Please, please be honest with me!

I have just spent most of the morning surfing the net for a protective bump hat for my 1 year old son who keeps bumping his head. He cant walk properly yet and I know its normal but I would really feel better if he had something like this product www.thudguard.com - (or something similar if anyone knows of another type), to help prevent us ending up in ER. Am I being overprotective?

I don't think there is any such thing as an overprotective parent and while a bump hat may not be needed there is nothing wrong with purchasing one to protect the little one's head. One bad bump could present a host of problems that could have easily been prevented.

Purchase one if for nothing else, a little piece of mind.

Ours all walk at around seven months of age which is WAY too young to be walking without assistance. However, they didn't ask me or consider my feelings about it, they just take off with not a care in the world, throw caution to the winds and go barreling through the house. It was hair-raising at times. I put those rubber bumper things on EVERYTHING rather than using a helmet.

When they are so little and yet can move so darn fast, a bump hat makes pretty good sense. An ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure when it comes to a rambunctious baby who is unsteady on their feet.

If you still want the little fellow to wear it when he's twelve we may reassess the situation and call you overprotective at that point. Just kidding! I know exactly how you feel. The good news is that they get better about stumbling quickly.

Oh my! I remember that phase... I had three early walkers, one of whom was walking independently at seven months. The others walked at eight and ten months. FWIW, early walking has been linked with later hyperactivity. It proves true in my family- my most precocious walker is now seven and she seems to be in constant motion!

Please buy the helmet if it will give you some peace of mind. This phase doesn't last long, but it seems like an eternity when you're in it!