annoying helmet comments

[KarenD]

Hi all,
We've had our helmet for a month now. I'm surprised how many people know someone who has had one and share their stories. This weekend two different people approached us to tell us their babies had helmets and all went well. It was really cool. And I totally don't mind people asking what it's for. I know people are curious and am happy to share. What is really getting me is the people who say "how cute! I should get one of those!" as if it's protection in case he falls out of the stroller or something. It happens quite often, mostly in passing. A few people have asked me where they can get one for their kid/niece/etc. I nicely say we got ours from the doctor.

I know these comments are out of ignorance but it's starting to bug me and I'm afraid I'm going to spout off with some snide remark. I'm sure others have had these kind of comments. I mostly just wanted to vent but would welcome any thoughts.
Thanks!
karen

[mrsjoh]

I usually let them know they pass them out at the state taught parenting classes for parents who drop their babies... I am not someone you want to comment to if I am tired, I just spit out whatever I feel like at the moment ;)

[ayersjulie]

vent all you want to. and, I agree that most of these comments are out of ignorance...not malice. hang in there. perhaps get a decal for his helmet saying something like "NOT a crash helmet" LOL. IDK, just being silly :)

[daniellelucille]

OOOH. I had a lady say she wanted one for her grandkid! I was too stunned to say anything!

[JillysMama]

When I take Jilly out in public I actually like when people ask me what the helmet is. If they don't ask it's like they are pretending like they don't see it and they just don't say anything. One day I went to the grocery store and no one gave me the "Oh your baby is so cute!" comments. They just looked at her, looked at me and looked away. I was crushed. When I got to the check out line my usual guy was checking out my groceries and he said, "I have to ask, what's with the helmet?" I was SO relieved. I told him about her surgery and yada yada and he said she looked adorable.

Kids are the best though. The young babies want to kiss her helmet or peel off her stickers. She gets attacked in play groups. SO funny! And then my 5 year old cousin was so jealous of her helmet she said, "They let her keep it! Mommy, I want one too!"

[Sophia's_mom]

Originally Posted by JillysMama

Kids are the best though. The young babies want to kiss her helmet or peel off her stickers. She gets attacked in play groups. SO funny! And then my 5 year old cousin was so jealous of her helmet she said, "They let her keep it! Mommy, I want one too!"

We get that a lot too! My 4 yr old niece keeps asking me "Why didn't you make me a helmet, Aunt Tessa?". And all the kids at the babysitter love the stickers, on the rare days when she's been helmet free they always ask where it is and why didn't I bring it.

[Nezzy]

I tend to spout off at people so I am not allowing myself to give advice on this one. I'd probably get you beat up!

[Avery's Mom]

Originally Posted by Nezzy

I tend to spout off at people so I am not allowing myself to give advice on this one. I'd probably get you beat up!

LOL @ Heather.

Nobody ever commented on Avery's unless he was dressed in all camo...the helmet was camo too. Yes we are rednecks!

Sam said it is because I am so big (six feet) nobody dared!

[Leighasmom]

[quote=JillysMama;166506]When I take Jilly out in public I actually like when people ask me what the helmet is. If they don't ask it's like they are pretending like they don't see it and they just don't say anything. One day I went to the grocery store and no one gave me the "Oh your baby is so cute!" comments. They just looked at her, looked at me and looked away. I was crushed. quote]

Lets see before surgery I got stares and then eyes averted quickly when I caught someone gawking. After surgery I heard one lady tell her husband she couldn't believe that I was allowed to keep my child when it was obvious from her scar that I had dropped her on her head. With the band before I decorated I had a lady tell me it really drove her nuts to see parents as protective as I was and if I was so worried about her falling out of her stroller maybe I should just wrap her in bubble wrap instead of making her wear a bike helmet on such a hot day.
Some people just don't know better. But I tell you what if I see a baby with any type of craniofacial abnormality in a store ect I swoop in gushing....they are the cutest kids(guess I have a soft spot for them) and I have found you mommy's with helmet baby's are a bit easier to approach than the daddy's ...lol come on dads its okay if I say you're kid is cute in that helmet...oh well I'd rather say something than for you to think I'm staring because I've been there.

[JillysMama]

You know what's worse than ignorant strangers? Ignorant in-laws. My mother-in-law kept telling me yesterday that Jillian wasn't able to roll over at 3 months cause of her helmet. She was only 3 months!!! She's been rolling over from tummy to back since she was 3 months and from back to tummy since she was 4 months. I've been so proud of my little girl cause she did everything right on time (if not a little early). I had to explain to my mother-in-law a dozen times yesterday that she is used to the helmet now and it doesn't bother her or us anymore. I think it bothers her more than anyone.

As a side note she also told me yesterday, "You know you really should start walking her around in the stroller more cause you are going to get fat pretty soon." Absolutely hysterical. I'm not overweight at all (but I love food) and I work out all the time. The lady is crazy!

Anyway, I've been getting more and more annoying comments from strangers as well. One thing I find myself doing is kinda laughing when people make comments like, "Is that so she won't bump her head?" It's a little rude now that I think about it, but I laugh like, "What?! You don't know what this is??? How stupid are you?" I don't actually say that of course, but I think that's how I come off sometimes. I guess it's my subconscious way of dealing with peoples offensive statements. I do politely follow-up with an explanation of cranio and tell them about her surgery.