Help Getting Daughter to wear Helmet

[sundial]

Get her stickers, stuff to glue on there... and make a game out of decorating it.

Glue ponytails on it. Craft stores will carry these items in the doll making section. Try using hot glue on the helmet.

[spokewench]

Just making sure - does the rest of the family wear helmets? If not, you are fighting a losing battle.

[lattelover]

Oh my gosh, yes! We all wear helmets. Hubby is a former racer. Son has worn a helmet since being in the burley. He never had a problem with it. Loved it from the minute we got it for him.

I like the idea of decorating it, but she's still a bit young to grasp that concept. I guss a Dora helmet might do the trick. Maybe we'll go shopping after nap time...

Thanks for the tips, and keep 'em coming!

Cyndie

[Irulan]

I guess I'm the evil mom. At our house, she'd be given a choice. She wants to come, she wears a helmet, period. Or, the other choice is stay with the baby sitter ( get the not-fun one)

Another tough love option. Buckle her in screaming and all, and she will either get distracted by the ride and/or fall asleep. She'd probably either get used to it after that or cease to complain.

[Flybye]

I guess I'm the evil mom. At our house, she'd be given a choice. She wants to come, she wears a helmet, period. Or, the other choice is stay with the baby sitter ( get the not-fun one)

Another tough love option. Buckle her in screaming and all, and she will either get distracted by the ride and/or fall asleep. She'd probably either get used to it after that or cease to complain.

I would try persuasion for about 5 minutes and then go for Irulan's technique. I'd even go as far as to leave her screaming in the driveway while we rode off (like a total of 20 feet) to help her understand. Then I'd put her on the bike and the second she started fussing, take her off, put her down, and head out again. It will only take 3-4 times of this and she'll get the idea. I would ONLY do this in a no traffic area, of course. We are near the end of a dead end street.

I teach parenting courses on occasion, and I tend to find that if we try to hard to please a fussy kid, we end up teaching them that their crying behavior can be a way to manipulate adults to get what they want. Having said that, each child is so different. Some you can reason with, some you can persuade, and some are just more strong willed. It is the strong willed ones who really figure out that the crying and fussing is a great way to manipulate events to go their way. Just ask me - I was one spoiled hombre!

One other thing that came to mind is to get a doll/stuffed animal and put the helmet on it before it gets on the bike with her. She's pretty little, but might understand that the doll/animal needs it to be safe, just like her.

[mimitabby]

Flybye, YOU ROCK!

great ideas!

[oxysback]

You've gotten some great suggestions!

The only thing I'd add (maybe as a last resort) is to make sure the end destination is a fun place, like the park or a stop for some ice cream. If that didn't work, I'd go so far as to have your hubby or son call from the destination on a cell phone to make sure your daughter knew what fun she was missing out on or how delicious the ice cream tasted. You know, really play it up so next time she won't want to miss out on wherever you're riding to. But really hammer the idea home that she won't be able to go unless she wears her 'big girl helmet'.

Let us know how it goes!

[ilima]

Or, the other choice is stay with the baby sitter ( get the not-fun one)

I like this option. Gives the kid a choice.

When I was a kid (like 2-3 years old), I refused to go to bed and wanted to stay up. My parents decided fine, I could stay up, but then promptly went to bed themselves. Not too long after, they heard the pitter patter of my feet heading down the hall to my bedroom.

Perhaps if the helmet is uncomfortable, you could also take her helmet shopping and try them on. Would a cap or bandana underneath make it more comfortable for her?

Please note the following disclaimer--I own two dogs and have no kids.

[nic840]

I had the same problem with my now 2.5 year old. When she was around your daughter's age we went to the local LBS and let her pick out her own helmet. It made a difference because it was her own and not a handme down from her sister. She felt some pride and ownership in it...

All the other suggestions are on point. There is no option to not wearing it...wear it or stay home. You and your son head out on a ride while she stays with Dad or a neighbor. It will make a point. Its amazing how fast they will come around as long as you are consistant.

I am sure you have tried the snacks, books, etc....
You might try making a list of things she has to find on a ride... bird, red car, leaf, Truck, Flag, garbage can, etc.... I used to make lists and draw the pictures next to the word so she knew what she was looking for. Works for scavenger hunts too. Hope it all works out! She will be riding two wheels in no time!
My youngest (2.5) just got on the 12in. w/ training wheels...no stopping her now! Have fun!