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Original poster

Nitrous oxide wwyd?

26 replies

Veuvelily · 22/01/2023 15:32

Ds (15) had some friends over yesterday, couple stayed overnight. They were well behaved and polite, all made a point of saying thank you and goodbye to me. This morning I found part of a bag that had had balloons in.
I confronted ds, who told me that yes they have all tried it and a couple of them had it last night. Ds said he didn’t last night as he had tried it for the first time a couple of weeks ago and hated it.
So, do I tell the other parents?
wwyd?

OP posts:
Badbudgeter · 22/01/2023 15:36

I probably wouldn’t but I would tell DS that you don’t want it to happen in your home again.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 22/01/2023 15:47

On the grand scheme of things I think nitrous oxide is the best of a bad Bunch.
I've done it years ago and I actually think it's quite good however I'd obviously never say this to be my children when they grow up.
In all likelihood I think the first time I'd give my son a stern talk about it. Second time, yes, parents would be told.

Shrubb157 · 22/01/2023 15:51

I’d inform their parents. It can be really dangerous. Lots of the teenagers round here do it (you see the canisters everywhere) and a friend’s child actually lost the use of her legs because of doing ‘balloons.’ She’s had to relearn how to walk. They’re not as harmless as they’re made out to be.

wtfisgoingonhere21 · 22/01/2023 15:56

Sorry but I think I would probably go nuts to be honest. Confused

That's stuff is so dangerous

I have a zero tolerance to any sort of drugs etc though but other people may say otherwise.

Original poster
Veuvelily · 22/01/2023 17:51

He’s told them I know and they’re all very worried. Some of the parents would go mad. One of the parents is high up in the police!

OP posts:
DottyLittleRainbow · 22/01/2023 17:54

Nitrous oxide can cause long term neurological damage. It affects your body’s synthesis of folate and vitamin B12 if you have prolonged ongoing exposure.

I’d want to know if they were my kids and I’d tell the other parents.

clarrylove · 22/01/2023 17:56

I think you should tell the parents. They might be unhappy if they found out you knew but said nothing.

Wolfcub · 22/01/2023 17:57

I would tell the parents, and probably the school and I'd be grounding ds for a considerable amount of time

Cigarettesaftersex1 · 22/01/2023 18:29

Quite good in what way?

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 22/01/2023 18:39

Cigarettesaftersex1 · 22/01/2023 18:29

Quite good in what way?

That it last probably the same amount of time your voice would be high inhaling helium from a balloon. You have a very short sort of "dream" and then it wears off.

ContadoraExplorer · 22/01/2023 18:49

Ugh, I bet you almost wish you hadn't found out.

If something happened and I discovered one of my childrens friends parents had been aware and hadn't told me, I would not be happy.

Kids are going to experiment and some (most likely the child of high up police officer if my friends group was anything to go by) will rebel, and no amount of talking or punishment will stop that, but at least if the parents know they can all deal with it how they see fit.

Conversely, if I were in your shoes I think I would sit down with my child and explain why, as an adult, I had to be the adult and tell the other parents in the hope that it wouldn't stop them talking to me about things like that in the future.

ContadoraExplorer · 22/01/2023 18:51

(And obviously discuss the bad side effects of doing it with you child too... I'd think that was a given but putting it here just jn case!)

picklemewalnuts · 22/01/2023 18:51

You're in loco parentis, informally at least. I don't think you have a choice but to tell the other parents what happened.

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 22/01/2023 18:53

I think you have to tell the other parents. They were staying at your house, you were in charge, you really can’t keep this information from them.

Littlefish · 22/01/2023 19:07

A friend of mine is a neurologist. He sees people week in, week out who have suffered neurological damage as a result of balloons.

On that basis, I would definitely want to know if my child was doing balloons, or in fact, drugs of any kind.

Catzby · 23/01/2023 09:23

Veuvelily · 22/01/2023 17:51

He’s told them I know and they’re all very worried. Some of the parents would go mad. One of the parents is high up in the police!

I'd tell the parents so they know they can't get away with it. If they think you've let them get away with it, likely they'll try it again or think you're a soft touch and boundaries won't mean anything.

Set the example you mean to go on with.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 23/01/2023 11:11

Catzby · 23/01/2023 09:23

I'd tell the parents so they know they can't get away with it. If they think you've let them get away with it, likely they'll try it again or think you're a soft touch and boundaries won't mean anything.

Set the example you mean to go on with.

Show quote history

It'll likely just result in them being even more sneaky though?

Beamur · 23/01/2023 11:15

I would talk to my child about the dangers - it's not something I am familiar with, but perhaps the risks have been downplayed if kids think it's harmless?
Suggest to your son that his friends should come clean to their own parents now the cat is out of the bag. Much better than hearing it from someone else...

Hohofortherobbers · 23/01/2023 13:27

I would want to know, I think you should tell them, let the kids know you are going to, don't trust them to tell the parents, they may say everyone but them did it..... Like your ds told you.....

Cherrysoup · 23/01/2023 14:12

Of course tell the parents!

Cigarettesaftersex1 · 23/01/2023 16:46

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 22/01/2023 18:39

That it last probably the same amount of time your voice would be high inhaling helium from a balloon. You have a very short sort of "dream" and then it wears off.

Show quote history

Yeah, that sounds really pathetic great

AnotherNameChangeYes · 23/01/2023 17:18

Nitrous oxide can cause long term neurological damage. It affects your body’s synthesis of folate and vitamin B12 if you have prolonged ongoing exposure.

This.

There is guidance to its usage within hospital because of the long term side effects. It can lead to spinal degeneration and nerve palsy.

Mossball · 23/01/2023 17:22

I would tell the parents. It means all the kids can have the riot act read to them. I think it will mean they're less likely to do it in the future and even if they're sneaky about it the parents will be on their guard. Not telling basically means they're more likely to do it at your house again.

Bigweekend · 23/01/2023 17:26

Hmm, the I tried it once and didn't like it line. Is that really still being trotted out and are people still believing it? I'd tell the other parents, but I wouldn't believe for a minute that the "host" wasn't involved.

daisy46 · 23/01/2023 17:38

Tell. They are young and stupid and not thinking of long term consequences. If it were your son, wouldn't you want to know?