What would you say?

[Cuddlebugs]

Hi there,

I am in my first year and was looking after a toddler the other day when his mum reached for her bag and took out a foam hat. She put it on the 1 year old and turned to me and asked, "do you like his Thudguard safety hat? It's to stop the bumps and bruising on his forehed because he keeps falling over."

I didn't know what to say, I guess its a good idea but what would you have said? Is it a tad over protective?

thanks

Cuddlebugs

1st year and counting..........

[Altra, BSN, RN]

1. I'd ask her if she planned to clothe him in a foam suit, too, to "protect" the rest of him.

2. I'd buy stock in the company that is manufacturing/marketing Thudgard -- they've obviously found a market.

[nyapa, RN]

Kids are supposed to 'bounce' better than adults aren't they? Crikey, let him be a child! Bruises and bumps are part of the learning process!

[Oz2]

I'd probably ask her where I can get one! Those toddler years are nerve-wracking.

[PurrRN]

Okay, just on behalf of all the new and "over" protective mothers behaves all over the world, I have to tell on myself.

When my now 7 year old oldest twin was a toddler, it seemed as if there was a way to crack his head on something he would. I'm not talking about simply bumping his head, but bone cringing, OMG types of falls that produced goose eggs of incredible sizes.

I used to wonder how many of these types of falls he could take without incuring brain damage of some sort because of the force of the falls to the brain. I also became concerned that since it was happening so often, that someone could make the claim that he was being abused and call social services. I know unsteady toddler's are expected to get some bumps and bruises, but mine seemed to really do a number on himself a couple of times per week.

Simply put, if I'd known about the foam hat, I'da probably used it just for my peace of mind. Thankfully he outgrew the damaging his head on every fall phase.

My other two boys had their share head boo boo's and bumps but not on the same frequency and scale that my oldest did. Thank goodness those days are over.

Of course, now that I'm typing that I don't know that I'm all that thankful. Instead of worrying about protecting them from ACCEDENTALLY hurting themselves, I have to worry about what they are doing to themselves ON PURPOSE!! :smackingf

[SillyStudent, ASN, RN]

Confession time:

I deeply considered putting a toddler bicycle helmet on my youngest when he was learning to negotitate the stairs. He fell down those stairs so many times that I almost became immune to the *BANG BUMP SLIDE SCREAM*.

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

Wow, these hats are really expensive, and kids will grow out of them really fast. If I had a kid, I'd probably get one, though.

http://www.thudguard.com/orderpage.html

[ebear, BSN, RN]

I think they should be available in adult sized bodysuits for nurses who deal with combative patients. They should also have extra padding on the behind and back for dealing with docs who chew your rear up and backstabbing co-workers. Hmmm......... new marketing idea! :rotfl:

[Cuddlebugs]

I just love your answeres! I knew this would be the board for me.....

:cheers:

[fsaav]

That is absolutely hilarious!

When my son was an infant he had severe positional plagiocephaly and had to wear a cranial orthotic device (he wore a STARband) for a few months to correct it. Of course people stared and asked questions when we were in public, but you would not believe how many times strangers would come up to me and say, "Oh...does he fall and bump his head a lot?" I had to fight not to start cracking up every time.

I started to wonder if parents were actually doing this since everyone seemed to think it was so common.

Here's a picture of the STARband that he wore. http://www.orthomerica.com/products/cranial/starband.htm

[ktwlpn, LPN]

I've got one son-he has a lot of cousins.My sister in laws were way more relaxed then I was.I was always freaking out about the kids riding bikes barefoot,sitting on the mowers with dad,riding in the back of the open bed of the pick up truck through the back field.ATV-NEVER!..If I had put a helmet like that on my boy they would have laughed themselves to death...I'm glad it was not available 18 yrs ago.( I did have a leash-used it twice)

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

"Ok, johnny, before you go out, let's get you suited up......after 7 layers of foam...."mom, I gotta pee!" Not now you don't.....