Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

cardboard fixture fell on my son while shopping

237 replies

shminkie · 08/04/2014 16:51

I visited a matalan store on 10th Feb with my almost 2 year old son and my mother. My son loves exploring his world right now and I'm happy to let him under my watchful eye. He was doing his usual 'taking things off prongs for mummy to put back' when he tried to take some socks off one of their cardboard display units. As a store planner and shop fitter, it never occurred to me that the fixture would be unsecured, especially placed so close to the children's department. I was therefore horrified when the 4 foot, front heavy fixture with eye threatening prongs fell covering my son. I settled my son who was thankfully ok, but thought that it needed reporting to duty manager. After paying for my goods I asked to speak with someone. A young lady arrived and I explained what had happened and was utterly astonished at her response. There was no concern, no apology. She just said 'well he must have pulled on it' I replied yes he had, as he explored, as he should be able to without the fixture falling onto him. She then told me 'that's why our trolleys have child seats in them, we recommend you keep them in a trolley.' I was utterly enraged with the 'well it's his fault or your fault' attitude. This attitude has been repeated by their own h and s dept and by my local council. I simply cannot believe that this is OK?! That because these are temporary fixtures and because he was not injured I should accept the vouchers they offered and shut up!? I have asked them to donate them to charity as i do not plan to revisit while my sons safety cannot be guaranteed. Please let me know your thoughts, or knowledge of other incidents/ways I can report it. Either way, watch your little ones in matalan, as ease of sock management comes before your child's safety.

OP posts:
pianodoodle · 08/04/2014 16:58

If I pulled on a stand in a shop it would probably fall over.

If I pulled out the lowest packet of toilet roll out they might fall too.

Most people know not to do that though. Unless you're 2, in which case you need to be watched.

PorkPieandPickle · 08/04/2014 16:59

YABU. Is this thread a joke?
You must know that 2 year olds need supervision?!

Northernlurker · 08/04/2014 16:59

This is a joke isn't it?

pianodoodle · 08/04/2014 16:59

thehairybaby but I'm sure your mum wasn't swinging from it before it fell :)

Scholes34 · 08/04/2014 17:00

Your watchful eye is letting you down.

Forago · 08/04/2014 17:00

you let you 2y old pull stuff off shelves and prongs in shops? YABVU

TeaAndALemonTart · 08/04/2014 17:00

UABU, obviously.

A small child died in a shop not to long ago near here because he pulled a mirror onto himself. Truly awful.

Sirzy · 08/04/2014 17:00

What silly said.

Shops are not playgrounds.

Brittabot · 08/04/2014 17:00

As you say the manager, the H&S dept and the council have all basically said it's his fault or your fault, you're responsible for your child's safety and you shouldn't have been letting him mess around with the fixtures!

Goblinchild · 08/04/2014 17:01

Are you new to MN, OP?

furbaby · 08/04/2014 17:02

Lucky he wasnt in the kitchen department with knives ,

sounds like your little poppet is allowed to do what he wants .

At least this time he wasnt hurt .
I would rethink how you shop with him in future .

steff13 · 08/04/2014 17:03

If this was "under your watchful eye," why were you unable to prevent it from happening? Surely you were close enough to your son that you could have steadied the display before it fell on him.

KellyHopter · 08/04/2014 17:03

I wonder if complaints dept bods will one day be able to sue their employers for forcing them to wade through such cringey over-emoting guff on a daily basis?

IneedAwittierNickname · 08/04/2014 17:03

Maybe take him to soft play so he can explore safely?

BitOutOfPractice · 08/04/2014 17:03

"My son loves exploring his world right now"

A shop is not "his world".

BuzzardBird · 08/04/2014 17:04

Oh blimey, I fell for it didn't I? Blush

FracturedViewOfLife · 08/04/2014 17:05

YABU. It was his/ your fault. Yes accidents happen but you shouldn't actively encourage your child to pull displays then complain if they fall over.

NewtRipley · 08/04/2014 17:05

When my DCs were this age I didn't let them go around touching things

NewtRipley · 08/04/2014 17:05

...in shops

MrsBungle · 08/04/2014 17:06

Fgs. You can't be serious.

Hoppinggreen · 08/04/2014 17:06

I think my favourite part is " eye threatening prongs"

ExitPursuedByABear · 08/04/2014 17:06

Although I do believe a woman successfully sued a carpet shop as a child was running around and tripped her up. It was her own child.

Or is that one of those urban myths?

LIZS · 08/04/2014 17:06

Why post his 2 months after the event Hmm You are responsible for your ds in a public place. As a gesture, even though he was uninjured , you have vouchers yet you still seek to name them.

As a shopfitter you should know how easy it is for prongs etc to not be fitted exactly as designed or dislodged by other customers or curious lo's. But of course it would be ok for a charity shop to use unsafe fixtures in your eyes Confused

NewtRipley · 08/04/2014 17:06

The OP is a store planner and shop fitter. What are the chances?

rainbowfeet · 08/04/2014 17:08

When dd (now 11) was wee I stupidly allowed her to toddle along side us in Debenhams. I was a naive 1st time mum & thought it was cute she could toddle around on her reigns.. Anyway she went to shake the hand on a mannequin to say hello, pulled the hand off, screamed hysterically & then on started a fear of mannequins that lasted months!!!! Shock