Do your kids wear helmets when riding their bikes?

[pls5286]

If anyone is interested, here is an experiment I did with my DS Cub Scouts a couple of years ago.

Drop a watermelon on concrete. It breaks.

Put another watermelon in a helmet. (I looked for a smaller one that would fit in a helmet.) Drop it all with the helmet hitting the driveway. Watermelon does not break.

I must admit I was nervous because I didn't test it since I didn't want to throw away two helmets! It worked, and we took the watermelon inside and sliced it for a snack. The plastic part of the helmet did crack.

That is a very interesting experiment. When we start back up after school starts back, I will have to demonstrate this with my scouts!

Yes, always! My son is the poster child for helmet use. When he was 4, he was riding his bike and decided to run into the porch (about 3 inches high) to see how fast he could stop and went over the handle bars. His head bounced off the porch and and then bounced off the cement driveway. It split his helmet in half. We walked away with 4 broken teeth on the top. That was it. If he had not had the helmet on, he would have had a major head injury.

I was a paramedic for 10+ yrs and always required helmet use of my kids because I have seen the results. Before my son's accident, my parents had always said its too hot, why don't you let them take the helmets off, after the accident (which my mom and I witnessed) it has always been put your helmets on. We don't get an argument out of either kid.

I'm willing to bet that most of you who say your kids wear helmets EVERY SINGLE TIME NO MATTER WHAT have young kids, otherwise you really don't know. I see many kids riding around town with their helmets hanging on the handle bars. Some of their parents probably believe that their kids ALWAYS wear their helmets. It gets much more difficult as your kids get older.

Not true here. My son will be 13 in Nov, my dau is 6. If it has wheels, they put on a helmet. Whether it is their scooter, bicycle, dirt bike, or 4 wheeler. This rule also applies for any friends that come over. Even if their parents don't require them to wear helmets when they ride at home, when they ride at my house, they wear helmets. We have extras from toddler size to adult.

 

[hornedfrog]

I also think those water shoes or whatever they're called that people put on their kids IN THE POOL are silly. Swimming is a barefoot activity. If the bottom or sides of the pool rub your kids' toes a little the first week of swimming, let it go. They'll be fine and it won't kill them to toughen up a little.

And I'm a great parent, btw.

I'm sure you are. My kids were both bleeding profusely after a couple hours in the pool barefoot. I'm a pretty tough mom. Won't kill them (hopefully) to bleed some and have infected open wounds (after bandaids and Neosporin/hydrogen peroxide/alcohol/script antibiotics) that take weeks to heal. Still not okay. My kids wear water shoes in the pool. Judge on.

 

[Beavers5]

People put water shoes on their kids in pools? We wear them on the beach in PEI (there are a gazillion hermit crabs )

We wear water shoes. I've had to have surgery to have 18 plantars warts removed and according to the doc I probably got them from a public pool or shower at a pool. (I also passed the painful things on to a very unhappy DH).

 

[boltfans]

I think a lot of the water shoes in the pool is to prevent slips with kids running on the pool deck (which they do, despite yelling out "WALK!") and avoiding dirt/germs at public pool facilities. My kids don't wear water shoes but do have to wear flip flops as soon as they exit the pool cause I don't want them getting plantars warts. My friend got one in college-she was on the swim team and presumably got it from the locker room showers. She ended up needing surgery to remove it and when she saw my kids at the pool reminded me of her foot and I have had shoes on them since then.

So I think in a lot of cases it's not due to scratching your feet on the pool bottom, but what's outside the pool.

 

[schmitty]

I agree that a full face helmet would have been better. The problem is that a full face helmet has other negative trade-offs. It's incredibly uncomfortable, so the kids would be taking them off whenever they could get away with it. They are also hot, which is a danger in itself hear in Texas. Finally, they restrict vision, which increases the potential for accidents. Everything in life is a trade-off. In my opinion, a standard bike helmet is the optimally safe trade-off for people riding bicycles.

Its uncomfortable and restricts vision are only if they are not fitted correctly. Yes they are hot but generally the more you spend the less hot it will be. I ride a full face nearly everyday in florida heat in old limestone pits, I know heat. You take it off when you are taking brakes and you are fine. Most kids like full face helmets because its what alot of pros use.

 

[karen l]

My kids grew up knowing that they wouldn't have a bike to ride if they didn't wear their helmets. My oldest DS is an avid mountain biker & has gone through a few helmets. Riding without a helmet isn't worth the risk.

 

[Fintastic]

I'm sure you are. My kids were both bleeding profusely after a couple hours in the pool barefoot. I'm a pretty tough mom. Won't kill them (hopefully) to bleed some and have infected open wounds (after bandaids and Neosporin/hydrogen peroxide/alcohol/script antibiotics) that take weeks to heal. Still not okay. My kids wear water shoes in the pool. Judge on.

