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Original poster

Do your DC wear bike helmets ?

232 replies

Tipsykisses · 03/09/2014 09:13

My Ds has always worn a helmet , he's 7 now and rides really well so now rides to school with Dp (his dad) .

The bikes are kept in PIL garage a few doors down from us as we don't have room at our house , all our nieces & nephews are in and out regularly and ds helmet couldn't be found this morning .

I've told Dp he either needs to find the helmet or we need to buy a new one if Ds is going to continue to ride his bike but he thinks I'm over reacting & says that plenty of children ride without them .

Am I over reacting ?

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Original poster
Tipsykisses · 03/09/2014 09:13

Apologies for any typos , I'm on my phone .

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MirandaWest · 03/09/2014 09:13

My children wear bike helmets and so do I. I agree he needs to have one.

AnimalsAreMyFriends · 03/09/2014 09:16

My kids always wear helmets. It's a non- negotiable in this house.

Ds1 (age 14) went through an "I'm not wearing a helmet, I look like a dork" phase. I told him "No helmet, no bike ride with friends" His choice. He didn't go.

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Flexibilityisquay · 03/09/2014 09:16

No you are not over reacting. Plenty of children do ride without them, but they are more likely to end up with a serious head injury if they come off their bikes. Having a helmet is such a simple easy way to make sure your DC are as safe as they can be, why would you let them take unnecessary risks?

Original poster
Tipsykisses · 03/09/2014 09:21

That's exactly how I feel !
I'm not willing to take the risk .

Dp says " we never had them " he thinks I'm over protective .

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2madboys · 03/09/2014 09:24

I wear a helmet (just biked to work) and my children do too. I know there is some debate as to how effective they are, but I'm not willing to take the chance. Imagine how you'd feel if something happened when you'd not made them wear their helmets.

In the 1970's, when no-one wore helmets, my brother was knocked off his bike and hit his head on the kerb. He fractured his skull, but amazingly he is fine. However, I'm pretty sure this is not the normal outcome … Shock

Purplecircle · 03/09/2014 09:34

We never had them as kids but it upsets me to see kids without them now. I almost feel like it's neglect for not protecting them

I know it's a sign of the times but if a bike helmet stops a skull fracture and damage to the brain then it has to be worth it.

We didn't have seat belts in the back of cars when I was a kid but you wouldn't have children unrestrained in a car now

CMOTDibbler · 03/09/2014 09:46

yes, always as do dh and I. A colleague of mine had a bike accident not involving anyone else (apart from a bird running into the road!) which left him in intensive care in a coma for weeks, then relearning to swallow, talk etc. Without his helmet he'd have died.

Theyaremysunshine · 03/09/2014 09:49

Helmets before wheels in this house. Non-negotiable.

MyNameIsASACshraderAndYouCanGo · 03/09/2014 10:08

I'm a bike ability instructor. All my family wear helmets, including myself. 2 colleagues (keen cyclists) were knocked off their bikes and would most certainly be dead/more seriously injured than they were if they hadn't been wearing helmets.
I remember a father publishing photos of his 16yr old son in hospital - the son had not wanted to ruin his hair by wearing a helmet. The father allowed newspapers to publish the pics in an attempt to get parents to ensure they/ their kids wore a helmet.
It's non-negotiable in my house.

Original poster
Tipsykisses · 03/09/2014 11:03

Thank you all for your replies & sharing your experiences .

I wouldn't have backed down over this & I'm pleased to know that other parents & bike riders also see a helmet as necessary equipment & don't see me as an over protective parent !

I saw a piece in the paper a long time ago about a boy who was knocked of his bike and left severely brain damaged , it has stayed with me all these years .

It's just not worth the risk .

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ErrolTheDragon · 03/09/2014 11:12

Good for you. We all wear helmets. There's a lot of road cyclists round here, you never see anyone without. I've known quite a few people who've landed on their heads over the years who are so glad they had helmets.

slightlyinsane · 03/09/2014 13:09

No one leaves this house on wheels, bike, scooter, roller skates without a helmet. Last summer dd2 came off her scooter and knocked herself out, she had traveled a whole 10ft from car to house without a helmet when she did it. She spent a night in hospital as once she came back to she then fitted. Not something I ever want to repeat.

cheminotte · 03/09/2014 13:13

Yes both dc wear helmets. I do too. DP has to be reminded if we are out with the dc as he doesn't on his own.

4merlyknownasSHD · 03/09/2014 15:42

I cycle to work on and off, and always wear a helmet. My 21yr old son was knocked from his bike last year while cycling to the gym, he was thrown on to the grass verge, just missing a tree.......he went to buy a helmet the following evening! In Australia it is against the law for anyone to cycle without a helmet. It is imperative, in our family, to wear a helmet!!

Lweji · 03/09/2014 15:44

Yes, he does.
In fact, there is a recent law that I can be fined if he doesn't, but I'm not in the UK.
Check it there, though.

I wear one two when the two times I ride my bike.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 03/09/2014 15:50

Yes, but my 13yo DD is refusing to, so she hasn't been on her bike for weeks.

I know it's embarrassing because her DF(who has a flat broke and interesting family) doesn't have one, but on our pothole infested single track lanes it's non negotiable.

FFS, both she and DD1 have smashed helmets in the past and walked away without even a slight headache. So she knows it makes sense.

Original poster
Tipsykisses · 03/09/2014 18:13

Slightlyinsane that's so terrible , so glad all turned out ok !!

So many close calls , It's such a small cost for a piece of equipment that could save a lifetime of heartache .

I've had another chat with DP & he's agreed it's not worth the risk although I'm still not sure if he's just agreeing for the sake of it as he's so laid back, I feel he needs to understand incase they go riding when I'm out !

I'm showing him all your replies so he can see for himself .

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Original poster
Tipsykisses · 03/09/2014 18:16

Elephantsneverforgive I was lucky with my dd as she never complained , I think you have done the right thing banning bike rides until she willing to wear her helmet .

I think with teenagers sometimes they just like to dig their heels in for the sake of it !!

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ladybirdandsnails · 03/09/2014 19:53

No helmet no bike. Ever . Have seen kids fall and crack heads on kerbs etc

Hulababy · 03/09/2014 20:03

DD is 12y and even no it is no helmet, no bike. Every single time.

Child in one of my classes died after falling from his bike and hitting his head on the pavement. He wasn't wearing a helmet and the reports suggested that he would have most likely survived had his head been protected. He left school one evening and didn't come back the next day.

So I'm afraid it is helmets for everyone here, or no bike.

rocketeer · 03/09/2014 20:13

It is a non-negotional in this house. We only have two rules, always cross at a crossing and always wear a helmet. Am happy to debate any other rules but not these!

Original poster
Tipsykisses · 03/09/2014 20:33

The other non negotiable in our house was swimming lessons !

Dp was thrown into the water by his uncle apparently .Confused

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Bedsheets4knickers · 03/09/2014 23:11

In my house it's a must if riding on road I should add

HamishBamish · 04/09/2014 10:37

Yes, my children always wear helmets on scooters and bikes. Like others have said, it's non negotiable. No helmet, no bike/scooter.