Soft boiled eggs for toddler b'day party

[TabithaTwitchet]

DD is having a birthday party this month (she will be 3), we will be inviting about 7 other children aged around 2-3.

I asked DD what she wanted to have to eat at her party and she said "Egg and soldiers" which is her favourite food - should have guessed she would request it .

I was thinking of having a range of DD's favourites to dip into soft boiled eggs - DD likes toast fingers, marmite toast fingers, roasted carrots, green beans, maybe mini sausages.

I was a bit worried that the other parents (who I don't know very well, we have just moved to the area) would think this was a strange thing to serve at a party.
I mentioned it to a friend, and she said that:
(a) there is no way a toddler would cope with eating a boiled egg on there own without loads of mess.

and (b) nobody gives soft eggs to toddlers because it is dangerous for them - think she meant risk of salmonella.

I had thought of (a) - I usually give DD an oozy, squidgy egg rather than a runny one to minimise mess, and she is perfectly capable of eating the whole thing - dipping first, then scooping the rest out of the shell with a spoon. But perhaps the other children might struggle if they are not used to it.

I was totally wrongfooted by (b), this has never, ever occurred to me.

So am I being unreasonable to consider serving DD's request - should I just do sandwiches and crisps instead?

[thumbwitch]

Eggs are very nutritious but they can be very binding, as my mum used to put it - certainly I find them so and can't have them often or I have terrible constipation!

I think if you're going to boil them up as necessary, then offering them at a set point in the party would be fine - "everyone, who wants a dippy egg and soldiers?" and then make them sit and eat them when they're ready, rather than leaving them around.

[WomanOfAbjectMystery]

Yes, I'd probe the egg.

But I'd probe anything.

I love my probe.

[MeowyChristmasEveryone]

Like Lonnie, I'd very much like to be at your DD's birthday party.

I'd say you're okay offering them, those parents who are too paranoid cautious are welcome to say no thank you!!!

[thequimreaper]

Sorry I know I sound like I work marketing eggs or something now but I'm pretty sure that the latest advice was that eggs are very nutritious and shouldn't be restricted to twice a week in people without cholesterol problems.

[Bunbaker]

Providing you buy Lion brand eggs the risk of salmonella is minimal. These eggs are laid by hens who have been vaccinated against salmonella BTW.

Your idea of asking who would like a dippy egg is better than just cooking a whole batch of eggs.

[littleducks]

So would you probe the egg?

I wouldnt think twice about soft boiled lion marked eggs

[classydiva]

Too many eggs are bad for you, I would certainly not give someone elses kids boiled eggs, or any eggs.

[thequimreaper]

Would you actually measure it with a thermometer or how would you know?

[WomanOfAbjectMystery]

I'd give any child a soft boiled egg if the yolk had reached an internal temperature of 160F, 71C.

Children under 5 are more at risk, as are pregnant women, the elderly, immunocompromised people and those with chronic illnesses.

Yes, I am a geek. I also know someone whose child was hospitalised for weeks and had kidney failure from contracting salmonella.

[pugsandseals]

Ok so they don't colour them first, but they look beautiful and fun for a party!

cgi.ebay.co.uk/SHRINKLES-%3d%3d%3d-Fairies-Egg-Heads-%3d%3d%3d-NEW_W0QQitemZ370456087574QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=176866042849&rvr_id=176866042849&cguid=0d0c34721290a0aad0d25862fdc038c7#vi-desc

[thequimreaper]

Just out of interest when would those of you who worry about salmonella start giving your kids soft boiled eggs? Just because nearly everything I've read says they only need to be hard-boiled until the child is 1.

[pugsandseals]

Do you remember those plastic shrinkles you coloured in as a child and put in the oven to shrink? I'm not sure where, but I'm sure they now do a similar thing that wraps and shrinks around a boiled agg as it cooks! Might be a PITA but if she would like it for her & friends for tea then why not? Am imagining an idealic scene of toddlers colouring their own shrinkle for their egg at the beginning of the party but I may be overly optimistic!!! If they don't like it they can always take them home as a keepsake (the eggs not the children I may add!)

Off to google

[greatgalacticgaloshes]

What womanofabjectmisery said. Wouldn't want mine to eat them. Salmonella might be a low risk but still one I'd rather my toddler avoided, and more to the point, it's a decision I'd rather be in charge of for them myself than have taken away from me at a party.

[OohIsThatAFlake]

I'd be more worried about them eating bits of eggshell.

[CrispyTheCrisp]

Tabitha - can my 2.3 yo come to the party? She LOVES soft boiled eggs and i can guarantee she wouln't waste drop a crumb

[MamaVoo]

I'd think it was a bit odd but I wouldn't have a problem with it.

It would probably be better to give her a special birthday breakfast of dippy egg and do more traditional party food. My 3 year old would make a hell of a mess in your house dripping yolk everywhere.

[TabithaTwitchet]

I certainly wouldn't leave them around at room temp Womanofabjectmisery - would cook them fresh.
And I wouldn't really be offended if any child didn't want to eat one either, normal toddler behaviour IMO

[LadyBiscuit]

I wouldn't be worried and my DS would love it but we went to a party once and the only sarnies on offer were egg ones which I thought was a bit weird. Lots of children don't like eggs (or are allergic)

[funkybuddah]

It wouldnt bother me or dd, jeeze we (me dd and ds) eaty rw cake mix by the spoonful (mix to make 24 cupcakes makes 19-20 lol) and thast totally raw, no risk IME

[WomanOfAbjectMystery]

Yes I'd be bloody worried about salmonella.

Even worse than a freshly boiled soft egg is one held for a few hours at room temperature, so if you must serve this bizarre and risky party food, boil the eggs immediately before serving.

I'd spend the entire party dying inside, worrying about how to prevent my children from eating the things without offending you.

Food Standards Agency

Just...don't. Give her eggy soldiers for breakfast. You don't have to do everything they want, you know.

[thequimreaper]

My DD would love it. It's a lot healthier than the usual party stuff that you get - sausage rolls etc. I did read in a magazine recently that you shouldn't give soft-boiled eggs to under 5's because of the salmonella risk??!! A tad overcautious I think! I've given DD them since she was 1 and she'd be mortified if I told her she can't have them for 2 years now!
So, in sum, I don't think it's weird but I would do some stuff for people who don't like/want eggs. It may just be your DD that wants an egg and why not -it's her birthday!

[Lonnie]

Id come to that party in fact Im sat here thinking hmmm boiled eggs with soliders for dinner not pasta bake... yum

[thumbwitch]

Wouldn't they go cold and weird? I've never eaten a soft-boiled egg cold, I can't imagine it would be very nice! Or would the yolk harden up as it cooled anyway?

You could give her the equivalent of egg and soldiers in egg sandwich form - I know it's not the same but still.

I'd find the former an oddity at a party, definitely.

[FreudianFoxSquishedByAPouffe]

I don't see the problem wrt salmonella tbh, I've read you shouldn't give it to babies but never saw anything about not giving it to toddlers.

Provide lots of other food as lots of kids wouldn't like eggs I think.

[campion]

If you ask a nearly 3 year old a question like this, you'll get an answer like that.

Don't bother asking. It's a party. She'll have lots of distractions and food won't be high on the list.