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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

hot drinks shouldn't be held when holding young children

130 replies

Madamolive · 10/09/2011 20:05

AIBU into thinking that you just shouldn't hold a hot drink whilst holding a baby incase god forbid something terrible happens :(

Family member was over visiting, had usual hot tea whilst cuddling my second DC- 5 weeks.My toddler was running about playing and knocked into family member. Cup nearly went everywhere. Thankfully didn't.
Said family member carried on drinking whilst having cuddles.

AIBU in thinking that hot drinks and young children just don't mix?!

If im not BU should i have said/say something in the future?

OP posts:
GilbonzoTheSecretPsychoCunt · 10/09/2011 20:47

I'm seriously Confused by this. I found that not letting my children run around while hot drinks were around helped reduce the risk. That and not wafting hot drinks over babies. As for ironing, I tell the dcs that the iron is very hot and they must not run around while it is out. They then don't run around, I iron and when I'm fifnished I put it away out of reach and running commences.

Original poster
Madamolive · 10/09/2011 20:48

I think i need to "grow some balls". Really wished i said something/did something now! Getting a one year old to stay still whilst enjoying a cup of tea average time:15ish minutes would be impossible, if anyone knows how to do this gratefully appreciated

I did put the tea down on the (high) out of reach window ledge, on a coaster- i hate rings :(.

Im quite partial to ice tea now until they are older, i couldnt live with myself if anything was to happen, will take a stand from now on!

OP posts:
SpeedyGonzalez · 10/09/2011 20:48

Can I rewrite the thread title?

AIBU to have let my toddler crash around while a sensible grown-up was cuddling my 5 week old baby and holding a cuppa?

See? Works both ways. Grin

Hullygully · 10/09/2011 20:49

BAN TEA

BAN FUCKING TEA NOW IT IS A FUCKING LETHAL WEAPON

GilbonzoTheSecretPsychoCunt · 10/09/2011 20:51
saintlyjimjams · 10/09/2011 20:51

And ironing BAN IT

SpeedyGonzalez · 10/09/2011 20:52

Ironing is certainly frowned upon in this household. Think I shall lobby Parliament for an all-out ban. Grin

Thingumy · 10/09/2011 20:52

Common sense.

That's all I'm saying.

Hullygully · 10/09/2011 20:53

BAN IRONING NOW

(oh no I did that already because I am not a mad-arsed moron who squashes my clothes flat before putting them on and er, er......creasing them)

Hullygully · 10/09/2011 20:53

Apologies if moron is a offensive

Hullygully · 10/09/2011 20:54

without the "a"

Crosshair · 10/09/2011 20:57

I remember when I was in hospital as a child and a toddler was also in with a nasty chest burn from his grandma's cuppa. Accidents happen but are preventable most of the time.

DogsBestFriend · 10/09/2011 20:58

Did you say "Ban tea"? Shock

meditrina · 10/09/2011 20:58

Happymm has seen the consequences. There are children getting burnt by scalding liquids every day - about 500 are admitted to hospital burns units following scalds per year, and a further 2,000 are seen in A&E but not admitted.

Nigh on all of them will have lovely, sensible, responsible parents who will be totally mortified that one lapse led to such pain in their child. For most, it's minor and transitory (though they may carry the albatross of wanting to warn others). Some aren't so lucky, and are reminded daily by their children's scars.

But as others say - how dare anyone suggest hot drinks and children don't mix! It's madness to think of the consequences of an action which could be so easily modified!

Hullygully · 10/09/2011 20:59

the albatross of wanting

What a lovely lovely phrase

What a great name for a band, huh?

DogsBestFriend · 10/09/2011 21:02

I remember when I was in hospital and a child came in who'd been in a car accident. AIBU in thinking that you just shouldn't drive a car near a child or transport a child in a car in case god forbid something terrible happens?

Whatever happened to common sense? I despair!

NeverKnowinglyUnderDoug · 10/09/2011 21:02

These days, I never have hot drinks around small children at all. I also avoid public cafe's and playgroups where hot drinks are allowed.

Scalds are hideous and the treatments are painful and last for years.

My child was badly scalded in a cafe at 18mos old. The treatments to repair the damage took until he was 22 months. These treatments were painful. Sometimes they made him scream. They always made him cry.

He was then in pressure garments until he was 4, with two daily 30 minute massage sessions to keep the burn growing with him. He still needs weekly massage to prevent the need for further surgery as the scarring needs to grow with him. He hates the massage as it has to be quite vigourous. It hurts him.

You think you are careful, but it takes seconds for a scald or burn to happen and the treatments go on for fucking years.

Just don't do it.

While I'm writing this I ought to point out that I spent bonfirenight in the burns unit. In case you are interested, I will never, ever, ever let my child have a sparkler either. Those scary adverts about what can happen if it goes wrong just don't do the reality justice.

Hot drinks are banned in burns unit. Not that any parent I met wanted one.

Hullygully · 10/09/2011 21:03

We don't allow cold drinks either in case of tooth pain or numb limbs

acatcalledfelix · 10/09/2011 21:06

I don't iron either, pointless task. But I have been at MIL's house when someone has got the iron out and turned it on, and walked away to do something else before we had time to realise, and I've caught DS pulling on the wires as I'd let him wander into what 5 mins before had been a hazard free room.

Hot drinks and small children do not mix. There's no need to stop drinking tea, but I don't think it's unreasonable to put it somewhere where a toddler can't knock it over?

NeverKnowinglyUnderDoug · 10/09/2011 21:07

That's sensible - We put drinks high out of the way and don't hold them over the children or while they are running around.

Hullygully · 10/09/2011 21:07

Oh god you people drain all the fun from life

NeverKnowinglyUnderDoug · 10/09/2011 21:07

Hully - comparing tooth pain from sensitive teeth to the damage that can be done by a scald is like comparing a match to a volcano.

Hullygully · 10/09/2011 21:08

We put drinks high out of the way and don't hold them over the children

I rest my case

NeverKnowinglyUnderDoug · 10/09/2011 21:08

Oh, I'm sorry for not joining in the hilarity.

SpeedyGonzalez · 10/09/2011 21:08

Exactly, Dogs. It is awful to read the stories of those of you whose children have been burned, truly awful and I feel your pain. But most children are not burned by hot drinks, so a ban is an unwarranted knee-jerk response.

I know someone who sustained severe burns as a child in a bath that was too hot. She ended up with skin grafts. Do you think her parents would have banned bathing after that? I also poured boiling water straight from the kettle onto myself at the age of 7. I was pouring with my left hand. I didn't stop myself from using a kettle after that; I just used it more carefully.