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?!

OP can't believe so many people think it's OK for children to be on any bike / scooter without a helmet. The CM should ask parents to provide helmets or not take kids out on bikes. The speed kids can go on balance bikes / scooters is unreal yet so many people thing there isn't a risk.

It's not obligatory to wear a helmet, there's no reason for the childminder to insist on them. She probably grew up not wearing a helmet and never had an issue. If the OP has a problem with this, just find another childminder.

toddling down a hill on the pavement near a road?

Just read that comment - if the childminder is allowing them to cycle on the pavement, that's a different kettle of fish. She should not be teaching children it's ok to ride on the pavement. Bikes should be ridden on the road and NEVER on the pavement, helmet or otherwise.

You definitely need to find another childminder who won't teach your children bad/illegal habits.

@HarrietsChariot

toddling down a hill on the pavement near a road?

Just read that comment - if the childminder is allowing them to cycle on the pavement, that's a different kettle of fish. She should not be teaching children it's ok to ride on the pavement. Bikes should be ridden on the road and NEVER on the pavement, helmet or otherwise.

You definitely need to find another childminder who won't teach your children bad/illegal habits.

Hmm... well I take my daughter on the pavement too. It wasn't a case of legalities, she's a child.. she can't ride on the road at 3.5. I understand she could ride in parks and designated areas but that wasn't my point. I just wanted her to wear a helmet and be safe!

@girlmom21

You genuinely didn't know she had bikes/scooters etc?

Did you not pick her based on her facilities and equipment, as well as her ability to care for your child's basic needs?

I'm not being arsey here at all but I genuinely think you should speak to her about your expectations while your child is in her care and what her capabilities are, and what activities they undertake because if you haven't had those conversations this won't be the only issue you have.

I think this is unfair. I knew my children's nursery had outdoor space, and that they use it daily. I don't know whether I knew they have bikes and scooters. When I signed up and DD1 was a non moving baby that wouldn't even have been on my radar.

If I had known they had bikes and scooters, I wouldn't have asked if they wear helmets, just like I didn't ask if they cut grapes or follow safe sleep guidelines. It's completely obvious to me that small children on bikes wear helmets.

If a small child ends up in the road like that, a helmet isn't going to help them. If you think the routes taken aren't safe, that's another issue.

rrhuth 0840

I think you are blowing this a little out of proportion, a head injury from balance bike?
My DC head is only 50cm of the ground on their balance bike so a head injury is minimal risk. They are higher off the ground on a swing in the playground, they don't wear a helmet then either!
It think you are a little too anxious, many activities have risk but they need to be put into context.
Do you drive a car? Do you know someone who's been in a car crash? Do you know someone who's unfortunately been seriously injured or killed in a car accident?
I can answer yes to all of these but still see the risk of driving or being a passenger in a car as acceptable as do most adults.
Kids need to see danger, have bumps and scrapes, this is how we build up our risk/hazard profile for adult life. You can protect them from everything and they need to be able to identify situations where they could hurt themselves so they think, slow down, hold on tight etc.

@QualityChecked

If a small child ends up in the road like that, a helmet isn't going to help them. If you think the routes taken aren't safe, that's another issue.

Well surely a helmet is better than not wearing one! Bit of a sweeping statement! It's why we are all advised to wear helmets when on bikes.. IN CASE as it MAY protect us!

Can = Can't

@saleorbouy

rrhuth 0840

I think you are blowing this a little out of proportion, a head injury from balance bike?
My DC head is only 50cm of the ground on their balance bike so a head injury is minimal risk. They are higher off the ground on a swing in the playground, they don't wear a helmet then either!
It think you are a little too anxious, many activities have risk but they need to be put into context.
Do you drive a car? Do you know someone who's been in a car crash? Do you know someone who's unfortunately been seriously injured or killed in a car accident?
I can answer yes to all of these but still see the risk of driving or being a passenger in a car as acceptable as do most adults.
Kids need to see danger, have bumps and scrapes, this is how we build up our risk/hazard profile for adult life. You can protect them from everything and they need to be able to identify situations where they could hurt themselves so they think, slow down, hold on tight etc.

Jesus... you're clearly just a risk taker!

Helmets were made for when you ride a bike.
Helmets aren't made for climbing frames, swings etc.. hence not thinking they're necessary. Yes a child may fall off a swing and graze and bump themselves but it's a risk you you have to take. You don't HAVE TO TAKE the risk on a bike... we can just put a helmet on to help minimise it.

We wear seat belts in cars to try and prevent serious injuries so why not a helmet on a bike? Yes I drive and I know people who have had accidents therefore I wear my seatbelt... I don't see your point!

It doesn’t take much of a head bump to cause long lasting damage.

This. I'm with you OP. Some very ignorant people around.

I wouldn't expect a CM to provide helmets.

If the kid is just pottering around in a playground or whatever I'm also not massively fussed about helmets. They aren't going much faster than when they are running and they aren't any further from the ground. Obviously when they get a bit older to be going faster on a bigger bike it becomes more of an issue.

