Any tips on getting a 2.5yo to like wearing a helmet?

[NoSnotAllowed]

DS1 (2.5yo) loves his balance bike. He's had it for a while but is only now starting to get some speed up on it and is becoming more adventurous going down hills etc.

This weekend we got his helmet out and told him he needed to wear it when he went on his bike - huuuuuge meltdown, refused to wear it and refused to go anywhere near his bike. He'd rather walk apparently.

I have just spent half an hour covering said helmet in stickers with him. He will still not wear it. I have said that if he wears it we can go on his bike and get an ice cream. He will still not wear it. I have found my helmet and worn it around the house. He will still not wear it.

Any tips or ideas? I'm so gutted we didn't make him wear it from the word go as we wouldn't have this problem now. It makes me so sad that he won't touch his bike now because he doesn't want to wear the helmet :(

Do you have any friends with (preferably older and speedier) bike-riding, helmet-wearing kids you can arrange a park trip with? If he refuses to wear his helmet still, he can watch them having fun on their bike (with a helmet on of course). And just keep selling it to him that now he's getting so big and fast he needs proper headgear like proper cyclists.

I'd just keep going as you are - no bike till it's on. We did start from the beginning with ours and it was tantrum after tantrum at first, but they wear them unquestioningly now (almost 5 and just 2). I don't think you've left it too late - he will know what he's missing!

How about watching some videos on YouTube of kids on balance bikes wearing helmets? And videos of adults like Danny MacAskill with helmets on

Is it comfortable for him? Too heavy? Those micro scooter type ones look uncomfy!

Dd pulled this - basically we were calm about it, said no scooter. We encouraged her a bit as well and she was OK in the end. The problem was it didn't fit properly.

If he was older, I would say get him to watch the Commonwealth games cycling or the Tour de France - and see all those amazing athletes, all wearing helmets. But he might be a bit young for that, so maybe a matter-of-fact 'No helmet = no bike', and just put the bike away and cancel the plans if he refuses his helmet. Maybe have something a bit boring as the alternative.