AIBU to think the cardboard tubes from loo rolls are fine for school craft projects?

[RightUpMyRue]

They were asked to bring in cardboard to make instruments. DD goes in with boxes and tubes galore. Her stupid teacher said no loo rolls as they're dirty and unhygienic and she binned them.

OK, they may have been in a poo zone but haven't we all?!

FFs how many of you have loo roll tubes with shit on them? people are seriously mental if they are concerned about the germs wafting from the loos and infecting the cardboard tube! I had heard of this but thought it was just a stupid story. Am shocked this is actually true. I thought I had heard it all when my HV told me I had to sterilise dd,s dummies and then use tongs to take them out of steriliser so they were not infected again!

Cansu

It doesn't come from teachers, it comes from "the powers that be". Most teachers would use them if allowed to...

As for health and safety, unless you flush your toilet with the lid closed "particles" can waft out of the toilet... in fact my plumber mate put a bag over the pipe connected to the system whilst we were waiting for our toilet to be delivered because you can apparently get very ill if stuff wafts up through the pipes into your house.

For gods sake!

Did any of you lot ever end up seriously ill from touching one? I seriously doubt it.

My robot at school wouldn't have been complete without loo roll arms.

It's much worse touching the door handles of the toilet door, or the flusher! Get a grip people.

All of the schools around here have said not to send them in. I suppose it's true that most people handle the empty loo roll before they wash their hands and they probably aren't very hygenic. I have to say, I'd never thought of it like that until the schools said they couldn't take them anymore - but once you think about it, it makes sense (IMO).

In my school we weren't allowed to use them. The rules came from the higher power of the LA so prob not the teachers fault

Glass of Rose - both Seona and catsrus have provided links to show that it really isn't stupid Health & Safety

Have only read page 1 but just peed in the bath laughing at "shitey tube". Does that mean I've got to get out :(

AmIthatbad -

Would you like to go tell that to the headmaster and the lovely people who pull their strings? because until you get their approval it doesn't matter what you "prove" teaching staff are unable to use loo rolls for crafts.

Yes, I'd love to. The stringpullers should state the real reasons for "banning" things, not trot out the old "it's Health and Safety" crap, when it has absolutely nothing to do with H & S. At all.

Our nursery has the same policy. They do take egg cartons though and there is a child with egg allergy there.

Hiphop - I hope they know to keep them away from that child?
We were warned that DS should not touch egg boxes, even when empty due to risk of allergic reaction.
I will be making sure nursery know he can't go near them, and hope they blanket ban them tbh.
I am happy to send loads of other boxes in in lue as it were.

Ah so this is why i was sick as a child coz someone kept taking in egg cartons to school & im allergic to eggs. Someone get me the phone number for a lawyer

I am only saying what I was told by our consultant. Maybe he will never react to an egg box, but why take the risk?

And that is the reason why we can't accept loo rolls. Most parents wouldn't bat an eyelid... but some would make a fuss.

@johnnydeppsnewwife i have had an egg allergy for bout 15 yrs. i can touch eggs, i can eat things with eggs in them. I just can not eat eggs on their own ie bolied or scrambled eggs. I dont think theres much to worry about with egg cartons.

But my son can react when in the vacinity of someone eating egg. He doesn't have to even be in contact with it. He can not eat egg at all, not even cooked in cake or pasta.
As I am sure you know there is a scale of severity for all allergies. DS is middle to high on the scale with eggs, and very high with nuts.
So excuse me if I follow the advice of a specialist.

@johnnydeppsnewwife if thats the case for your son then u are right to be cautious.

This cracks me up, cardboard tubes caked in shite!?

I remember a thread on here where someone had allowed their child to put their hands in a toilet bidet and everyone told the op that there was nothing to be worried about and they were being ridiculous to have a go at their dp about it, how is a cardboard tube any more revolting?

Children pick up all sorts, the least of the concerns are a cardboard tube that'll be painted and glue covered surely?

I think people always assume egg allergies are no big deal, or that they are always mild. Unfortunately they are not. I would give anything for DS to have no allergies, no eczema and no asthma. There is nothing I can do to get rid of any of these (and whoever said breastfeeding reduces allergies needs to meet still breastfed DS!). All I can do is reduce the risks to avoid flare ups, and allergic reactions.
My FIL said I was always just over reacting, and being a drama queen, till the day he saw DS swell up. That was an eye opener for him!
If he comes anywhere near any egg, or someone who has touched eggs he reacts badly, and then his eczema flares up for weeks and we struggle to get it under control again, and it triggers his asthma too.
For that reason I will politly ask nursery and school to not accept egg boxes, and as i have said will happily supply boxes, papers, card making items so that all the children can enjoy crafty things without risking my son. And I will provide egg substitue if needs be so he doesn't miss out on baking.
Sorry that was longer than I ment it to be.

Johnnydeppsnewmisses I'm sorry to hear that your DC has a severe allergy and I'm feel for you having to deal with it. Just a not of practicality here though, (please understand this is not a criticism just a practical note) you may need revise your expectations of other people restricting their contact with eggs because your DC is allergic to them. Yes it is realistic to ask nursery to not let your DC to make craft with egg shells or boxes but there more than likely will be eggs in the nursery environment.. For example when they make cakes or do a farm visit, or as part of their menu. You can request that your child doesn't touch them & that her carers are fussy about handwashing etc. But generally that is the limit of your control over your DC's environment. You will not be able to control the general exposure for other children / adults that come in contact with your child or the nursery or eventually school environment as a whole.
Therefore instead of focussing on blanket bans, personally I would be looking at ensuring staff knew (& were constantly reminded) that DC has an allergy that must be taken seriously and policies to limit exposure for your child as an individual as well as what to do if exposed.
I don't mean to sound preachy and I'm sorry if I do but I understand how when our kids are little we think we have ultimate control over our kids environment but we really don't and we need to deal with that practically and realistically.

toilet roll middles have been banned for at least 25 years - daughter's school did not allow them. full of germs.

Most things are full of germs!

but they are banned due to a myth not for any real threat - does no-one read the links from the Health and Safety Executive!!

www.hse.gov.uk/myth/august.htm

There is even a downloadable printable poster with the details on it

www.hse.gov.uk/myth/august.pdf

So for all you that won't let kids touch a toilet roll tube? have you/they never blown their nose on a piece of toilet paper that has been in the room with all those 'poo spores' them?

Life must be hard for you folks avoiding poo, the stuff is everywhere!