Not letting my child ride/scooter without helmet, but I seem to be the only one AIBU?

[WearTheHelmet]

DD is 9, Year 5.

She likes to ride her bike or scooter but has recently refused if I make her wear her helmet. Like as in if I offer it she’ll say “Can I do it without my helmet?” and when I say no she says “Then I’m not going to be the only one doing it with one so no”.

I’ve noticed on the school run, Key Stage 1 and younger (so Years 2 and below) all wear helmets but once they get to year 3/Key Stage 2 they seem to stop, I haven’t seen anyone else in DDs year/class wearing one for years.

I always think it’s safer and part of the school run is along a fast B road where the cars ignore the 20 mile an hour zone around school times and drive down at 50+ (there have been a couple of fatal accidents along the road involving pedestrians, none involving children but still it’s a risk).

So AIBU? And if not how do I persuade DD it’s in her interests to use her helmet?

How odd. I thought parents.... um... parented?

No helmet no bike here. Dc are 19 and 17. Enforcing that rule when they were small means they automatically put a helmet on now.

Scooter, bile, skates, skateboard, all justified reasons for having a helmet on in my opinion.
When I was a young child I was in hospital for a serious operation. Also in the children’s intensive care ward was a young boy (between 10-15) who had lost control of his bike on a patch of ice. A driver had lost control of the car (same patch of ice) and hit the young boy. I recall going back to “my room” and realising my “friend” (who had been in a coma) was no longer there. He had sadly passed away. I do not know what happened to the driver - I was very young.
To this day, my kids are constantly reminded; “helmets” all the time, because you never know what could happen.

Get her watching some top level competitive cycling.

Mine are both competitive cyclists and wear a helmet without thinking about it. If it is good enough for Jason and Laura Kenny then it is good enough for them!

Also - I should add - the young boy had taken his helmet off and stuck it in a bush because it “wasn’t cool” if he hadn’t have done that, the doctors agreed they could have saved his life. It’s so sad.

You are aware children can change their minds, yes?

Going straight for the nuclear option sends an awful message.

What’s the point… the point is you’re supposed to parent him. He doesn’t know the risk of not wearing a helmet but you do!! It doesn’t matter how far or fast he goes.

I'm no helmet = no wheels, but it is surprising how many young children ride bikes and scooters without around here

My eldest is only out of hospital a few months ago. She came off her bike in an awkward way while wearing a helmet and was admitted with a suspected bleed on the brain. I’ve never felt fear like it and thank god every day she was wearing one. No helmet equals no wheels in this house. Imagine what if could have been.

Ride a bike .yes needs a helmet...no question...scooter no no helmet. So both yanbu and yabu

@ThePineapplePrincess oh dear, well I'll be sending an 'awful message' then won't I.... oh dear oh dear

She's 9! The bike will be outgrown well before she gets over the embarrassment within her peer group and decides to go biking with a helmet again! Jesus!

@PoleaxedAndSome thank god she's ok!! What a worry for you

Before my children were born I was a TA in a secondary school and one of the teen boys I worked with was hit by a car whilst rollerblading. He was not expected to survive but he did although he was brain damaged.

Seeing him after accident is still so clear in my head. My youngest is now 20 but the two who still cycle always wear helmets as they did when younger.

My son started reception in September and I'm dreading him realising most of his peers aren't wearing helmets (edit: I was shocked to realise it myself. At this age it can only be because parents dont think it is an important habit for them to be in!).... because it'll be harder to do the school run, not because I'll be letting him go without!

What do you mean there's not much you can do? He's 6. What would you do if he flat out refused a seat belt?

Helmet is non-negotiable for us. When DH was little the daughter of a friend of his parents died after coming off her bike and hitting her head while not wearing one.

Sorry but that is lazy parenting. He's 6yrs old = you are in charge.

Why no helmets for scooters??

These hurtle along very fast but no braking system like bikes. Pavements are so uneven as well with objects to avoid....like pedestrians!

I'm shocked at how many parents are so lax about them

I agree with @ShowOfHands that it is so easy to have a serious head/brain injury just by falling off a bike.
One of the leaders in NZ of the movement to make helmets compulsory was driven by the fact that her young son fell off his stationary bike and hit his head and became totally incapacitated.
Apart from there being a low risk of a traffic accident while riding a scooter, there are the same risks as riding a bike.
Stick by your guns and refuse to give in OP.

@Rogue1001MNer don't you dare suggest I don't parent my DS, he's my life and I never take my eyes off him for a second when he's riding outside. Worst case scenario and he breaks a bone, obviously it would be awful but at the same time boys will be boys and get into scrapes. It's part of growing up

Bike definitely helmet, but I don’t know any kids over the age of around 5 that still wear a helmet while scooting.

Ermmm he can walk. It's not hard.

That's not the worst case scenario.

Ok.
Congrats

My son was wearing his helmet on his scooter, aged 6, came off and was still flung down and rendered unconscious. It was awful and scary.

Honestly, scooters are just as dodgy as bikes. Helmets all the way!

Why does you not taking your eyes off him mean he can't suffer a serious injury?