Same here! The last time she was in the pool, her toes were raw and bleeding. When I have the option of water shoes to prevent that, why wouldn't I? Because pain "builds character"? Trust me, any time you can prevent suffering in a five-year-old, the whole family is grateful.

 

[belle&beast]

I do not judge people's parenting- that is not my place. I am a speech pathologist and have worked with people (kids and adults) with head injuries at different levels of recovery. I have never seen anything so sad as a young child in a coma from a head injury that could have been prevented- we were trying to use oral stimulation while he was unresponsive. If it can be prevented, I will do my best.

I'm not afraid to say it.
Parents who don't make their kids wear a helmet ARE bad parents.

I've got no problem judging people. Anyone who says they don't judge is lying. Every day, we see things that people do and we judge them. Just because you don't speak out and tell someone what you think about them doesn't mean you aren't judging their behavior. Of course, that judgement is only my opinion and you are free to disagree.

I am guessing you were responding to me. I am going to disagree with you- I am not a judgmental person and I am not a liar. In my profession I work with many different parents with different parenting styles on a daily basis. Because a parent does not require a child to wear a helmet while riding a bike does not make him/her a "bad" parent- maybe they are uninformed or unaware. In these types of situations I would try to educate the person about the realities of the situation as many people here have done.

 

[mill4023]

I am guessing you were responding to me. I am going to disagree with you- I am not a judgmental person and I am not a liar. In my profession I work with many different parents with different parenting styles on a daily basis. Because a parent does not require a child to wear a helmet while riding a bike does not make him/her a "bad" parent- maybe they are uninformed or unaware. In these types of situations I would try to educate the person about the realities of the situation as many people here have done.

I wasn't responding to anyone in particular. All I meant was that we cannot help forming opinions about other people's actions. Can you honestly tell me that you never form an opinion (positive or negative) about the way a parent raises their child? Just because you may not ever feel it's your place to decide what is right and wrong for someone else, doesn't mean you don't make that decision in your own head.

 

[SundancePass]

Helmets were not available when I was growing up nor were they the law or in general use when my kids were growing up (30 and 32 now). "Not usually" was my response becasue of that. While I don't agree with helmets in general, it is the law here and if I had grandkids (we don't have any yet) at my house, they would wear helmets if they were on a bike or scooter whether I agreed with it or not.

 

[rt2dz]

Yes. Always.

1)It’s the law. And around here, they will ticket you. Besides, I like teaching my kids that they need to follow the rules and can’t pick and choose. If you’re going to go for civil disobedience, to it for something worthwhile. Not wearing a bike helmet isn’t it.

2)If you don’t start them with good safety habits now, how will they ever have them when they are older? My cousin’s life was saved by a motorcycle helmet; same with a good family friend. A seatbelt saved my life. To me (and I know not everyone) this is simply a hop, skip, and a jump away from a bike helmet. Kids don’t just turn some magical age and suddenly know and follow safety rules (or manners). Start young and it will always be with them. jmo

3)Kids are unpredictable; if you don't think so, you're not paying attention. You never know what they will decide to do when. Better safe than sorry. It’s not like putting on a helmet is going to hurt them in any way.

4)When I was in first grade, my best friend hit a pothole and went flying. She was in the hospital with head injuries (weren’t sure if she’d be brain damaged for life or not) for a week and broke her jaw.

 

[N&B'smom]

Yes, my children wear them all the time when riding bikes or scooters. It's the law so it's not even an option.

I saw a girl about a month ago on a skateboard. She was just goofing off and ended up slamming into a brick wall which knocked her right off her skateboard. She flew up into the air and the first thing to hit the ground was the back of her head. Thank God she was wearing a helmet!

 

[TheAmazingSpidey]

My mother made me wear a helmet growing up, and I'll do the same with my kids someday. Why not wear a helmet? What's the big deal?

When I was younger, 10 or 11, I was "just cruising" around the neighborhood when I hit something in the road and went over my handlebars. Got a lot of scratches and bruises, but nothing serious. I don't remember hitting my head, but even if I had, I was wearing a helmet. I could have easily not been wearing one, and I could have easily hit my head and...well, who knows.

Okay, that's my two cents, resume the civil war.

 

[Momvic5]

I will be honest and admit that I do not always make my children wear helmets while riding their bikes. Why??...I am not sure....I guess because I never wore one ...I don't know for sure. Most who know me think I tend to be over cautious so I am kind of stumped as to why I would overlook helmets. They wore helmets when they were younger, but now, they just do not. In all honesty, I have never been able to get their helmets to fit just right. Odd thing is...is that I was so irritated with my Dh one evening because he let my youngest son wear sandals while riding his bike. He almost tore his toe off so you would think that if I insist on protecting their feet then I would also insist on protecting their head. Maybe I am not as "bad" as some of you might think....I do make them wear helmets if they are skateboarding....maybe I am only half "bad".

