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

[Fryib]

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?

Depends on quite a few things, I think - how calm and sensible is your DS? How much experience does he have of other hot things? How hyped up will they be when it's sparklers time? How confident are you yourself around fireworks? If you're going to do it, I think one-to-one supervision is essential, so younger one in buggy or let the older ones have a sparkler one at a time.

I let mine hold sparklers from around this age but they were already used to open fires, solid fuel range and candles etc.

If you're not happy with him holding one, don't let him. I think nervous supervision can create its own dangers. I like the compromises people have suggested - glow sticks and/or pushing the sparkler into the ground and watching from a distance.

Have fun! :)

My mum wouldn't let us near them and I'm still too scared to hold them. Cue DH doing ridiculous stunts with fireworks to send me screeching into the house every year

I had a accident as a child when a hot but burnt sparkler held by another child went into my eye as I bent over to put my spent sparkler in the bucket. Careful caring parents (treasured only child!). Accidents can, and do happen. I was lucky and my sight was not affected. I'd say beware.

I nearly dies in a riding accident as a child. No reason for my child not to ride.

Malachite the law section in your link doesn't mention what age to use sparklers at the bottom of the web page BUT yes above in the safety checklist, it does recommend you never give them to under 5's. I'm probably nit picking and being anal here though?

I'm not saying it is a good idea below age 5 though, just to be clear

Personally, unless I and DH could supervise each carefully then I wouldn't. My DS is 22 months, and if I gave him a sparkler he'd probably try and stick it in his eye (as he does with everything these days) unless I was holding his hand VERY tightly.

I guess it depends on your kids and how sensible they are. If you're not happy about it though, I wouldn't do it.

Mine are 4 and 2 and we're having glowsticks instead of sparklers. But I'm neurotic about burns quite safety conscious!

its not just the burns. Sparklers contain chemicals such as barium nitrate which is poisonous and younger children do like sucking on things ie unlit or burnt out sparklers.

Oh, just keep them in their bedrooms until they are 18.

Oh, no, I forgot - more accidents happen in the home than anywhere else.

Not sure what you should do, to be honest.

So now it's not just burns we should worry about, it's poison from 'sucking on a sparkler'

Don't think I've ever heard of a toddler putting a sparkler in their mouth-but assuming this does happen, surely again we are back to the supervision issue-what parent in their right mind would let a child near unlit fireworks in the first place?

In this case it shows that it's the parents that are the danger, not the sparklers.

I would see how you feel when you get there. You might find the children are all quite timid of all that's going on and stand nicely and watch... then if you feel your eldest would be ok to hold one with your complete supervision, I would do that personally. My two are 7 and 3.5yrs. I know I can trust my eldest to hold hers sensibly (although she will be watched closely and she will wear gloves) and my DS will be helped my me as he is way too young to fully understand the dangers.

I hv a dd 5 years and dd 22 mnths
I would definetly not let 22 mnth hv one
Would prob let 5 year old but would hold it with her
And make sure she was wearing gloves tell her dos and donts
Like not waving it around
Holding it away from her etc
If u don't feel happy about him hvng one then that's fine

I am not a "wrap the children up in cotton wool" type of mother. In fact, I allow my children to do stuff that would have most MNetters shrieking in horror.

I do not think that the value of a sparkler is worth the risk.

The glo-sticks are a very good idea. Safe and last longer so more fun anyway.

My packet says not for under 5's. Mine had them last year when they were 3 and 6. They wore gloves, I put my hands over the 3 yo's, shouted at the 6 yo not to waft it near anyone, straight into cold water bucket after.

They had 3 each, loved them.

I hated them as a child, but then I was never offered gloves and didn't like the sparks flying on my hands.

I put a whole load in a big ginger cake last year too, with the lights out. Thats a fun way to enjoy them if you're worried about them holding them.

People shouldn't post bonkers things is AIBU if they don't want to be told when they are BU!

I don't let my DD have them and she's 9.
I don't want to hold them either.
Glow sticks are much nicer and less likely to leave you scarred for life.

Scarred for life - oh give me strength!

So if anyone does anything that you wouldn't Seeker,or doesn't do something that you'd allow then it's bonkers? Really?

But TafettaCat, think of the poison!

How terribly irresponsible of you to put them in a cake! Someone may have inadvertently sucked one.

(sorry, I'm being flippant I know- I'm just still slightly bemused that we have to worry about kids sucking a sparkler as well as holding one..

No - people have loads of different ways of parenting.

But there are some absolutes. And not letting a NT 9 year old hold a sparkler is bonkers.