To be annoyed that CM doesn’t use helmets..

[SarahJeffers341]

My daughter goes to a childminder and goes out on a bike. She is 3.5. She told me she doesn’t wear a helmet! This is a balance bike riding around the street. I always make her wear one with us and as a CM shouldn’t she be even more aware?! I took ours and told her I want her to wear is every time she’s on the bike.. she agreed but didn’t apologise and when they went out the other day (my daughter told me) the other two boys she looks after weren’t wearing them!

I just don’t get why you’d not think it was imperative! If one fell off surely she would be liable! I know she will now make my daughter wear hers but I’m annoyed she didn’t think it was an issue. Am IBU?!

I work in a nursery and every child must wear a helmet when on the bikes

@RedWingBoots

My DD doesn't wear a helmet on a balance bike, scooter or tricycle and if my CM or her nursery forced her to wear one I would be very cross with them.

My DD doesn't go down hill fast on any of them as I deliberately take her to hills to see if she will do that. (She has to go down hill on one in the way to the CMs then we go to steeper ones on the weekend.)

Your child wears a helmet to comply with your wishes mine doesn't.

You need to stop telling other parents how to parent as it is none of your business.

Why would you be cross with them for making her wear a helmet?

Is this your pfb? I don't know any children who wear a helmet for a balance bike! None of mine did and they all survived.

Me and my kids ride in a country park with a shit ton of water around us. I don’t make them wear helmets, I just find them cumbersome and unnecessary if you aren’t road riding. More likely to break an arm or wrist.

I agree with you, she should be providing helmets or asking parents to. Even if it were completely safe it’s good to get children into the habit of knowing they need a helmet on a bike, but they are needed for safety too.

@RedWingBoots

My DD doesn't wear a helmet on a balance bike, scooter or tricycle and if my CM or her nursery forced her to wear one I would be very cross with them.

My DD doesn't go down hill fast on any of them as I deliberately take her to hills to see if she will do that. (She has to go down hill on one in the way to the CMs then we go to steeper ones on the weekend.)

Your child wears a helmet to comply with your wishes mine doesn't.

You need to stop telling other parents how to parent as it is none of your business.

Wow you’re very responsible! Why would you intentionally NOT put a helmet on your child?

I am not expecting her to provide them or trying to parent other kids… I am merely saying I feel as a CM with other peoples children, surely you would do all you can to keep them safe.

I am glad some of you agree and I am not crazy!

I agree with you OP.

@Cosmois

Is this your pfb? I don't know any children who wear a helmet for a balance bike! None of mine did and they all survived.

I don’t know what PFB means?! Surely it’s best to be safe initially in order to continue wearing one on a proper bike! Glad yours all survived.. what a naive thing to say!!

@Bingbong21 like @PinkWaferBiscuit I've never known a school provide or use helmets for playground bikes and ride ons.

@LethargicActress

I agree with you, she should be providing helmets or asking parents to. Even if it were completely safe it’s good to get children into the habit of knowing they need a helmet on a bike, but they are needed for safety too.

Thank you. Am glad we agree!

@SisterAgatha

Me and my kids ride in a country park with a shit ton of water around us. I don’t make them wear helmets, I just find them cumbersome and unnecessary if you aren’t road riding. More likely to break an arm or wrist.

Good for you!

I am glad some of you agree and I am not crazy!

Why post on AIBU if you only want people to agree with you?

I am not expecting her to provide them or trying to parent other kids… I am merely saying I feel as a CM with other peoples children, surely you would do all you can to keep them safe.

But she is keeping them safe in accordance with their parents wished. She is now putting on the helmet you have provided which is correctly fitted to your child's head. The other children's parents have not provided a helmet so are presumably OK with their children riding the balance bike without.

@SarahJeffers341

Wow some of you are really not bothered! A 3.5 year old going down a fast hill on a balance bike needs a helmet. She’s fallen off before at home with a helmet on thankfully. I didn’t know they had be using bikes and when she told me, I took a helmet but wanted to know if she was being unreasonable initially letting all the kids not wear them. I don’t expect her to buy them but to ask us for them.

