worrying about my mother in law allowing my 7 month son play with Stickle brick?

[Albiesmum]

Im really concerned about my son playing with stickle brick at my mother in laws when he is only 7 months and the toy states its suitable from 3 years +. My husband thinks Im worrying about nothing, am I?

[GypsyMoth]

i assume he just held it and chewed it?

he didnt actually build anything with it? just looked/held/gummed it

[BuckBuckMcFate]

Yes, you are worrying about nothing.

Stickle bricks are great. Your DS will probably enjoy having a good chew on them.

If you are really concerned you could ask her to take the small square ones out and just let him play iwth the rectangles (if you are thinking he may choke on them?)

[lulabellarama]

They're not dangerous, just not very interesting for that age group.
Don't worry about it

[annh]

Yes, I think you are being a bit over-protective. Unless stickle bricks have changed recently, I don't think any of the pieces are even vaguely little enough to be swallowed by a baby. I also don't see any way in which even a toddler with some teeth would be able to chew off a piece.

[Smithagain]

Take out the small ones that could actually fit inside his mouth (like, all the way inside - the little round/square ones). But the big ones are fantastic for teething on. If you never let a baby have (supervised) access to anything that says 3+, you will drive yourself mad. Treat it as a warning, not a ban.

[brennannbooth]

The 3+ info might be given if a toy is boring for under 3s or if it has small bits that can be choking hazards, but if this is the case the packet normally explains this.

So, stickle bricks fine, duplo fine, normal lego not fine.

[craftynclothy]

I wouldn't worry about it.

As far as I'm aware (and I may be wrong) there's a lot more regulations for toys to be classed as suitable for under 3's and because lots of toys aren't really that interesting for them (i.e. a 7 month old isn't going to build stuff with the bricks iykwim) it's not worth the manufacturers paying more for testing etc.

FWIW at a lot of baby classes we went to they used instruments that said suitable from 3 years on them.

[craftynclothy]

Meant to add that I just use common sense, so take small stuff that she might choke on away.

[SagacityNell]

They are great for learning to grab, for textures and of course for chewing! As someone else has said, just remove the ones that he could fit properly in his mouth.
(oh and insist that they get washed occasionally)

[toccatanfudge]

my DS3 has played with stickle bricks from the time he could hold stuff.

[AMumInScotland]

The important thing is the choke hazard - you used to be able to get a little plastic thing from ELC which would let you see if a small toy was too small and therefore potentially dangerous - I expect you can get them from loads of places!

Get one for your mum and explain why it is important she checks small things.

But if it's not that small, it will almost certainly not be dangerous for him.

As Crafty says, manufacturers have to jump through a lot of extra hoops to have toys labelled suitable for under 3 years, so they don't bother unless it's something which parents are going to actually buy for younger children. Not having a label doesn't mean its dangerous, just not tested so you have to look at it for yourself and decide if its a problem.

[DianeAdores]

If your son had an older sibling or two, you wouldn't even notice him eating a Sticklebrick.

I would not worry.

[cory]

The manufacturer's label means nothing. I have seen baby toys labelled from 3 years only, when it is pretty obvious that no child above 3 would ever bother with such a babyish toy. They are just interested in covering their arses.

More important is what do you think the risks are in your particular situation. Is he likely to be putting them in his mouth? Is he supervised while playing with them?

[AmazingBouncingFerret]

If a toy says 3yrs+ and doesnt have a choking hazard warning on it then it's purely a case of unsuitability, mental ability, boredom etc.
Stickle bricks are there to develop a childs imaginitive play and dexterity. As other posters have said, remove the really small ones and then they will be perfectly fine for your 7 month old, infact he'll probably really enjoy the difference in texture.

When buying toys just look for the choking hazard/cord hazard warnings, they are the ones that are saying the toy isnt safe for younger ones. Anything else is merely a guide. Ive had many a discussion with customers wanting products to help a child learn their colours for example but refusing to buy the ideal product just because the age on the box is younger than their actual child!

[Bramshott]

Any toy containing pthalates (sp?) has to be marked as "not suitable for under-3s" IIRC. There is some concern over what happens when babies chew that sort of plastic, but I don't know the detail. Do some research, and work out whether to add it to your list of worries (which could be potentially endless) or not!

[TheBoyWithaSORNedMX5]

What branshott says. Also, the stickles might detach under extreme, prolonged chewing I suppose.

I doubt the latter is any kind of risk though, in reality, assuming your ds isn't chewing on one for ages at a time.

[TheBoyWithaSORNedMX5]

Or Bramshott even.

[toccatanfudge]

oh it's VERY hard to chew them off - DS3 can attest to that

[Albiesmum]

ta for the posts peep,should have said the mothe in law won't take the small bits out but the the from ELC that Amumfromscotland suggested is a fab idea, ta very much

[fruitshootsandheaves]

YANBU...they are the toy from hell...Ban them..they get stuck in video players with no hope of removal unless you take out the entire innards of the machine and they are really painful if trodden on and really hard to get playdoh out of.....

in fact they should be made illegal.

[Rockbird]

If I stuck to toys for under 3s DD would be playing with coal. I defy anyone to chew a stickle off a sticklebrick

[jellybeans]

Some stickle bricks were recalled as the bits were coming off so just may be worth looking into that (think only some years were affected and it was not anything fatal etc), I would not be too keen on a baby less than 12/18 months playing with them, definately take the small bits away. I only let mine play with toys that are not really the age if I am watching properly as i would be worried about choking etc.

[toccatanfudge]

Rockbird - oh it can be done - DS3 has managed it...........eventually...........but it took a VERY long time - and he was 2 (and past the sticking any old thing in his mouth stage)

[BubbaAndBump]

Grrrrrrrrrr, playdoh and sticklebricks bane of my life atm

but yes, yabu as they are fun if not chokable sized! ;)

[Colliecross]

Let him chomp on the big sticklebricks, make sure the small pieces are put away. If in doubt about safe sizes, err on the big side.
I have scrubbed old sticklebricks with a bristly brush and milton to get the fluff out.