Is it me or is this not a normal play date activity?

[ButterflyBitch]

My son has been on a play date recently where he and his friend where sucking helium out of birthday balloons. He’s not quite 10.
Is it me or if this odd?
I’ve googled and think it won’t cause harm but it’s not ideal is it? Just a bit baffled that on a normal after school play date this was one of the things they did.
I don’t know whether to mention to the mum or not that I’m not overly happy about it.

[Gribbie]

Harmless fun. Leave them be.

[Jammiebammie]

My kids have done this, perfectly normal.

[CaptainMyCaptain]

I don't know if it's harmful but it's very wasteful. The helium is a finite resource needed for MRI scanners among other things.

[Boohootoyootoo]

Whaaaat??? This is totally normal for 10 year old boys and is probably on the more tame end of what they get up to! You've got some shockers coming if this one gets you worked up! Wait til he's 13!!!

[klendraa]

I mean-
kids find doing that funny because it’s makes you speak funny/sound funny. I wouldn’t mention it - it doesn’t cause any harm and I’m sure ur son enjoyed it

[Scion457]

Sounds pretty typical 9/10 year old behaviour and I can’t imagine the mum was hanging around to tell them not to do it. Leave it, no harm done. Tell your DS not to do it again but I can’t image they have a ready supply of helium.

[ButterflyBitch]

Ok won’t mention it to the mum. I have spoken to him and told him I don’t want him to do it again but you’re right as a one off it should be fine.
I could imagine they’d find it hilarious 🤦🏻‍♀️

[RoomR0613]

Sounds normal to me for that age group if there was spare helium balloons flying around. I doubt the parents sat them down and made them do it as a planned activity. At least the helium was getting a second use by keeping them entertained for a bit.

[Bluetrews25]

I'm pretty sure that a boy in my DC2s class at school died after inhaling a lot of helium. It was deliberate, sadly.
So I wouldn't encourage this.

[droppinglikeflies]

Isn’t it dangerous?
I’ve done it before and felt like I was going to pass out.

[FiremanKing]

I would not encourage this at all.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.delish.com/food-news/news/amp54281/never-suck-helium-out-of-a-balloon/

[MondeoFan]

Oooohhh no I wouldn't be happy about this but I think I'm in the minority

[theSnuffster]

I thought it was dangerous? Or maybe my parents told me it was dangerous to stop me from doing it 😂

[EinsteinsArousedSausagesHCB]

We used to do this a lot as kids, always ok, until one of my cousins passed out. Never did it again after that. Don't let the DC either.

Saying that, as it's a one off, I wouldn't mention it to the other mum. Instead I would explain to the DC that I don't want them to do that in future and why.

[littlepeaegg]

Oh my god I used to love doing that when I was a kid, it made your voice all silly and high pitched! Come on.

[Greenfield19]

I wouldn’t be happy with my kids doing this tbh

[Pinkarsedfly]

I bought a helium gas canister years ago to blow up balloons for an event. It had a ‘May cause death if inhaled’ warning on it.

I was gutted, because I’d been desperate to try it

[zippey]

I would do this. Supervision is the key. Never done it before though.

[Lovemusic33]

I remember doing this as a child 🤣 it was great fun and I’m still alive with no long term effects.

[Echobelly]

It was pretty normal when I was a kid, if it's not now it's only because parents are more neurotic. I don't see the harm in it.

[LadyRannaldini]

I don't know if it's harmful but it's very wasteful. The helium is a finite resource needed for MRI scanners among other things

You need a badge on your door, Kiljoy lives here.

[bigbadbadger]

Helium isn't dangerous but not getting oxygen is! So its fine to have a breath of it and speak in a funny voice but not to glug it for ages. And it should NEVER be taken from the canister directly, that is VERY dangerous.

[ineedaknittedhat]

www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/inhaling-gas-from-helium-balloons-no-laughing-matter-it-can-kill/news-story/4126938014edcc1cac02ae8c7ca2de83

It can kill, so it might not be a good idea to do it.

[VioletCharlotte]

Totally normal for 10 year old boys. I can remember mine doing this at birthday parties.

[DontDribbleOnTheCarpet]

I'm sure I've heard of helium being used for suicide and the last time I saw a helium cannister there was a warning on it about not inhaling the gas.

So yeah, I'd be mentioning it and making sure my kids knew not to do it, and why.