I wasn’t suggesting I wanted to sue her! I was concerned for my daughters safety and if she fell off without a helmet I would be very angry with CM!

Well you should have asked about what she would do with her and given her the helmet. Pretty lax of you not to know what your CM does with your daughter. CM had quite reasonably assumed you are not fussed.

How have you not known? Don't you communicate with the Cm? Or even your own child?

With respect, a head injury from a 3 year old on a balance bike at a relatively low speed would be incredibly rare and probably minor. I couldn't get worked up about this. I would insist on helmets when they're on a proper ride but not necessarily when pottering around in the garden.

@Difgkdjfjffjsjs

Pretty lax of me to not know what she does with my dd every second of the day! 😆 ok! My dd came home and said we went on bikes today I didn’t wear a helmet! I then provided a helmet and yes she wears it but I just wondered if people thought it was unreasonable to let kids on bikes without them.

When my DD was three she was riding a bike, with stabilisers, on the pavement. Not overly fast, maybe a jogging pace to keep up. Hit a dodgy paving stone, catapulted off the bike landing less than a inch from a stone wall. I don't know how her head missed it.

Accidents can happen. Hence protection. There's a lot of things you can hit your on on the pavement.

Wide open parks and playgrounds there is less things. Its more teaching them good habits.

@xxxGirlCrushxxx

How have you not known? Don't you communicate with the Cm? Or even your own child?

Erm it was the first time. No I don’t speak to the cm or my child. Ffs honestly! I ask my child every time what she does when she goes there (twice a week!) she’s told me once about going out on a bike and showed me the hill they went on..

I'm really surprised how this thread has gone OP. Usually on Mumsnet people are safety mad and quoting health and safety regulations at you left right and centre. Of course you're not unreasonable to expect someone who's taking your child out on a bike to ensure they're wearing a helmet! Even if you weren't paying them to keep them safe!

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

When my DD was three she was riding a bike, with stabilisers, on the pavement. Not overly fast, maybe a jogging pace to keep up. Hit a dodgy paving stone, catapulted off the bike landing less than a inch from a stone wall. I don't know how her head missed it.

Accidents can happen. Hence protection. There's a lot of things you can hit your on on the pavement.

Wide open parks and playgrounds there is less things. Its more teaching them good habits.

My point exactly. Whilst unlikely I’d rather not risk it. Or let someone else risk it!

@ThePlantsitter

I'm really surprised how this thread has gone OP. Usually on Mumsnet people are safety mad and quoting health and safety regulations at you left right and centre. Of course you're not unreasonable to expect someone who's taking your child out on a bike to ensure they're wearing a helmet! Even if you weren't paying them to keep them safe!

I am surprised too! I asked my mum and sister and they were shocked and wanted opinions from other parents but it seems lots are lax and think it’s an unlikely risk! Maybe I shouldn’t have bothered posting!

Google "cycle helmet debate" for both sides of the argument. It's not as clear cut as most folks first think. The HSE for example do not consider cycle helmets PPE as they don't provide the protection that many think they do. It's fascinating if you're into that kind of thing!

@Keepithidden

Google "cycle helmet debate" for both sides of the argument. It's not as clear cut as most folks first think. The HSE for example do not consider cycle helmets PPE as they don't provide the protection that many think they do. It's fascinating if you're into that kind of thing!

Yes, there's a lot of debate about how much protection they offer. Especially if it's a badly fitting helmet.

@Cosmois

Is this your pfb? I don't know any children who wear a helmet for a balance bike! None of mine did and they all survived.

Haha just realised it means precious first born… no, she is my 12th child and I still worry for her safety and would like to avoid a head injury! Honestly.. what a ridiculous thing to say! The more kids we have the less we give a shit if they get a brain injury?!