Heelys - good or bad?

[stressing1]

My little girl is 6 years old and she has been asking me for a pair of Heelys. I was going to buy her a pair and as we were looking in a shop, a boy aged about 8, came out wearing a brand new pair his mum and dad had just bought him. I decided to watch what he did and I'm glad I did! He took two steps, his feet went from under him and he landed flat on his back splitting his head open! I straight away said 'not a chance!' to my daughter, but now she's asked her dad who I don't live with and he's bought her a pair for Christmas. He says that because his older daughter who is twelve has a pair it'll cause ructions if our daughter doesn't have a pair too. He says he'll take them back, but I have to tell her it's my decision not his. So now it looks like I'm the big bad wolf and I'm being mean. Am I being over protective or does any one else agree with me?

[spudqueen]

My friend has just purchased a pair of Heelys for her son but says now that she wishes she'd bought not the proper Heelys but the imitation ones which come with a button on the heel so you can push the wheels back in and use them are ordinary trainers. Apparently with Heelys you need a tool to take the wheels out and put a plug in, so not as easy. The imitation ones sound safer.

[cazzz1975]

I bought my daughter a pair and she couldnt use them (she is 10) she nearly broke her neck in fact, so they were banned!, I bought her some inline skates and safety padding which has worked out much better.

[black bunny]

Seems like your daughter has manipulated your ex into buying these(mummy won't buy me them,isn't she a bad mummy, bet you'd have bought me them, daddy) and it sounds like he's already told her she can have them - why else would he think they'll be ructions if she doesn't get them ?
So although I personally agree 6 is a bit young for these things, it looks like you've been cornered into going along with the idea or else being the villain. You should tell your ex that maybe he should have consulted you before buying them (surely he must have realised you'd already said no?)

[stressing1]

I've just told her she can't have them and in true 6 year old fashion she's now crying in her room. I feel awful and yes, he should've consulted me about them first but didn't. I feel I am being reasonable, as I've just read on a news website about a little girl nearly dying when she lost control of her Heelys and ran into the path of an on coming car! Do toy manufacturers not think of the repercussions of their products? Or is it still money money money? Is it going to take a child dying before they bring out safety features for these god awful things? Sorry, I know that sounds extremist, but that story just really shook me up.

[sense4all]

I see both sides of the argument, six is quite young. My daughter does have them she is ten and has good body awareness and balance , she fell over once. Some of her friends are unable to use them properly ... not joking. They are the real ones. As for repercussions there is a great big yellow sticker on the bottom that says by peeling it and using them you accept not to sue etc etc ... By the way my ex would need an X ray to locate them if he'd gone behind my back like that , cheeky does't cover it!!!

[annie0000]

Apart from everything that has been said, there is now a limit to where you can wear these as they have been banned from most shopping centres, supermarkets, leisure centres etc. In addition they force the body into a weird walking style as you cannot walk normally by putting their heel down first. Just what you want for a growing child - NOT!!! Lastly, if a stone gets jammed in the wheel it stops immediately - unfortunately the body doesn't .......not until it hits the concrete anyway!

[Beanmistriss]

It's a bit harsh of everyone to say that he should have checked with her first. If he didn't know stressing had already said no then it's not really his fault. Does he check before he buys anything else? If he did know then I take that back. Was a bit cowardly of him to make you tell her tho. You could have done it together to make the point that she can't play one off against the other.

[FUZZYBEE]

As I have mentioned before I work in x-ray dept and the last year or so Heelys and Trampolines are the reason for numerous nasty fractures and I don't just mean a break and a plaster cast for six weeks............i'm talking orthopaedic surgery, pins, plates and a rare occasion fatality. Also doesn't help the waiting time in A&E and not to mention unnecessary radiation when performing x-rays.
I think you are so right, regardless or not what anyone thinks of them 6 is too young.

[boobesque]

Kids at the local school here wear them to school, and so far a few of the mothers have had to see physios as they are walking funny without them - hello! You have to walk on the wrong part of your foot when you dont want to wheel along!
Also some kid nearly fell in my baby daughters pram while wheeling along in a supermarket - i am not a fan, can you tell!

[natterley]

After months of badgering I bought a pair of real heelys for my 6 year old son for his birthday, needless to say he fell over flat on his butt the minute he put them on and has not worn them again since that day in my. �55 right down the drain!!
Dont bother with them!

[pixiepie]

all 4 of mine have them and at first they were un steady on there feet but after abit of practise they got the hang. However shops are now banning them which my kids are gutted about as asda was the perfect place to heely lol. Although i never did let them go wild on them as ive seen some kids in b&q racing up and down the aisles bumping into people and generally being a pain. your ex has made you out to be the bad parent but i wouldnt get him to take them back just tell him to make sure she is safe till she can do it

[Le Chat]

Parenting is not a popularity contest. So what if you are the big bad wolf? Parenting through guilt (which sounds like your ex) is also a recipe for disaster. Let him take them back. Your child's safety is more important after all.

[stressing1]

thank you all for your reponses, I feel a lot better now. I have discussed it with my current partner and he agrees with me. I feel I am putting her safety first, and as Le Chat put it, parenting is not a popularity contest, she'll get over it in the end, and when her older sister ends up with another broken arm from falling over while on wheeled foot wear (in line skates last time, plaster for months!) I'm sure she'll see I was only protecting her. Thanks again y'all! :-)

[VizNil]

Im so glad I read this thread, I was going to buy my son a pair for Christmas ( with the pads and the helmet) but after reading about how they affect walking positions I've changed my mind, I'll think of something else to get him instead!