I would. My kids wore helmets most of the time, but there were certainly times I know they didn't. I would just remind him to be extra careful.

OP, you probably know better than anyone here how much risk is involved in the route home from school. Is he right alongside traffic on a narrow road, in a bike lane, on a sidewalk, on a wide street with little traffic? I'm assuming that it's likely a fairly safe route or else your 14 year old would be taking the bus or walking. He could always walk the bike across busy streets.

I wouldn't allow my DS to ride his bike to school (with a helmet) based on the traffic patterns and bike-unfriendliness of the route, but I don't freak out if he takes his bike on a two minute ride to a friend's house in the neighborhood without a helmet. I feel it's unlikely he's going to get hit by a car when there simply aren't any cars around and he's not going to just randomly fall off the bike. In fact, he has a healthy fear of trying to ride near cars. I worry more about the longboard and snowboard than the bike.

Anonymous wrote:Well, one story for those who don't believe in helmets. A girlfriend and I were biking 20 years ago and we were kind of idling, so maybe going 5mph. A group of cyclists came blazing out of nowhere and my friend fell. Her helmet CRACKED. Again, we there was no speed and no collision. We were in our 20s and training for a massive bike ride (so it wasn't like she was a novice). That helmet saved her.

The OP isn't talking about junking the helmet forever. She's asking about a one-time exception. It's pretty clear no one is saying they don't believe in helmets.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the legality. Depending on where you are it could very well be illegal for him to ride without a helmet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He biked to school without a helmet?

I bet your biked your entire childhood without a helmet - yet, here you are posting away on DCUM.

She didn't die, so it must be ok?

Well, one story for those who don't believe in helmets. A girlfriend and I were biking 20 years ago and we were kind of idling, so maybe going 5mph. A group of cyclists came blazing out of nowhere and my friend fell. Her helmet CRACKED. Again, we there was no speed and no collision. We were in our 20s and training for a massive bike ride (so it wasn't like she was a novice). That helmet saved her.

I agree with the posters who said we used to bike without helmets all the time, and it would probably be OK.

HOWEVER, I have to wonder if DS purposely forgot the helmet because he didn't want to wear it. I think letting DS bike home "just this once" will make it more likely that he forgets the helmet again.

Never. Not even once. I remember sitting in a waiting room at Children's in my teens. There was a boy next to me in a wheel chair. He was unable to walk and looked so banged up. His head was bandaged up and his eyes were swollen completely shut. His parents told my mom it was a bike accident. It just takes one time.

Anonymous wrote:He biked to school without a helmet?

I bet your biked your entire childhood without a helmet - yet, here you are posting away on DCUM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who are saying you biked all ov3er4 with no helmet, so it must be safe....

are idiots.


We used to drill teeth without Novocain, too. Would you like that?

What about the kids who suffered brain injuries? Don't know any so it must not happen?

Do you wear seat belts? Nobody used to, why should we now?

Hmm, my son fell down the stairs last night and got a bloody nose. Maybe I should make him wear a helmet.

Obviously you haven't had to deal with a loved one suffering a traumatic brain injury. Head vs asphalt at speed from that height could be life ending or debilitating, the odds are low, but there are just certain activities that should not be allowed without a helmet biking in the street is one of them.

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who are saying you biked all ov3er4 with no helmet, so it must be safe....

are idiots.


We used to drill teeth without Novocain, too. Would you like that?

What about the kids who suffered brain injuries? Don't know any so it must not happen?

Do you wear seat belts? Nobody used to, why should we now?

Hmm, my son fell down the stairs last night and got a bloody nose. Maybe I should make him wear a helmet.

No. I wouldn't want him to think it was OK this time and so it is OK the next time.

Also, I wouldn't blame this entirely on DH not noticing. At 14 he is old enough to know he is not allowed to ride a bike without a helmet.

I grew up in a family that had a strict always wear a helmet rule. My ILs are also pediatricians.

Yes. There is risk in everything. We're talking about one time.

But then again, I'm not a helicopter parent.

*wears stupid autocorrect

Hmmm. This is weird to me. Where I grew up no one where's helmets. Should they? Probably but I don't really see the big deal.