Lollipops are a choking hazard aren't they?

[3littlerabbits]

I don't think I am being unreasonable in saying that lollies on sticks are a totally choking hazard. The lolly bit is the right shape and size to perfectly lodge in a child's throat and they slide off the stick so easily. However people are constantly giving them to my 3 under 6's - party bags, prizes, treats from friends and so on so I am wondering if it is just me who thinks like this or are there more lollipop haters out there?

Obviously it is very nice of people to treat my kids but I do confiscate them and replace with a bit of choccy or similar. AIBU?

YANBU!

Dd (4) is only allowed to have them when sat down

Anything is a choking hazard. Anything.

Just make sure your kids aren't running about with them an are sat nicely.

Lego, crayons, dog biscuits, grapes, all food, sweets , snacks and inanimate objects small enough to fit in the mouth are a chocking hazard.

YANBU at all. Our school puts hard boiled sweets in the tuck bags at the summer fete and my boys know to pick them out and bin them as I strongly disapprove of little ones having boiled sweets. They know any they bin, I substitute with a haribo so they are not left short!

Saw someone choke on a hard boiled sweet as a child and the look of terror on her face stays with me. Awful things.

Sitting nicely is no magic shield though. As with grapes the round, smooth surface that perfectly blocks the windpipe and is hard for professionals to get a grip on, something like a laugh or shock can cause inhalation and choking.

Lego is firstly not meant to be in the mouth and secondly isn't windpipe shaped.

Thanks for all the replies. I might ask school to ask parents not to put them in party bags that get handed out after school.

When I was working in a nursery, all the children were given one as a treat. They were all merrily sucking away, when one little boy's came away from the stick. It lodged in his throat, and he was properly,silently, choking. It was terrifying, and luckily a slap on the back from one of my colleagues dislodged it instantly. I hate them, they are so dangerous.

Under 6s I think you're being a bit precious. I wouldn't give a lollipop to an under 3 but I think a 3 or definitely a 4 year old can manage one if they are capable of understanding they can't walk around with it.

DS always crunches them alarmingly in about 30 seconds though, always has so I haven't had an issue luckily!

As someone who has a toddler who nearly choked to death on one when it detached from the stick, yes they are. I honestly have an irrational fear of the things now.

Well not irrational given the circumstances- they get thrown straight in the bin in our house.

Fucking weird.

Of course YABU. Any food is a choking hazard. More or less. Why pick one out?

Or none of them are, if you're paying attention.

My boys are now teens and I was as pretty bloody first born precious with every one of them regarding lollies on sticks as they grew up.

Hate the bloody things even now.

Minnie, you can be paying all the attention in the world but you can't prevent choking.
Deal with it yes but prevent it? No.
Op YANBU.

Minnie but you can see that some foods are more of a choking hazard than others, right? Lollipops would be right up there in the top five, I'd have thought.

Spherical things are a particular hazard though, because their shape means once inhaled they act as a ball valve. So as the person tries to breathe in, they actually suck the obstruction tighter into their airways which can cause airway inflammation and make matters worse.

Gives me the willies. (But agree that all food is a potential choking hazard, and of course adults can and do choke too with sometimes very bad consequences. But then, we have to eat something!)

DS is 2 and not allowed lollipops, we cut grapes in half too. They are perfectly shaped to lodge in a child's airway, and with the smooth surface they can completely block off the airway.

Yes I'm haunted by my husbands story, his colleague's daughter died in her car seat while eating a lolly. They were just waiting for the older child to come out of school and he was in the front and she had the lolly as a treat in the back. Was hideous even hearing about it and I don't know how the poor family survived. They're banned by my DH now as a result.

YANBU.

Won't give my 3yo lollipops, uncut grapes, uncut cherry tomatoes or whole nuts. However, lots of other mums think I am BU...

YANBU. A friends dd nearly choked when the lolly came off the stick and lodged in her airway. It was only that a dad who was at the park at the same time who had recently done a first aid at work that had the presence of mind to slap her hard on the back enough times to dislodge it.

It was terrifying.

DS is 2 and has lollipops occassionally. I only ever buy the mini chupa chups. He has cake and coke too and jam sandwiches.

Life is one big risk, we could choke/die a million ways everyday, even by being careful. YABU.

Also, please don't tell parents not to put lollipops in under 6 year olds party bags. These children must be 4/5 years olds....really, don't do it.

Yanbu, I get very paranoid over them! Especially when I see children running round with them in their mouths, I get very panicky.
Also feel the same when I see kids with deflated or popped balloons at parties, no one else seems to realise how dangerous they can be. I'm a very laid back person but do get a panic on about these things.

I'm not keen on them. A friend of mine's DS got one lodged down his throat, stick and all. My friend pulled the stick and ripped his throat in the process. I don't like any boiled sweets after getting an Uncle Joe's Mintball stuck in my own throat as a child. It'll be a long time before I give DD anything like that and I would bin any that came in party bags.

Why not Fakebook? Because the Cherenkov are old enough to be careful with lollipops? Or I will look like a fool? Or teachers / parents will hate me? Or all of the above ?!

Cherenkov?! That should say children.