto his head last year going a bit of a speed - hit a rock or log or something. His wee face was a mess but the drs said his helmet did save him from more serious injury, as he fell onto his head. He was a lucky boy. I wouldn’t want to take the risk of my kids not wearing one.

Looubylou · 30/09/2021 20:44

My son refuses, so his bike doesn't leave the garage. 10. It doesn't help that DH is do as I say and not as I do bike rider. Makes my blood boil. I don't insist on a scooter.

RedHelenB · 30/09/2021 20:58

@CourgetteGlutTony

Everyone should always wear one. Even if not on a road...just falling over from standing at 0mph and hitting your head on concrete is enough to give you life changing injury. Not worth the risk

Gosh, so surely pedestrians should wear helmets too?

I know someone who is a paraplegic from doing just that, a freak accident tripping up on the pavement and suffering a stroke.

thinkfast · 30/09/2021 23:02

Yes to both.

Ds is fantastic on his scooter so I used to let him use it without a helmet. However he was once standing still on his scooter chatting and managed to fall. I'll never forget the noise when his head thumped the pavement. Ever since I insist on a helmet.

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