Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

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

53 replies

ButterflyBitch · 16/05/2019 20:15

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. Confused

OP posts:
Gribbie · 16/05/2019 20:16

Harmless fun. Leave them be.

Jammiebammie · 16/05/2019 20:16

My kids have done this, perfectly normal.

CaptainMyCaptain · 16/05/2019 20:17

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 · 16/05/2019 20:17

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 · 16/05/2019 20:17

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 Smile

Scion457 · 16/05/2019 20:18

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.

Original poster
ButterflyBitch · 16/05/2019 20:23

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 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
RoomR0613 · 16/05/2019 20:23

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 · 16/05/2019 21:38

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 · 16/05/2019 21:40

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

FiremanKing · 16/05/2019 21:44

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 · 16/05/2019 21:46

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

theSnuffster · 16/05/2019 21:49

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

EinsteinsArousedSausagesHCB · 16/05/2019 21:51

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 · 16/05/2019 21:53

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 · 16/05/2019 21:54

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

Pinkarsedfly · 16/05/2019 21:56

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 Blush

zippey · 16/05/2019 21:58

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

Lovemusic33 · 16/05/2019 22:03

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

Echobelly · 16/05/2019 22:03

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 · 16/05/2019 22:06

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 · 16/05/2019 22:07

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.

VioletCharlotte · 16/05/2019 22:08

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

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 16/05/2019 22:09

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.

Swipe left for the next trending thread