Tonight we have a skate party to go to, and next week, we will enjoy an ice skating party . This thread is going to cause me to notice how many adults and children are wearing helmets while skating and ice skating. It is common to see both children and adults wearing helmets while skating outdoors, but I rarely see anyone wearing a helmet while skating indoors.

In all honesty...I do not consider myself a bad parent, maybe less cautious than some, but not "bad".

 

[dhcoffey]

I don't think they are going to get hurt on the sidewalk or the driveway

Tell that to my 11yo DD who fell off her bike in April in our driveway and needed 9 stitches in her elbow. We were incredibly lucky she didn't hit her head and I've kicked myself many times for not making her wear a helmet but she does now without exception.

Heather

 

[SAHDad]

My kids always wear helmets when riding. (We bought helmets for them as soon as they could ride in the bike trailer, actually.)

I don't know if the law requires them or not, but having been in multiple collisions as a cyclist, I know how important they are.

 

[goofy!]

So, do your kids wear helmets when riding their bikes? Just wondering because I'm on the fence as to whether its really needed or not.

I can tell you that some relatives of mine wish that they had believed that helmets were really needed just for a neighborhood jaunt.

About 5 years ago, they went for a leisure ride around the block.

They were in their 60's, so not doing any jumps, hills, or breakneck speeds, although both were very active and athletic.

A little bit of road debris on the side of the road caused one of the back wheels to slip and fall over. No major crash to the ground, just a typical spinning out at a slow speed and toppling over. There was no dramatic head crash to the ground, but the rider did sustain a bump to the head.

If a helmet had been worn, the rider would have stood up, brushed off the knees, laughed at how clumsy they were, and would have continued on their merry way.

Unfortunately, no helmets were being worn, and this bump to the head caused a traumatic brain injury and now this vibrant, athletic, highly intelligent, successful executive wears a diaper and functions on a 2 year old level, requiring constant supervision and care.

Yup, helmets may not be necessary 90% of the time, but that 10% of the time, they can really be helpful.

Luckily for us, it is easy to enforce helmets. Our area is a training ground for elite/world class riders, and they are never without their helmets. Their kids go to our schools and set examples, the parents come and do talks about bicycle safety.

You can't go to the store without having to maneuver around several large groups of cyclists, (whole 'nother thread about sharing the road with all these training groups ) either leisure or training. Nobody ever is riding without a helmet. You just don't see it here. It would be quite unusual, unusual enough to comment on, to see a rider without a helmet.

95% of the kids and parents around here wouldn't even think about allowing their kids on anything with wheels or that straps to your feet (skis, snowboards) without a helmet. Our neighbors had their 18 month old and 3 year old out over the weekend. The 18 month old was on a foot powered little train thing and the 3 year old on a trike. Both had helmets on.

My 12 year old has told me that it is actually uncool around here to ride without a helmet. As a kid, the peer pressure is on to wear a helmet. Kids who don't wear one are often viewed by their peers as being ignorant and/or stupid. (Note: not calling anyone ignorant or stupid, just what kids will snicker behind somebody else's back if they see them not wearing a helmet)

So, I don't even have to ask, they just put them on. I have it easy in this department

Oh...my oldest son is almost 20, he and his peer group were not traumatized by wearing helmets on their trikes and are far from being afraid of the world.

 

[Donna]

Why, are they padded?

that poster (not the one i quoted) HAS to be a thread troll. No parent in their right mind would let their kids go without helmets whether it's a cement sidewalk, driveway or road regardless of the size of the bike. yeh try telling a teenager he NOW has to wear a helmet when the rule wasn't enforced all his life. it's for THEIR own good; it's not just good parenting, it's COMMON SENSE!
be a parent, not a friend.

 

[JenM]

I'm in my 30s and I wear a bike helmet.

Me too. I'm 35, and I bought a helmet the same day I bought my bike this year.

I had a friend who nearly died from a head injury because he fell off his bike without a helmet when we were kids.

I still have a scar on my lip from a bike fall that happened when I was 7. I lost 2 baby teeth in that fall, which split my lip and needed stitches. Not nearly as serious as a head injury of course, but I still have miserable memories of that trip to the emergency room, not to mention days of a bruised, scraped-up face and a swollen lip.

Maybe if I'd been wearing a helmet back then things would have turned out differently.

So yes, they should be wearing a helmet.

 

[IDoDis]

Years ago when I was a new teacher, I remember there was a 6 year old 1st grade boy at our school who was out riding his bike without a helmet and was struck by a car. Some witnesses went door-to-door trying to find out who the boy was because he was seriously injured. It took several hours to find the family.

He was in a coma for days and was pronounced brain dead. After a week or so, the family finally had the tubes pulled that were keeping him alive and he passed away. The funeral was the saddest one I've ever attended. His teacher spoke at the funeral and played a tape of her class singing "This little light of mine." You could hear the little boy singing louder than anyone else.

So yes, my kids have to wear helmets.