Pootling around in garden, by the house or in a playground - nah we don't use helmets.
Going out onto road for a proper bike ride - kids are helmeted.
Childminder - well I'm torn on this one - am surprised she takes them out onto a public road without them - unless its actually super quiet one as we have plenty of those round here.
This is the big thing with using a childminder though - you can't assume they will have the same views as you on all aspects of childcare - so if this is something you feel strongly about then she's not the right one for you.
But I think its a bit much carrying on having a problem with her after you've provided a helmet and its being used, because other kids don't have them. You're overstepping there for me...

@Oftenithinkaboutit

Excuse me??

You asked for your daughter to wear a helmet
And your CM has ignored you?

No now that OP has asked the CM now makes her daughter wear one.

I agree they should wear them but not sure if take the word of a 3.5 year old on anything! Did the CM admit it?

@goldfluffyclouds

Pootling around in garden, by the house or in a playground - nah we don't use helmets. Going out onto road for a proper bike ride - kids are helmeted. Childminder - well I'm torn on this one - am surprised she takes them out onto a public road without them - unless its actually super quiet one as we have plenty of those round here. This is the big thing with using a childminder though - you can't assume they will have the same views as you on all aspects of childcare - so if this is something you feel strongly about then she's not the right one for you. But I think its a bit much carrying on having a problem with her after you've provided a helmet and its being used, because other kids don't have them. You're overstepping there for me...

I haven't still got the issue I wanted to know what people's opinions were about her not putting helmets on them before I realised...

@headintheproverbial

I agree they should wear them but not sure if take the word of a 3.5 year old on anything! Did the CM admit it?

Yes! She said 'Oh yes, you must always wear your helmet'!!

Because I said to the CM 'We always make her wear one and if she doesn't with you, she won't think she has to with us'!

When I picked her up yesterday she then said 'I went out on my bike today with my helmet' but 'so and so didn't have theirs on' (not my issue now I know....)

I'm a bit surprised to read some of the responses on here - there is a reason helmets are recommended. Yes, 99% of the time nothing goes wrong, but the protection is for the 1% when something does.
We had an incident when my husband took my daughter out on her bike with stabilisers. She was 4 and had just started learning to ride. He didn't put her helmet on. Riding through a local park, grass on all sides, she wobbled and fell somehow, hitting her head on the ground.
He brought her home. She vomited 3 times and was sleepy, cue trip to A&E. Concussion. DH got a stern telling off from the doctor, and a massive bollocking from me for being so irresponsible. Needless to say, that mistake was never repeated!

@Poofurburrball

I'm a bit surprised to read some of the responses on here - there is a reason helmets are recommended. Yes, 99% of the time nothing goes wrong, but the protection is for the 1% when something does. We had an incident when my husband took my daughter out on her bike with stabilisers. She was 4 and had just started learning to ride. He didn't put her helmet on. Riding through a local park, grass on all sides, she wobbled and fell somehow, hitting her head on the ground. He brought her home. She vomited 3 times and was sleepy, cue trip to A&E. Concussion. DH got a stern telling off from the doctor, and a massive bollocking from me for being so irresponsible. Needless to say, that mistake was never repeated!

That was all I needed to hear. Yes it's unlikely but it does happen. Sorry to hear that about your daughter and glad she was ok!

Oh and just remembered another incident -not a child but a young adult - my bil fractured his skull following a bad fall on his bike.
He was wearing helmet and the doctors were prettty certain it had prevented a much worse injury.

‘ There are some really bizarre replies here. One that would be angry if someone suggested that her little darling should wear a helmet to protect her head when on the road - perhaps worried it might mess up her hair? Or perhaps not liking other people telling her child what to do - school is going to be a shock in that case. ’

I thought the same.
It only takes one bad fall on a scooter to bang your head on the pavement, it happens.

I see kids being thrown off their scooters all the time. I don’t understand why people are comfortable with their kids using them without helmets, they’re bloody dangerous.

@girlmom21

No my opinion isn't "nonsense", thanks. I have a childminder and she is extremely thorough - it is her job to tell us what her setting provides and does not provide, not for us to ask every conceivable question about every possible scenario ffs! My childminder would not take my child out on a bike for the first time without at least a quick chat with me along the lines: "the children will be out on bikes tomorrow, I'm aware I've never taken your little one out on a bike before - just wanted to run it by you. How is she on a bike? Does she manage ok?" etc. This conversation would lead me to ask about the helmet situation, of course. It's common courtesy and part of the CM's job to communicate in this way IMO, and I'd consider it extremely poor form if she didn't!

And no, that's not "nonsense", either, just because you personally disagree.

@cally21 it's nonsense when you state your opinion as fact.

You clearly have a good childminder. That doesn't mean other parents can be negligent towards their own childrens safety because it's 'the childminders job'.

It's nonsense to not check your child's safe in a setting.

@girlmom21

And also, you might be aware of the available equipment in the childcare setting after you look around, fine. But you don't know specifically at what stage the CM is planning to introduce your own child to that particular equipment unless you are having ongoing open conversations with her. For example, my CM has a range of lovely climbing equipment in her back garden that will be ideal when my LO turns maybe 18 months or 2 years. But I do sincerely hope she's not planning on plonking her on it and leaving her unattended at 8 months! So it's not just a case of "that equipment is available in the setting therefore you know your child is going to use it". It should be appropriately risk assessment according to age and ability and this needs to be done in partnership with parents through ongoing open dialogue.

@girlmom21

Erm, point out where I said "this is a fact"?