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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

..... to not want my son to be given sparklers?

187 replies

Fryib · 04/11/2010 21:04

Hes 3.3 and we are going to a friends where the kids are going to play, do some craft stuff (think gluing, glitter, painting etc) and then friend mentioned shes bought some sparklers.

My two Dc re 3.3 and 15 months, so I said thanks but I dont want him having one. Her dcs are 3 and 15months and oldest will have one.

Am i pfb?

OP posts:
AmbleInAnnBoleyn · 04/11/2010 21:05

no

they are terribly dangerous

YANBU at ALL

ForMashGetSmash · 04/11/2010 21:05

Well...it's tough...I am having some and mine ar ages 6 and 2...I hink the little one will be afraid...but if she wants one, I am planning to squat behind her with my arms round her and hold it aong with her...I would not alow a toddler to hold one alone. So YANBU.

I know my 6 year old will undestand safety instructions though. Gloves are the thing...bring some for him.

2rebecca · 04/11/2010 21:06

Yes. I love sparklers and was probably holding them with my kids when they were only 1 and making shapes in the air for them. Sparklers are brilliant. A 3 year old should be able to wave a sparkler in the air as long as enough adults to supervise.

keepingupwiththejoneses · 04/11/2010 21:06

YANBU in the slightest, I am sure you should not give children under 5 sparklers they are dangerous for little ones. My 4.4 ds will not be having them.

bubbleOseven · 04/11/2010 21:07

Well, you'll both be watching your children won't you? and there will be a bucket of cold water there to stick the sparkers straight in afterwards won't there?

Original poster
Fryib · 04/11/2010 21:07

re the adult to kids ratio there will be 3 mums each with two children

OP posts:
Meglet · 04/11/2010 21:08

YANBU. My DS is almost 4 and I'm going to keep him away from them for another year or so. He does tend to bugger about a bit and I don't want him, DD or me to get burnt.

Mind you, I bet my parents let me have them at that age in the 1970's Hmm.

ZZZenAgain · 04/11/2010 21:08

are sparklers so dangerous?

Caz10 · 04/11/2010 21:09

Extremely!!

MogTheForgetfulCat · 04/11/2010 21:10

YANBU - DS1 is 4.8 and is not having one. He is too young and silly, imo, to know how to be careful with it. And if he is being nagged to be careful all the time he is holding it, it wouldn't be much fun. He can have one when he's older.

Hulababy · 04/11/2010 21:11

It depends on your own child. Is he likely to allow you to hold it with him, wearing gloves, and with your hands over the top of his, waving it around carefully and controlled?

If yes - then I see no problem.

if no - then it may well be too dangerous, so no.

thisisyesterday · 04/11/2010 21:11

yes you are PFB

why can't you help your son hold one?

yes, they're dangerous if people are not being careful with him. but if you help him hold it then i fail to see the problem

southeastastra · 04/11/2010 21:11

keep a bucket of water nearby just in case. but let him hold one, or put it in the grass to watch.

MmeLindt · 04/11/2010 21:12

I would give them to the 3yo but not the 15mth old.

And stand close to him, with a bucket of water ready in case of accidents.

Fwiw, my DS at that age was so wide-eyed and apprehensive that he stood like a statue until the sparkler fizzled out.

Diziet · 04/11/2010 21:12

YANBU!! I wouldn't let my two hold them, they are aged 5 and 3 years. However they are both proper numptys, DS2 would probably try and rub it over his face (it's Special Needs O'Clock in our house!) and DS1 would be doing crazy firework dancing with it.
Either that or they'd both be terrified and scream the place down!!

Hedgeblunder · 04/11/2010 21:13

My parents did what formash ds so they were in control of how far it was away from our bodies iyswim?
I think you just have to take ALOT of precaution-cold water buckets close by- no polyester fabrics, hair tied back etc etc
but it's your dc so your decision

Hedgeblunder · 04/11/2010 21:13

*ds=did

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 04/11/2010 21:13

YANBU.

I fully expect my In-laws to bring some round tomorrow night for our ds's (5 and 2).

They will have one parent each to hold the sparklers with them before dunking them in a bucket of water as soon as they've finished.

I love them myself, but still think that our ds's are too young to appreciate just how dangerous they are.

southeastastra · 04/11/2010 21:14

my ds(9) picked up a sparkler last year - guess he just didn't understand what a burn could feel like

argh now i'm worried and my dad is loopy with sparklers Grin

Original poster
Fryib · 04/11/2010 21:15

thats part of the problem thisisyeaterday, with having a 15 months as well I cant consentrate completly on him, plus another 15 months old walking around, and the other 3 yr old with sparkler, and other mums two other children!!

It just seemed like the begining of and a + e trip.

OP posts:
MmeLindt · 04/11/2010 21:16

Put the 15mth old in buggy so that you can concentrate on the 3yo.

Oblomov · 04/11/2010 21:16

Ds1(6) and ds2(2) had some on saturday. supervised. You don't let them run around willy nilly with fireworks, but if you are with them, helping them, maybe even holding them-with-them (putting your hand over theirs), supervising them, what objections could you have ?

Firawla · 04/11/2010 21:20

op yanbu i would be worried too. my oldest is 2.4 and definitely wouldn't allow him having it @ this age just too worried, cant really picture allowing next year either, i think the official "guidelines" are they are supposed to be 5? so i think i would be comfier with that.
it should be fine just to tell her you are not too comfy with your dc having them as they are too young but if hers want to have it thats up to her
sparklers are quite cool and pretty but they could be v dangerous and do damage if not careful so dont see the harm in being a bit cautious if you are not totally confident with it. better that than like you said ending up an a&e trip which would ruin everyone's fun and end up your dc badly injured
if you let them have it and were not comfy with it you would just be on edge the whole time yourself too, unable to relax and enjoy

NoahAndTheWhale · 04/11/2010 21:21

I am thinking about having sparklers for DS (very nearly 7) and DD (5). Have been having serious conversations about Burns and how not to get them.

They haven't had them before.

Oblomov · 04/11/2010 21:28

I know the guidelines are 5. But please explain what harm your 2 or 3 year old could come to , if you followed the suggestions on the thread, the gloves, bucket of water, holding their hand etc.
4.4, 4.8 will not be having them. And a 7 and a 5 year old, have not had them before. Why is that then ?